This was a two week trip to the eastern Sierras for relaxing, backpacking, and peak bagging. It was kind of a bust due to poor weather (monsoon) which meant more time for relaxing. I had a new 11 foot Hammeck with custom material for this trip.
The first day near Sonora Pass the weather forecast was "flash flood". There was light rainfall after midnight.
The next day driving to Mammoth through heavy downpours I arrive at McGee creek and camped in the aspens.
Warmup hike the next day to the Nevahbe Ridge on Mt. Morgan. The ridge is two miles long and climbs 5,000 feet to the summit at 13,000 feet. My goal was to reach the ridge, which involved crossing a river, bushwhacking through aspens, bushwhacking through chaparral, climbing a moraine, and climbing the lower slopes (at the center of the photo) to the ridge.
The view from the ridge across the canyon, someday I hope to hike all the way to the summit.
The weather improved slightly and I backpacked a few miles up McGee canyon and set up camp. Thunder and lightning arrived soon after, and a steady rain fell until midnight. After the last clap of thunder I heard an enormous roar, like thunder but different, and realized that it was a huge rock avalanche. Across the creek was a 2,000 foot wall covered in talus boulders as large as automobiles. After a minute the roar quit but my adrenaline was pumped for hours.
The next morning I planned to hike Red Slate Mountain, the highest point in the Mammoth area at 13,500 feet. The canyon is quite scenic.
Unfortunately I was feeling the effects of altitude around 11,000 feet and had to turn back before reaching McGee pass.
Due to bad weather and rock avalanche excitement, I decided to head into the desert and relax with my books, beer, and hammock.
View from the campsite to the eastern Sierras (Mt. Williamson) at sunrise.
After a few days of laziness I took a day hike on the Shepherd's Pass trail, one of the most difficult routes in the Sierras. I hiked 2,000 feet to the top of the ridge between Symmes and Shepherd's Creek. I spoke with backpackers who endured severe lightning, rain, and flooding near the JMT. This is a view of Williamson from the ridge, the second highest point in California.
After a few more days of laziness the weather finally improved and I headed towards Bishop Creek for a backpacking trip. Coming from lower altitude (4,000 feet) I camped near the trailhead around 7,000 feet to acclimatize, over a nice sandy river bed.
This was the night of the tree failure. Shallow roots and soft ground brought my hammock to the ground. I just put a ground sheet under the hammock. I use pads in the summer so there was no problem sleeping.
Next day I head out to Long Lake in clear but breezy weather.
This was my best night ever in the backcountry. Although there was a strong breeze most of the night and my tarp is small, I was plenty warm at 10,000 feet with an under quilt.
Next day I planned to hike Mt. Agassiz, just under 14,000 feet. So I headed off towards Bishop Pass.
At the top of Bishop Pass (12,000 feet) I'm feeling altitude effects again. (How did I reach Mt. Whitney in a day last summer?). So I head back and wrap up another summer Sierra trip.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by meckelangelo
Bookmarks