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Backpacking the High Trail / John Muir Trail loop over Labor Day Weekend 2017

Previous
Friday September 1, 2017
High Trail / PCT from
Agnes Meadow to Thousand Island Lake

Saturday September 2, 2017
John Muir Trail from
Thousand Island Lake to Rosalie Lake
Next
Sunday September 3, 2017
John Muir Trail from
Rosalie Lake to Devil's Postpile

I woke up in the middle of the night and went outside
I always forget how amazing the stars are in the wilderness.
It was MUCH colder than I'd anticipated.
The weather for Mammoth Lakes was supposed to get down to around 50 for a low, but there was frost on the ground here.
My sleeping bag was warm, but it was freaking cold out...
I didn't sleep too well and I ended up sleeping in, getting up at 730am


2017-09-02 07:32


2017-09-02 07:52


2017-09-02 08:18


2017-09-02 08:59


2017-09-02 09:01

I got some nice pictures but in hindsight missed my opportunity to get a picture of the mountain reflecting in the lake - a perfect excuse to go back sometime.
I thought about spending the day here, but I got my early morning pictures of the mountains, it was freaking crowded here, and didn't need to spend the day getting bit by bugs.
Eventually I packed up and left, another very late start.


2017-09-02 10:00






Emerald Lake - 9,912' - milepost 13.6 on the JMT - 0.8 miles hiked today, 8.9 miles hiked total


2017-09-02 11:27

Ruby Lake, 9,967', milepost 13.3 on the JMT - 1.1 miles hiked today, 9,2 miles hiked total


2017-09-02 11:29

Ruby Lake, 9,967', milepost 13.3 on the JMT - 1.1 miles hiked today, 9.2 miles hiked total



PANO - scroll right
Ruby Lake, 9,967', milepost 13.3 on the JMT - 1.1 miles hiked today, 9.2 miles hiked total


2017-09-02 12:44

Garnet Lake, 9,759', looking southwest - milepost 12 on the JMT - 2.4 miles hiked today, 10.5 miles hiked total

I stopped for a lunch break at Garnet Lake, where Jed, Kent and I had camped last year.


2017-09-02 13:06

Garnet Lake outlet looking northeast


2017-09-02 13:06

Garnet Lake, looking southwest


2017-09-02 13:41

Last year we camped on the peninsula where it now says 'Go past this peninsular to camp overnight'.
They have expanded the 'no camping' area around Garnet Lake to include all three of the only obvious spots that used to be allowed. 
This is of course after they prohibited camping within 1/4 mile of the outlet of Garnet Lake.
They now want you to hike an extra mile or so in from a trailhead north of the lake.
Very, very few people are likely to heed that advice.

I completely understand wanting to protect this area, but this is ridiculous.
These areas all appear to be pristine, its not like there's trash everywhere or trampled grass.
This all begs the question why did I even bother to get a permit or try follow any of these increasingly absurd rules when I watched a Ranger allow some clown without a bear box or permits camp anyway?
Also worth mentioning - there is zero wildlife visible back here, nothing bigger than a chipmunk. 
No deer, no bears, no racoons, no nothing. 
All the bears must be in Yosemite where there are many more people to steal food from.



Garnet Lake, looking west


2017-09-02 13:42

Volcanic Ridge - Looking southeast from the pass between Garnet Lake and Shadow Creek


2017-09-02 14:43

Ediza Lake trail junction -  9,053', looking west - milepost 8.7 on the JMT - 5.7 miles hiked today, 13.8 miles hiked total



Shadow Creek
PANO - scroll right


2017-09-02 15:25

Shadow Lake - 9,053', looking east - milepost 7.8 on the JMT - 6.6 miles hiked today, 14.7 miles hiked total
PANO - scroll right

I then hiked up 600' to get to the pass between Shadow Lake and Rosalie Lake, then dropped into Rosalie Lake.
I found a reasonably good spot on the north end of Rosalie Lake that was relatively isolated with only one other camper in the area.
Against better judgement I continued on toward the more picturesque part of the lake to find dozens of people camping in nearly every level nook and crany available.
I finally selected a spot just a few feet off the trail, then watch a group of 4 campers pick another spot right on top of mine.
The wind shifted direction and now my clear skies were hazy brown with smoke from one of the many nearby forest fires.
I decided if the skies didn't clear I'd leave tomorrow, I was here to take pictures and see beauty, not choke on smoke.
I was kinda disappointed, Rosalie Lake was my favorite memory of my hike last year, and now it was crowded with less than stellar visibility...

Rosalie Lake 9,390' is at milepost 6.3 on the JMT - 8.1 miles hiked today, 16.2 miles hiked total.

I didn't get a single picture of my campsite at Rosalie Lake :(

Previous
Friday September 1, 2017
High Trail / PCT from
Agnes Meadow to Thousand Island Lake

Saturday September 2, 2017
John Muir Trail from
Thousand Island Lake to Rosalie Lake
Next
Sunday September 3, 2017
John Muir Trail from
Rosalie Lake to Devil's Postpile