High Sierra Topix

I'm not the most efficient trip planner. Usually, I plan a trip by looking at one particular little corner and thinking, "How can I get there?" The special corner for this trip was Kid Lake below Glacial Saddle. Looking in Google Earth and at the topo maps, it seemed like it would have good views of Arrow, the King Spur, and a smidge of the Kings-Kern Divide—all right next to a lake too!

On 6/19, I was at Road's End (which opened, I believe, 9 days earlier for the first time since 2022) with a 7:00 am walk-up permit in tow for Copper Creek. I knew what was ahead: around 5000 feet straight up in the hot sun!

My favorite view on the climb was by Upper Tent Meadow. It reminded me of a Swiss meadow—so green, with towering peaks above and birds singing. It made the climb worth it.
Eventually, I made it to Grouse Lake at 4 pm! I was fully expecting to arrive later than 6 pm, given the descriptions I had read of the Copper Creek Trail. So this was pleasant.
After enjoying the scenery at the lake for a few minutes, I went in search of a good campsite. I spotted a rise on the south end of the lake that I thought would provide good wind protection while still being close enough to the lake. As I got closer, I could tell that this rise could have plenty of flat spots on top of it. When I reached the top, I was astounded by the sightlines.
Even better, there were perfectly flat spots with a view on top. Wind be damned, my new Tarptent Moment was ready for a stress test. I had to camp here. I am pretty sure I could see all the way to the Whaleback! Please let me know if I am right or wrong.
Is this the Whaleback Below? The next morning, I went fishing. Unfortunately, I did not catch any monsters, but they were of good size. I let them all go.
After fishing for a bit along the eastern shore, I began my way up to Mungoat Pass. The west side is quite a gentle walk-up. The east side had some lingering snow. I brought my ice axe as I didn't see much info about this pass except for what TehipteTom/RoguePhotonic have posted. I certainly did not need it, but I am quite new to backpacking off well-marked trails. I made my way to the lake's southern shore, where I discovered my forgotten item of the trip (there is almost always something: polycro, trowel, towel, toothpaste, etc.). No bug spray. Boy, did I need it. The mosquitos were out. Luckily, I hike in full clothing and had a headnet and hat. Not all was lost. I made my way just below the outlet of the lake, where it was windy and less buggy. I was greeted with a unique view of the Muro Blanco Canyon!

Southernmost Kid Lake Below View up the Muro Blanco After having lunch just below the outlet, I began to route-find my way to the highest Kid Lake. Once I was in the north fork of Kid Creek Basin, I took off my pack to have a light snack, and my fly fishing rod was gone! Well, I couldn't let that go. So I dropped my bag, brought water, a headlamp, and a filter. I retraced my steps, and after a nerve-wracking 30 minutes, I found it. A tree branch had snagged it out of the pocket it was in just below the outlet of Kid Lake. I must not have buckled one of the straps completely after lunch.

I eventually made it to the promised lake. It has quite the nice grassy shore that steps to a silty lake bottom—perfect for a swim. No clamoring over rocks here. I couldn't see any fish underwater with my goggles. No bites on my dry dropper fly rig either. While I had sought this particular corner for its sightlines, it did not best my campsite at Grouse Lake. Still, the views were world-class! I lounged about for a few hours at my private lake for the night. Quite nice and refreshing.
I reckon that I was part of a handful of people that have been there over the past two years since Road's End was closed last season.

I'm sure many of you know, but bring some clear-lensed goggles on your next trip to a high lake. There is a whole other blue Martian world below the surface.

Breaking this into two posts for pictures.
More pictures below of the views from the highest Kid Lake.
The next morning, I headed up Glacier Saddle with no issues, tersely described in the Secor book.

Looking down on my previous nights private lake. Looking towards Glacier Lakes. The next stop was Glacier Lakes. I stopped for an hour to enjoy the lake and fish a little. Mosquitos soon followed with ferocity rivaling Emigrant Wilderness. Any body part that was protruding against fabric was fair game. My shoulders seemed to be quite the buffet for the little buggers! At one point, my entire knee was covered in them! There are no mistakes, only lessons. And I think I may have learned mine.
From Glacier Lakes, there are granite slabs at its outlet. Due to poor route choice/short stature, I had to do some class 3 moves, but it was no problem. I proceeded northbound through the forested hallway of Glacier Valley, with a small stream and beautiful meadow views, eventually meeting the Dougherty Creek/State Lakes trail. Now I started to make my return towards Copper Creek. My original plan was to make it to Upper Volcanic Lakes Basin for the night, traverse through it the following day, and go cross-country to Granite Pass.

I decided instead that given the similar elevation to Glacier Lakes, it would likely be too buggy for me to fully enjoy it. Also, hiking from the top of Volcanic Lakes Basin to Road's End on the final day (Sunday) would be too long for the 8-hour drive back to San Diego. Instead, I will savor Volcanic Lakes/Granite Basin for its own trip.

So, I slugged it up Granite Pass, and boy was it buggy even at the top of the pass. Granite Basin is so beautiful—a big granite bowl of water. I continued all the way back to the cutoff to Grouse Lake. I knew the bug pressure would be lower as I had been there a few days earlier. I found a campsite and made myself at home for the night. This was a big day, about 14 miles.

View from Granite Pass into the Basin. The following day was all downhill. I found this interesting remnant.
Any horse people/packers here? Curious if anyone can ballpark the age from the style of the horseshoe or if someone knows the story. Poor horsey! I'll never complain about my feet hurting again after seeing this.

This was a great first trip to whip myself back into shape for summer hiking! Thank you HST for providing the beta on Mungoat pass!

Thanks for feeding those mosquitos!, I'm going that route in August and it'd be terrible if they starved before I arrived.

Thanks for the report. For another take on the area, go to: http://www.sierrahiker.com/MonarchDivide/index.html

Neat. I haven't been to Kid Lakes and have long thought of visiting them. Thanks so much for your post.

When I visited Kid Lakes, I was disappointed to find fresh horse tracks and dung connecting the main (southern) Kid Lakes. They must have entered from Glacier Valley and "Glacier Saddle". Does the park service allow livestock this far off the trail?

Good to see conditions and Kid Lakes, which I have never been to but would like to see. I did a similar loop 7/1-4, 2006 without Kid Lakes. Planning on a 7-day trip into Lakes Basin, at States Lakes the mosquitoes were so bad that I bailed out camping on the edge of Volcano Lakes near Granite Pass where it was windy enough to eliminate mosquitoes. I day-hiked down to Volcanic Lakes- they are really nice. I did not walk over to Granite Lake becasue it looked swampy and full of mosquitoes. I hope to do a late season trip this year and finally get to Kid Lakes and Granite Lake.

Your photos are very nice.

I have done the Cooper Trail several times and it is so well graded that it actually is quite reasonable, as long as you do not have unusually hot weather. I would hate to be on it now or the next few days! I started at 5AM last time I did it.

Yes, it is the Whaleback.

Great report, and very nice photos. Kid Lakes have a special place in my heart: my first-ever off-trail backpack (in 1990) was a four-day trip out of Copper Creek, one night at the valley just below Grouse Lake and two nights at the fjord-like lake below Mungoat Pass (I camped on a flat uphill from the north side of the lake). I've been back twice, in 1997 and 2006; on the 2006 trip we camped two nights at the highest Kid Lake and did a layover day excursion to a point with an amazing view of the Muro Blanco. Happy memories aside, it's just a really special lake basin that not a lot of people know about.