Ruby Lake day hike

August 9, 2011, 10:14 pm

Little Lakes Basin

We went back again today to the Mosquito Flats trail head on Rock Creek, but took the trail up the hill toward Mono Pass. We only went as far as Ruby Lake at 11,100 ft. The real seriously steep climbing to the pass starts after reaching Ruby Lake.

As the trail climbs there are several vantage points to look down into Little Lakes valley and see a number of the lakes. Ruby Lake itself sits in a bowl below a 13,000 foot ridge that is impressive. The round trip hike was a short 4.5 miles.

Links
—Ruby Lake 2011 photo gallery

August 9th, 2011 | Category: Outdoors | One comment

Day hiking along upper Rock Creek

August 8, 2011, 9:49 pm

Rock Creek’s Little Lakes valley is one of our favorite day hikes, even though lots of other folks think the same. To get there, take the turn-off at Tom’s Place from highway 395 and head up Rock Creek to Mosquito Flats at the end of the road. Arrive early in the busy summer months or you’ll have to park 1/4 to 1/2 mile back down the road.

The elevation at the trailhead is 10,255 ft so you simply have to step out of your vehicle and you are in the “high Sierra.” We passed by Mack, Grass, Heart, Box, and Long Lakes before stopping at Chicken Foot Lake for lunch. Then we continued on to Gem Lakes before heading back to the trailhead. We covered 8.5 miles and our high elevation point at Gem Lakes was 10,945 ft.

Heart Lake in Little Lakes valley


There was still lots of water runoff in the main streams and minor tributaries. That meant two things: there were abundant wild-flowers, and there were lots of mosquitos.

Links
—Upper Rock Creek 2011 photo gallery

August 8th, 2011 | Category: Outdoors | Leave a comment

Hiking to Bennettville and Shell Lake

August 7, 2011, 10:02 pm

Shell Lake with Mount Conness in the background

On our way to Bishop we stopped for a short 3 mile round-trip hike just over the top of Tioga Pass. Just at the turnoff to Saddlebag Lake is a trailhead that goes to the old site of Bennettville and on up Mine Creek to a few lakes. Bennettville is a failed silver mining area. In fact, no silver was ever mined, but a substantial amount of work was done. Several tons of equipment was hauled in, and more than a dozen structures were built. Two cabins remain in a state of arrested decay. A road was eventually built from the west over Tioga Pass, which eventually became the basis for Highway 120/Tioga Pass road. We have been here once before.

We continued on up Mine Creek to Shell Lake and continued on a bit farther to an unnamed little lake. Fantail Lake was just a bit farther up the canyon, but a visit there will have to wait for another time.

Links
—Bennettville 2011 photo gallery

August 7th, 2011 | Category: Outdoors | One comment
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