High Sierra Topix

I'll try to keep with Maverick's suggestions:

I am looking for advice for either Emigrant or Carson-iceberg areas. I grew up doing backcountry from a beat-up 4x4 on the different forks of the Tuolumne, but that area is high-risk for fires.

1. My level of experience: 4, comfortable with trail and/or x-country travel. I am retiring soon after 20+ years as an active duty military officer. Understanding arrogance and Murphy can kill you, I would say you could drop me off anywhere in the world with a map, compass, and required destination (the addition of a knife and gun would be appreciated), and I'd be fine. Once I determine my route, I'll download and print some various maps.

2. Terrain comfortable with: 3, terrain, pass, x-country, river crossings.

3. Main interests for this trip: Solitude near a body of water good for fishing that allows camp fire. I wouldn't mind eating a few good trout from some cold water. Also, I need some time of solitude to come down and process from some massive stress from recent career happenings.

4. Trip dates: stepping off onto trail in the a.m. of 16 Sep, after checking in at the ranger station; Back at vehicle in the afternoon of 20 Sep.

5. Mileage: Willing to cover a good distance (10-15mi, or more...) for a good spot.

6. Layovers: Ideally only 1 or 2 campsite stops; I want to sit, see the beauty, hear the wind in the trees, look at the sky, smoke a cigar...the simple things of life.

7. No issues with elevation

8. Route: either out and back, or loop.

9. Area: Emigrant or Carson-iceberg below 9k feet so I can have a fire.

10. No dog...this time.

I should say that just because I can do what I mentioned in question 1 and 2, doesn't mean I want to unnecessarily be Rambo...I'm now old and beat-up. Also, from checking the forum, it looks like I will be off the trail a day before hunting season; however, I may bring something bright orange nonetheless.

Thanks all!
James

For fishing in that area, I'd look at either Buck Lakes or Emigrant Lakes. Both are large, plenty of room to get some solitude, and all withing about 15 miles or less of Crabtree or Gianelli Trailhead. I have trip reports on both on my website, in my signature line.

Be prepared for the potential of cold weather, but that time of year is pretty darn nice there.

Be sure to check on the status of allowed fires. If there is a high risk of fire the FS may not allow any fires, regardless of elevation. Easy to check their web pages or even get the phone number and call to be sure. Two layover days would only leave you three days of walking.

A loop that I really like is:

Kennedy Meadows to Lewis Creek- off trail up to Middle Lewis Lake at 9085. Limited but good camping southeast past the outlet. Some tricky route-finding on connected ledges in a cliffy area. Fish at lower Lewis Lake and up at Upper Lewis Lake (9645) where the camping is not great. Ridge Lake has both nice camping and fish. Iceland Lake is scenic but no fish. Then go to the saddle one mile south (lots of little slots to get around) and head due south to the Buck Creek Meadow where you can pick up the trail to Buck Lake. Good fishing at both lakes, and good camping between the lakes. I have seen fish in Wood Lake but never fished it. It is easy to get to from Lower Buck Lake.

There are many routes back depending on how many miles you want to do in a day. The shortest is to go up to Emigrant Lake where you can go over Mosquito Pass or Brown Bear Pass and then down Summit Creek. More fishing along the Brown Bear Pass route including a side trip to Lost Lake or High Emigrant Lake. For a longer route, from High Emigrant Lake go over Big Sam and down Kennedy Creek (cattle grazing may be ongoing at Kennedy Lake) or even take the PCT to Sonora Pass. It is fairly easy to hitch a ride down to Kennedy Meadow. There is a shuttle run from Kennedy Meadows Lodge but it may be too late in the year for that.

Or do a secondary loop from Buck Lakes to Cow Meadow Lake, off-trail down Cherry Creek, over to Huckleberry Lake, back via Letora Lake, then quick out via Emigrant Lake and Mosquito Pass.

balzaccom & Wandering Daisy ,

Thank you for your responses. You both helped narrow the areas of my search. After looking and researching, I think I'm gonna start off at buck lake and then head to huckleberry or emigrant. I may hit all three in my 5-day trip. I'll be sure to post some pics and trip report. Thank you again.