Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion July 4 trips near Bishop

This has nothing to do with Mt. Whitney, but I'm sure people here have good information. I'm planning my july 4th weekend trip (3 days/2nights) and have narrowed it down to 4 options. They are all off 395 near Bishop. Dusy Basin, Sabrina Basin, Kearaserge Lakes, and Humphrey's Basin. Any thoughts or advice on these areas? I've looked in books and web pages and they all seem to be very similar.

personally I'd rank the views as

1 Kearsarge Pass
2 Bishop Pass
3
4
5 Piute Pass/Humphries

The 4th of July weekend will be busy wherever you hike. Any of those previously mentioned areas are beautiful. My current favorite is the Little Lakes Valley in Rock Creek Canyon, about 30 miles north of Bishop. The LLV has lots of lakes and campsites, with terrific views. In order to avoid crowds, try going to the upper end of the LLV and cross Morgan Pass, camping at one of the Morgan Lakes. The Morgan Lakes doesn't see many visitors, and is spectacular. Be sure to get to the Mosquito Flat trailhead very early (6 AM) in order to be assured of a parking spot; it gets really crowded after 7 AM.

July is prime Mosquito season; so be prepared! One nice little extra about the Little Lakes Valley is the Pie in the Sky Cafe, near Rock Creek Lake, which serves the best pie on the planet!

Amen to that. I was there just after the 7/4 holiday last year, got to the trailhead on a Friday morning about 8:00 and had to park 2 lots away from the trailhead - and the distance between lots is not small. Lesson learned.

I have spent the night in the parking lot at Mosquito Flat. Since it is at 10,000', it is a good acclimation site.

Another hike out of the same trail head, but involves 2k elevation climb, is to head over Mono Pass into Pioneer Basin. It is very pretty up there.

If you head out of Onion Valley, maybe spend the night at Charlotte Lk, and dayhike over Glenn Pass to Rae Lakes. That is one of the most beautiful places on the JMT, in my opinion.

There is a shortcut out of Charlotte Lk to Glenn Pass--just head north up the drainage. Near the top, it heads right and joins the JMT. (it's an abandoned trail) Over Glenn Pass and back in a day, though, might be a long day.

Lower Rae Lake and the Fin Dome

Click the picture to see the album.

I like Steve's idea of the Pioneer Basin. However, I would stay the first night at 4th Recess Lake. I truly love that lake but you should be prepared to get wet crossing the creek into recess.

The view of the LLV from this trail is spectacular.

The only problem can be snow clogged passes. I don't think you would have a problem with Kearsarge or Piute but Bishop and Mono Passes might have some snow that early in the year...especially if we have a lot of late snow.

Little Lakes Valley looks like a good hike also. A little shorter, but probably plenty of room to explore. All the hikes look great. The determining factor maybe what trails still have permits.

I'm leaning towards Bishop Pass/Dusy Basin because this connects to the JMT. I could give a report to hiking buddies about the trail for future use.

One question about that trail-Is there a connecting trail between Chocolate Lakes-Ruwau Lake-back to main trail? I'm sure a little bushwacking and a compass/gps the route can be completed. Looks like an interesting detour on the return trip.

thanks

> I'm leaning towards Bishop Pass/Dusy Basin because this connects to the JMT. I could give a report to hiking buddies about the trail for future use.

It is a long drop to the JMT from Bishop Pass, 3,200'. The JMT below Dusy Basin is not particularly spectacular. It travels through the forested canyon, with an occasional meadow. If you had an extra day or two, it might be worth camping around the Le Conte R.S. and doing some fishing. It is a pretty area, but the canyon is a long ways down. A climb of Mt. Agassiz would be more rewarding.


> One question about that trail-Is there a connecting trail between Chocolate Lakes-Ruwau Lake-back to main trail? I'm sure a little bushwacking and a compass/gps the route can be completed. Looks like an interesting detour on the return trip.

The topo maps shown through GMap4 tell me no bushwhacking would be required:  Chocolate Peak area (full screen)

Here's the same map (embedded):

The map says there is a trail but if there is a lot of late snow and a cold spring it just might be a snow slog to Chocolate Lakes.

We traveled it in 2005 and there was a lot of snow between Ruwau and Bull Lake...in fact we lost the trail near Bull Lake because it was under water.

See my winter on the Fourth of July pictures in the Bishop Pass area.