Photo: JoAnne Lauer Introduction to the Ansel Adams Wilderness: Thousand Island Lake, California Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 09102A Price: $515 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 13 Rating: M Leader:
The Trip  Photo: JoAnne Lauer The mountains are calling and I must go.-- John Muir This trek through the Ansel Adams Wilderness to the spectacular chain of lakes that lie at the base of the Minarets, Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak traverses some of the most dramatic terrain of the Sierra Nevada. Inspired by their brilliance, early adventurers bestowed these lakes with names of precious gems, such as Garnet, Emerald and Ruby. In just five days we will experience the magnificence of the High Sierra wilderness, yet our secluded campsites are each less than a day’s journey from a trailhead. We will hike on three days, and in between take two layover days in which we may choose to relax, or explore nearby lakes, meadows and peaks. The trip is nestled between two weekends, allowing time to arrive a couple of days before the trip to acclimate to the altitude, and to have a day or so after the trip ends to catch our breath before returning to our other lives.
 Photo: JoAnne Lauer On Monday, June 15, we will meet at a campground near the resort town of Mammoth Lakes for our first evening together. While there, we’ll shuttle a few cars to our exit trail head, and then enjoy a potluck dinner as we get acquainted with each other and review details for the trip. Day 1: We begin hiking from Agnew Meadows and will follow the trail to a junction just past Olaine Lake. From there we’ll continue on trail up along Shadow Creek, passing by Shadow Lake before we cross the John Muir Trail and finally make camp at Ediza Lake. Day 2: We’ll take a layover day and camp for a second night at beautiful Ediza Lake. Trip members may spend the day relaxing, hiking to any number of nearby lakes, or exploring the basins below Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak.  Photo: JoAnne Lauer Day 3: From Ediza Lake we will retrace our steps of day 1 back down Shadow Creek to the John Muir Trail, which we will follow northward past Garnet, Ruby and Emerald Lakes. Our destination for the day is spectacular Thousand Island Lake, made famous by the photographs of Ansel Adams. Day 4: This second layover day will give us time to explore Thousand Island Lake, venture off-trail to the crest of the Ritter Range for a view of Lake Catherine, or just relax in the sublime beauty of our extraordinary surroundings.  Photo: JoAnne Lauer Day 5: Reluctantly we will depart our final camp and make our way to the Pacific Crest Trail, following it for just over a mile before we turn to hike past Clark and Agnew Lakes on our way to find the cars we’ve parked at Silver Lake. Getting There: Our hike starts at the Agnew Meadows trailhead (elevation 8,300 feet) and
finishes at the Rush Creek trailhead (elevation 7,300 feet), both near the
town of Mammoth Lakes on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. Mammoth Lakes
is about 160 miles from Reno, 250 miles from San Francisco, and 310 miles from
either Las Vegas or Los Angeles. Trip members arriving from other parts of
the country should explore the option of flying to one of these major cities
and sharing a rental car or arranging a ride. We will send a trip roster to
all participants well before the trip in order to help facilitate ride sharing.
Specific driving directions will also be sent before departure.
All on-trip meals, beginning with breakfast on our first hiking day (Tuesday, June 16), are included in the trip fee. The leader enjoys planning meals that are flavorful, diverse, and, at times, atypical of usual backpacking fare. We will provide a menu that appeals to vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Trip members will share the responsibilities for meal preparation and clean up.
This trip is rated “Moderate (M)". Mileage on our three hiking days ranges from 7-9 miles, with a total of 25 miles for the entire trip. Our first day will be the most challenging as we hike up nearly 1500 feet and 7 miles with full packs. Our greatest elevation gains will be on days 3 and 5, when we climb nearly 1700 feet each day. Our camp at Ediza Lake will be at 9200 feet, and our camp at Thousand Island Lake will be just under 10,000 feet. Participation in this outing requires that you have recent backpacking experience, are in excellent physical condition, and have realistic expectations for the trip. Our objectives are to enjoy some spectacular country and to complete the trip safely as a group. Known for its temperate summer weather, the High Sierra can also experience sudden, unexpected spells of rain, hail, snow, heat and cold. Daytime temperatures can soar into the upper 80’s, while nighttime temperatures can dip into the 30’s, or lower. It is essential that you be prepared for extremes in weather conditions, and also be flexible so that we can adapt our route to accommodate unexpected conditions or events.
We provide the following items: food (including all trail snacks), pots, cooking utensils, stoves, fuel, and bear-proof cans. At the beginning of the trip you will be issued one bear can loaded with food, plus a portion of the group gear, which together will weigh up to 14 pounds. Please limit your personal gear to 25 pounds or less, so that your total pack weight is less than 45 pounds, including 1-2 liters of water. We also issue each participant a small bottle of iodine for treating drinking water. You may bring your own water filter if you prefer. We require sturdy, fully broken-in leather boots with rubber lug soles for this trip. We recommend that you waterproof your boots before beginning the trip. For shelter, we strongly encourage you to bring a tent with a rain fly -- a lightweight waterproof tarp is the required minimum. For raingear, bring a waterproof jacket and pants instead of a poncho. The leader will send detailed equipment recommendations to participants well in advance of the trip. More information regarding personal gear may be found at the following link: www.knapsack.org/basic_equipment.html
Maps Please bring your own map and compass, both for your personal safety, and to more fully appreciate our route and the inspiring landscape surrounding us.
Books
Conservation If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it. – President Lyndon B. Johnson We will venture into pristine alpine lake basins, which appear today much as they must have to the early mountaineers of the 19th century. We will share the mountaineers' stories and their visions for ensuring the preservation of this treasured wilderness for many generations to come. As a group we will diligently observe "Leave No Trace" principles, and invite discussion of current efforts to protect our wilderness lands.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
E-mail: nancym@sbceo.org General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
|
Nancy Mathison took her first wilderness trip in the Sierra Nevada in 1972, and she has returned every year since then to backpack and cross-country ski. She began participating in the Sierra Club National Outings program in 2001 to venture off the beaten path with other backpackers who share her love for adventure and the wild, pristine beauty of the Sierra. In her other life back down at sea level, Nancy is a professional clarinetist and teaches instrumental music in the public schools. She enjoys competitive ballroom dancing and joins other local Sierra Club members for weekly hikes in the mountains behind Santa Barbara.