Hike To Twin Lakes And George Lake 2021

Dale Matson

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Hike Route

A day hike to Twin Lakes (already posted for this year), is not really complete unless you include George Lake also which I believe is the nicest of the three lakes. There are camping locations at all three sites. While the round-trip distance to Twin Lakes is about 7.5 miles, including George Lake is an additional 3 miles round trip so the total is about 10.5 miles. There is also more climbing when you include George Lake of an additional 250’. I would compare this hike to the Nellie Lake Hike. The trail to Nellie Lake (Above Huntington Lake) is not currently open because of the Creek Fire damage in that area.

I picked up my friend Derek in Clovis at 5am and we were at the trail head in about 1:20 with a 6:50am start at Badger Flat. We were out for a total of 7:40 overall with a pace of about 1.8 mph. We took several breaks and a lunch break at George Lake. We also stopped to resupply filtered water at all of the lakes. You cannot see Kaiser Peak from George Lake. (and you can’t see George Lake from Kaiser Peak.)

I used my Sony A6600 camera (APS-C) with the ultra-wide 10-18mm lens for the photos. One included photo of me standing was taken by Derek. Derek is a stage four Cancer survivor. We happen to have gone through seminary together and are both Anglican Priests.

 

Lamarck Col As A Day Hike: A Bridge Too Far

Dale Matson

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Hike Route

Five years ago, I reported on a day hike to Lamarck Lakes

 https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2016/07/day-hike-to-lamarck-lakes.html

In 2016 with a 6am start, I got to Upper Lamarck Lake and was home in Fresno in 12 hours. So, it seemed very doable to get to Lamarck Col with a 5am start this year. I could get to Lamarck Col and back down in 12 hours or so and spend the night in Bishop again.

I got off to a good start and felt pretty good when I arrived at Upper Lamarck Lake. I did have to do some backtracking and cross the outlet creek to continue on the trail to the lake. I made note of the Lamarck Col junction sign as I approached Upper Lamarck Lake. I took a break there and switched from my 50mm lens to my 24mm lens. I then headed back on the trail toward the Lamarck Col sign and realized I had left my 50mm lens at the lake. I was able to find it and crossed the creek at the Lamarck Col sign. 

Although it is a use trail at this point, it is not difficult to follow the seemingly countless switchbacks up another 1,000’ feet of climb. And then the thunder began. As I looked down the next section of trail, a narrow trail descent, I weighed whether to continue or turn back. I was fatigued but not exhausted. However, in the immortal words of the sage Vince Lombardi, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all”. I used the approaching storm as my final excuse but frankly, if I had been with another hiker, I probably would have continued. 

So, as with so many of my other hikes, this turned into a “recon” for a future hike to Lamarck Col. It took me three separate attempts to finally do Birch Lake on the third attempt last year. I would have turned around a third time if Steve Yeager had not been with me. The lesson learned is to do this as an overnight and camp at Upper Lamarck Lake. I think the day hikes of 12 miles with 4,000’ of gain are over for this 76-year-old.

Since I had paid for a room in Bishop for two nights, I drove back and took a two-hour nap and drove home to Fresno. It rained from Mammoth lakes half way through Yosemite.  

I used a Sony A7C Camera with the new 24 2.8mm and 50 2.5mm lenses.

Kaiser Peak Hike 2021

Dale Matson

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Kaiser Peak (10,300’) is my annual penultimate hike on the west side of the Sierra Nevada before I take on more difficult hiking and backpacking on the east side of the Sierra. This year was the first year I was able to see first-hand some of the fire damage from the monstrous Creek Fire. The Kaiser 17-mile Kaiser Loop trail is closed but that hike includes a more westerly section that was hard hit by fire. I took the shorter and my traditional trailhead route for me which heads due north from above the D&F Pack Station (Upper Deer Creek Lane) off Huntington Lake Road. Although there was evidence of spot fires lower down, there was no evidence of fire about 9,000’. There is much less vegetation than to the West. The trail is in good condition with only one tree to have to go around.

The weather has been hot and I assumed there would be no water resupply opportunities by now with a low snow year so I packed in about 3 liters of water in my day pack and got an early start and began my hike about 5am (start temperature 45degrees). The air was relatively clear. It is always good to get an early start because thunder storms can pop up in the afternoons. The Sierra makes its own weather.

Based on years of experience I would measure the round-trip distance as eleven miles with about 3,300’ of gain. I would classify this as a strenuous hike. I was out about 7.5 hours and traveled at my old man (76) pace. It was a double test since Sharon and I did the Twin Lakes trail with friends two days later.

First Rest Stop

College Rock About Half Way

Banner Peak Background

Mammoth Pool Reservoir Center Bottom

Central Sierra