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The Trans Sierra Back Pack
Trip -- August 2005
On August 27-31, 2005, Scott Cook, Rich Cotter,
Patty Kert Dailey, Bill Edwards, Jay Helms, John Selling, and Ann Waters
back packed across the Sierra Nevada range from the Bear Creek Trailhead
(80 miles from Fresno, on the western side of the range) to the Pine Creek
Trailhead (20 miles from Bishop, on the eastern side). The 5-day
trip was approximately 30 miles, with 5400' of elevation gain and 5000'
of elevation loss. Part of the third hiking day and most of the fourth
hiking day were cross-country.
All images may be clicked to bring up hi-resolution
photos. |
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Trip Overview
DAY 1 (Saturday, August 27): After
spending the previous night encamped at Scott and John's homes in the Bay
Area, we fly to Fresno early in the morning and continue by van 80 miles
to the Bear Creek Trailhead (7000'), just beyond Mono Hot Springs.
We begin hiking up the unmaintained road to Bear Diversion Dam, then continue
up forested, gorgeous Bear Creek to a campsite (7900') downstream of Twin
Falls.
(5 miles with 900' of elevation gain.)
DAY 2 (Sunday, August 28): We continue
east along Bear Creek Trail until it joins the John Muir Trail. We
proceed south along the John Muir Trail to the junction with the Lake Italy
Trail. Turning left there and hiking another half-mile, we reach
our campsite (9600') at the lower end of a meadow along the Hilgard Branch
of Bear Creek. (8 miles with 1700' of elevation gain.)
DAY 3 (Monday, August 29): Continuing
east, the forest thins out and dramatic vistas open up as we ascend over
an increasingly faint trail to Lake Italy (11,202') in the very core of
the Sierra -- a remote, austere wonderland a good 2-3 days' hike from the
nearest road. (5 miles with 1600' elevation gain.)
DAY 4 (Tuesday, August 30): In a
long day of cross-country boulder hopping, we ascend sharply to Italy Pass
(12,400') on the Sierra crest. Then we descend through the open,
rocky expanses of Granite Park, rejoining a trail that takes us to our
campsite on the northwestern corner of Pine Lake (9942'). (7 miles
with 1200' of elevation gain and 2500' of elevation loss.)
DAY 5 (Wednesday, August 31): We
descend steeply to the Pine Creek Trailhead (7400'). (5 miles
with 2500' elevation loss.). Mollie and Jeffrey Scott drive us
20 miles to their home in Bishop, and then to the Bishop Airport for a
flight back across the mountains to the Bay Area. |
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| Day 1: Bear Creek |
En Route from the Bay Area to Fresno and the western trailhead:
Ann Waters, Scott Cook John Selling, Bill Edwards,
Patty Kert Dailey, Rich Cotter, Jay Helms |
John Selling at Bear Creek
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Ann Waters and Patty Kert Dailey
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Camp Site at Bear Creek
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| Day 2: Hilgard Branch |
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Swimming Hole on Hilgard Branch of Bear Creek |
Hilgard Branch Campsite |
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| Day 3: Ascending to
Lake Italy |
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Bill Edwards
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Jay Helms
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Rich Cotter, Ann Waters, Scott Cook, Patty Kert Dailey
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Scott Cook
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Patty Kert Dailey |
Ann Waters and Jay Helms
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Patty Kert Dailey scouting the route around Lake Italy |
The only way around Lake Italy was through Lake Italy. |
Lake Italy campsite |
Dining at Lake Italy |
| Day 4:
Over the Crest |
Climbing from Lake Italy ... |
... up towards the crest. |
Boulder-hopping around Jumble Lake |
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Italy Pass (12,400') on the Sierra Crest.
Back: Rich Cotter, Bill Edwards, John Selling, Jay Helms, Scott Cook.
Front: Ann Waters, Patty Kert Dailey. |
The view west from Italy Pass |
The view east from Italy Pass |
Descending east from Italy Pass ... |
... into Granite Park. |
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Pine Lake--our final camp site |
| Day 5:
The Eastern Descent |
Descending from Pine Lake to the eastern trailhead |
The crest from the air on the trip home |
Susanne Riehemann's fabulous web site has a detailed set of photos
and maps of this route:
mally.stanford.edu/~sr
(click on "Photos," then on "Lake Italy")
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| Home
Page. |
John Selling at Bear Creek
Ann Waters and Patty Kert Dailey
Camp Site at Bear Creek
Rich Cotter, Ann Waters, Scott Cook, Patty Kert Dailey
Scott Cook
