Day 7, 10/20/2001
Rabit Ears Pass, Silver Pass, Goodale Pass
We are going to try a pass which is not described on the maps. If it goes it will save us several miles of cross country travel or many miles of trail travel. We've been looking at it all of yesterday afternoon. It is set back in a small bowl and has two towers so we call it "Rabit Ears Pass."
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From camp we drop down to Lake Isak Walton then climb a long slope to the bowl. At the entrance to the bowl we see several possible crossings, and choose a ramp that is to the left. The going is a little steep on this side. I lag behind to take photos (all lost now) and hear the news back that the other side is easy.
Indeed, it is really just a long dirt slope. From it's bottom we hike out the small valley and pick up the Silver Pass trail. At Silver Pass we leave the trail and drop down to XXX Lake. From there we climb back up and pick up the Goodale pass trail.
This is an interesting trail. On the north side it ascends a small valley, then turns and climbs to the pass proper. The pass is broad and open with an old, weathered sign. This is the last point of alpine beauty on our trip.
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From Goodale Pass we descend into Goodale Creek. Soon we enter the trees. Thing about the Sierra though is that you never know where you'll come across beautiful scenery. On my first trip we had two nights in a stunning alpine basin then headed down only to find a comfortable camp in beautiful, open forest. I am hoping for something like that this evening. We go until we reach Upper Graveyard Meadows, poke around a little, then settle on a simple camp in the forest. We lay out the ground cloths, figuring that it should be plenty warm enough to sleep out with out the tent.
For some reason previous visitors have built multiple fire rings in this area. I count seven just near our camp, some huge. I disassemble several of the smaller rings.
Day 8, 10/21/2002
Return to Trailhead, Hotsprings, Hotel
Our last day. We get up and walk the last several hours to the car. On our way out we stop at Mono hot springs. They are just about shut down for the season, but accomodate us with a tub and a shower. We elect to use their constructed pool rather than walk to the natural springs.
From there we drive in to the central valley and take a room in a cheap motel. In the hotel we re-inact a scene from our trip:
The Reading of the Palms
Day 9, 10/22/2002
Fly back to Seattle.