Day 3, 10/16/2001
Cox Col, Bear Creek Spire, and Treasure Lakes in the Little Lakes region.
From camp we hike up a ridge toward the pass between Mt. Abbot and Mt. Gabb. From the top of the ridge we follow a small and slowly rising valley through a beautiful desolation of the high alpine, finally reaching the pass. It's one of the most enjoyable uphill hikes of my life.
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From the pass we look down into Italy Lake basin and across to Cox Col and Bear Creek Spire. We thread our way across the tallus toward Cox Col, arriving to find it a windy, dry, and uncomfortable place. Jamie drops east over the pass to relax in the sun while Paul and I scramble to the summit. There is some fine 3rd class climbing on face and chimneys, but we are thwarted just below the summit proper by an exposed 4th class move. The view of the surrounding ridge lines is spectacular.
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We rejoin Jamie and head for Long Lake. We are tired and the terrain is difficult tallus. At the outlet of Treasure Lakes I see that Long Lake is still a ways away and baulk at going further. We find a nice camp on the ridge between two lakes. The weather seems unsettled so Paul and Jamie set up the megamid while I cook dinner. I develop a splitting headache, probably from too much exertion at altitude and not enough water intake. Camp is dusty.
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Day 4, 10/17/2001
Long Lake, Mono Pass, Pioneer Basin
| In the morning we find that the descent from Treasure Lakes to Long Lake is not so bad. In fact, there is a bit of a trail most of the way. We stop for a long break at the outlet of Long Lake. |
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From there we cut cross country to pick up the trail near Ruby lake and hike up and over Mono Pass. Going cross country in the Sierra is ridiculously easy.
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After lush and colorful Long Lake, monochromatic and austere Mono Pass was like the moon. It is a long pass, almost a plateau, mainly of course granitic sand. There's one blue lake on the Plateau.
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It's windy at the pass so we hike a ways beyond it before stooping for lunch. Even so, we crouch behind shrubs for some shelter. This is day 4 and I'm feeling well worked. I imagine that Paul and Jamie are too. We are also beginning to tire of our daily lunch fare. Jamie observes that on this trip he brought "mono" food: same lunch every day. He will do it differently next time.
A short ways further down the trail passes a lake with a sturdy alpine cabin near it. The cabin has a sign stating that it belongs to the "California Snow Patrol". We figure that this is a ski club operating under the guise of measuring snow pack. "Good 2 ft of powder on the north facing bowls."
Further down we again cut cross country to save some walking. Quickly we pick up the trail into Pioneer basin. The first lake we arrive at is beautiful: low sun lighting expanses of golden grass. On the far side we see another fox trotting away from us. Since it has been a long day and it is hard to imagine that the lakes above would be much more beautiful (which they were) we camp here. I take a quick rinse in the lake. Jamie and I read in the remaining light of the day while Paul pursues some photographs.
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After sunset we relax under our sleeping bags while Paul cooks us dinner. We sleep out under the stars. Camp is very dusty. It's a cold night. In the middle of it I find that my sleeping bag is covered with ice.