Photo: Nancy Mathison The High Route, Part 5 :The Mono and Silver Divides Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 08126A Price: $665 Deposit: $100 Capacity: 10 Rating: MS Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Tom Miller Known for its winding course past hundreds of magnificent lakes along the spine of the Sierra Nevada, Steve Roper's Sierra High Route traverses the Range of Light on a spectacular 195-mile journey. This fifth segment of the High Route ventures through 41 miles of what many consider both the most scenic and easiest terrain of the entire route. Gentle granite slabs give way to bountiful flower-filled meadows and idyllic lakes, interspersed with very short segments of challenging terrain over large blocks of talus. Soon after we embark upon our adventure, we will journey off-trail to explore sublime alpine lakes along the Silver Divide. After lingering high above timberline, we will descend to 8,500 feet to cross Mono Creek and make our way up the densely forested floor of Second Recess to reach magnificent vistas high atop the Mono Divide. From there we will trek onward to Lake Italy and to the outermost lakes of Bear Lake Basin before we follow the rugged remnants of a trail over Italy Pass to Granite Park, and finally descend the Pine Creek Trail to our journey's end.  Photo: Tom Miller A highlight of our trip will be a layover day (one of two planned) near Teddy Bear Lake , from which ambitious hikers may venture into beautiful Bear Lake Basin to explore the countless peaceful and secluded lakes. Although we'll start our trip on a major trail, we'll leave the trail after the second day and spend most of the next six days on cross-country routes. The off-trail hiking and scrambling is not technically difficult, but there will be a few challenging sections to add some adventure. All of our camps will be at about 10,000 feet or higher.
Our trip starts at the McGee Creek Trailhead, about 10 miles south of Mammoth Lakes and 30 miles north of Bishop on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. The nearest major airport is in Reno , Nevada , about 180 miles to the north. Airports in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas are about 270 miles and 300 miles from McGee Creek, respectively. We will send specific driving directions to trip participants before departure. We will meet at 5 p.m. on day one for a potluck dinner and socializing at a campground near our trailhead. Participants are strongly encouraged to spend a day or two at high elevation before the trip begins to start acclimatizing to the thin mountain air.  Photo: Nancy Mathison Our hiking schedule is not rigid -- how far we get each day and where we camp depends on how we feel, the weather, and other factors beyond our control. Likewise, our precise route is not rigidly set since we will be hiking off-trail for much of the trip. Some scouting will always be required and flexibility is important. Thus, the itinerary described here should be taken as a general plan, and the actual route and schedule may well depart from this itinerary. After breakfast on August 4, we will drive a few miles to the McGee Creek Trailhead, where we begin our hike. The first day we plan to cover about seven miles and climb about 2,600 feet to our camp at Big McGee Lake . We will have our heaviest packs of the trip and we won't be fully acclimated to the altitude, so we will take it easy.  Photo: Nancy Mathison On the second day, we continue our climb, eventually reaching the crest of the Sierra Nevada at McGee Pass. Here we are greeted with our first view of the Silver Divide, reaching off into the distance from its junction with the Sierra Crest just to the south. Adjoining the pass on the north is 13,163-foot Red Slate Mountain , taller than any peak further north in the Sierra range. Some may choose to climb Red Slate from the pass -- the view is awesome! -- before descending to Tully Lake and Upper Fish Creek. We plan to camp among the small alpine lakes in this area on the second night, and we plan to take a layover day here the next day. Here you may climb a peak or explore the many nearby lakes -- Red and White Lake is particularly fine!  Photo: Nancy Mathison For most of the next six days, we should be hiking either completely off-trail or on lightly used, unmaintained trails. We start by traversing Shout-of-Relief and Bighorn Passes to reach a camp along Laurel Creek . Next we will descend steeply to Mono Creek, join a major trail for less than a mile, then climb off-trail again into glacially-sculpted Second Recess. This may be our hardest day, with a descent of over 1,500 feet followed by a climb of 2,400 feet. Our intended camp, near Lower Mills Creek Lake, is delightfully nestled beneath 13,000-foot granite peaks. For the next four nights, we plan to camp at 11,000 feet. From Lower Mills Creek Lake, we continue cross-country toward 12,240-foot Gabbot Pass. We will encounter some stretches of talus, but the terrain is not terribly difficult, and the summit of the pass is surprisingly broad and flat. On the north side of Gabbot, we descend gentle slopes to Lake Italy, barren and rockbound but beautiful in its starkness. We will continue for less than a mile past the Italy outlet to camp near Teddy Bear Lake, where we plan to take a second layover day. From here you can climb one of the peaks surrounding Lake Italy or cross White Bear Pass to spend a day exploring spectacular Bear Lake Basin. The next day, our eighth altogether, we start our hike out of the mountains -- but the scenery doesn't diminish. The highlight this day will be crossing rugged and beautiful Italy Pass on a faint, unmaintained (and, in fact, hard-to-see) trail. Some may want to climb Mt. Julius Caesar (13,196 feet), which adjoins the pass to the north. The trail gradually becomes better defined as we descend eastward into Granite Park , where we make our final camp, again at 11,000 feet. On the last day we follow a well-used trail past peaceful Honeymoon Lake and the Pine Lakes , then steeply descend the final 2,600 feet to the Pine Creek Trailhead. Here we find the cars we will have stationed to await us.
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 responsibility for the cooking.
Overall, the trip is rated moderate/strenuous (M/S), but some individual days will be strenuous. Altogether, we will hike about 41 miles, of which about 16 will be off-trail. Our off-trail sections include some relatively easy walking but also some hiking on rough terrain with loose footing. While not technically difficult, these sections can be demanding. Cross-country hiking requires good stamina, patience, good balance, and good humor. We plan to hike 4-8 miles on travel days, and we intend to take two layover days. We cross three high cross-country passes. Our greatest elevation gains come on the first day, when we climb 2,600 feet to Big McGee Lake , and on the fifth day, when we climb 2,400 feet to Lower Mills Creek Lake . All other days except the final day (when we descend 3,600 feet) will have elevation gains between 1,000 and 1,500 feet. The total elevation gain over seven moving days will be about 10,350 feet. All of our planned camps lie above 10,000 feet, and we will spend four nights near 11,000 feet. Participation in this outing requires that you be experienced, in shape, and know what to expect from the trip. Recent backpacking experience and very good aerobic conditioning are essential. Experience in cross-country backpacking is not required, but hiking on rough, rocky terrain does necessitate good balance and a patient, tolerant attitude, both of which are requirements for the trip. Our objectives are to enjoy some spectacular country and to complete the trip safely as a group.
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, and a portion of the group gear, which together will weigh up to 20 pounds. Please limit your personal gear to 25 pounds or less so that your total pack weight is less than 50 pounds. 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 rainfly -- 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
Please plan on bringing your own map and compass -- this is not only a matter of safety, but you will have a better appreciation of where we are going and where we have been. Maps The U.S.G.S. 7.5-rninute " Convict Lake ," " Mt. Morrison , Graveyard Peak," " Mt. Abbott ," and " Mt. Hilgard " quadrangles together cover our planned route. A few alternatives: the map of the John Muir Wilderness put out by the U.S. Forest Service, or the combination of two maps published by Tom Harrison, "Mammoth High Country" and "Mono Divide High Country." Maps may be purchased here: Books
Conservation “Such a scene! – wild, desolate, cold, forbidding, fascinating! White granite for miles, black shadows in the cañons and clefts, glistening snow, and tiny lakes sparkling in the moonlight; jagged, fantastic peaks and pinnacles with alpine intensity of light and shadow, and masses of ice and snow clinging to gentler slopes. And withal the intense quiet and loneliness of the place, a seeming new world on a new planet where man and his works are nothing. The thrill of it all comes even now, though months have passed, and will remain through the years to come.” - Lincoln Hutchinson, from the February 1903 issue of the Sierra Club Bulletin We will venture off-trail 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 vision 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.
Leader:
E-mail: nancym@sbceo.org Assistant Leader:
E-mail: tmillerca@gmail.com
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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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.
Growing up on a farm in the flatlands of rural Iowa, Tom Miller enjoyed the outdoors, but there weren't any mountains nearby to explore. It wasn't until 1985 when he joined some friends for a week in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming that he had a chance to go backpacking–-he was hooked immediately. Since moving to California in 1990, Tom has found many nearby mountains and especially enjoys backpacking in the Sierra Nevada each summer.