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Grinnell Lake
#3655 04/20/10 01:11 AM
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Has anyone ever been to Grinnell Lake which is West of Pioneer Basin up the Laurel Creek Trail?

I'm considering a detour to it this summer and I can't seem to find a single image of it to see if it's worthy of spending an extra day on.

Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3657 04/20/10 08:49 AM
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I had to go look it up since I haven't heard the name. Given the state of the Forest Service budgets, that trail might even be hard to find.

But I bet it would be a nice place to see -- doubt you would see a soul at all. And it would be cool to get to the top of Red and White Mtn -- I think it is a pretty rugged and colorful peak looking from the Mammoth side.

Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3658 04/20/10 09:46 AM
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RP,

Here's the results of a search on Flickr for "Grinnell Lake".
Looks very nice, indeed! Trying viewing as a full screen slideshow.

Edit - Well, after scrolling through a ton of pics on this slideshow, I ran into one with a reference to Glacier Natl Park (and I'm pretty sure all the other pics are of the same lake and area). So maybe the wrong Grinnell Lake came up in my search.

CaT

Last edited by CaT; 04/20/10 10:09 AM.

If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracle of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it.
- Lyndon Johnson, on signing the Wilderness Act into law (1964)
Re: Grinnell Lake
CaT #3659 04/20/10 10:07 AM
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Great photos,CaT, unfortunately, the wrong lake! Those are in Montana, he's asking about the one in Ca, below Red and White Mountain.

I was up there when my group did the first ascent of the N face of Mt Hopkins. Beautiful lake, in a desolate rocky alpine setting (if you like that!)

Here's a picture of Red and White, and Grinnell lake:


Last edited by Ken; 04/21/10 11:12 PM.
Re: Grinnell Lake
Ken #3660 04/20/10 10:09 AM
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Yeah ... just discovered that about the time you posted.
Oh, well...


If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracle of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it.
- Lyndon Johnson, on signing the Wilderness Act into law (1964)
Re: Grinnell Lake
CaT #3661 04/20/10 10:20 AM
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Wow, the one in Montana is beautiful!

I did a Google Image search using the string:
    "grinnell Lake" sierra -glacier

and found this picture from this thread in High Sierra Topix.  There is one more picture of Grinnell Lake just below that one in the thread.



And a second from that thread, titled "Looking back at Red & White"




Ken, you participated in that thread from High Sierra Topix, about hiking with a badly bleeding shin.

Re: Grinnell Lake
Steve C #3664 04/20/10 10:59 AM
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I'd completely forgotten about the discussion.

Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3665 04/20/10 01:28 PM
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Thanks for the info, I had almost noted the fact that there was the other lake in Glacier National Park since I found it while trying to search.

This is one reason why I like taking lots of pictures and labeling them the best I can to have an archive of locations in the Sierra.

I think i'll go to Grinnell Lake from VVR and then to Pioneer Basin and resume.

Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3667 04/20/10 02:46 PM
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WR is ?? - should it go in the acronym list?

Oh VVR - never mind.

Last edited by wagga; 04/20/10 02:47 PM.

Verum audaces non gerunt indusia alba. - Ipsi dixit MCMLXXII
Re: Grinnell Lake
wagga #3668 04/20/10 02:57 PM
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And VVR ( V.V.R ) stands for Vermillion Valley Resort, the name of the outfit at Edison Lake running the ferry and restaurant/resort. In most fonts, VVR looks like WR.

They have a web site, http://www.edisonlake.com/

Re: Grinnell Lake
Steve C #3672 04/20/10 10:02 PM
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Hi Steve,

The peaks in this area are familiar from my Pioneer Basin trip; how far away is it from the PB? I loved the area; the meadows and mini lakes were just soooo sweet (thanks Laura!)

B


The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
Re: Grinnell Lake
Bee #3673 04/20/10 11:09 PM
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Grinnell Lake is just two miles due west of the Pioneer Basin, but there are two ridges (11.5 to 12k) and a 10.5k valley in between.

Here's a MyTopo link. Be sure to click the "MyTopo" button in the upper right corner of the map so you can see the contours.

Re: Grinnell Lake
Steve C #3674 04/20/10 11:31 PM
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Excellent -- thanks, Steve! I specifically remember standing by one of the lakes and staring up at Hopkins, so I know exactly which direction the area you speak of would be. It is funny, though, that one would never envision a whole other valley/ridge beyond what I could see. It was my first time to the SeKi area, so I was overwhelmed by the recesses and personalized mini-lakes.

Laura's pictures of the Pioneer Basin area:
Pioneer Basin

B

Last edited by Bee; 04/21/10 09:37 PM. Reason: add photo link

The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3675 04/20/10 11:36 PM
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I wasn't planning a cross country trek to Pioneer Basin, i'll just go back to the trail and go that way, it's only like 11 miles from Grinnell Lake to Pioneer Basin, i'll probably make the 0.4 mile detour to see what Laurel Lake looks like also.

Since my loop East from VVR was only 4 days to MTR I thought might as well add another detour. smile

Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3676 04/20/10 11:50 PM
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The trip from vvr is a great way to go. Pioneer Basin seems to be "the" place to go in the region. personally, I like the Fourth Recess, for many reasons: the beautiful lake, the wonderful waterfall, the last place Norman Clyde camped in the Sierra. Lotsa history up Mono Creek.

By the way, if you have Secor, he has the shortcut I described to him for getting from the jct with the PCT up Mono Creek, rather than the trail, which is a mile out of the way and extra climbing. (I was a volunteer ranger in this area)

The owner of VVR is Jim Clement, my old hiking and climbing partner. He's a great guy, and the resort is a kick, if you've never been there. More of a rustic ranch.

Re: Grinnell Lake
Ken #3677 04/21/10 01:08 AM
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I completely agree with you, Ken, that Fourth Recess is impossibly beautiful. In one location, all of the scenic and photographic ingredients are in check. I found the mystery and depth of the recesses to be most intriguing.

B


The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3689 04/21/10 02:08 PM
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Got any good photos from the Fourth Recess? seeing is believing! =P

Do you consider Fourth Recess Lake to be the highlight or do you travel all the way up to Snow Lakes?

Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3690 04/21/10 02:22 PM
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On a TSDH from RCC to VVR you see all four Recesses in one day.
4th. is unbelievably beautiful.


Verum audaces non gerunt indusia alba. - Ipsi dixit MCMLXXII
Re: Grinnell Lake
wagga #3691 04/21/10 05:26 PM
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Ummm wagga....

Give 'em a break on the acronyms. wink

TSDH = Trans-Sierra Day Hike
RCC = Rock Creek Complex
VVR = Vermillion Valley Resort (aka Edison Lake)

Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3692 04/21/10 06:00 PM
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It's all good unless we start using Lolspeak! cry

Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3693 04/21/10 06:22 PM
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That trail is also known as TNEEVOF. (The Never-Ending Elastic Valley Of Infinity).

Last edited by wagga; 04/21/10 06:24 PM. Reason: Sentences (at least on this forum), end with a period.

Verum audaces non gerunt indusia alba. - Ipsi dixit MCMLXXII
Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3696 04/21/10 11:07 PM
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Fourth Recess Lake and the (I think ) 1,000 foot waterfall at the far end:


Re: Grinnell Lake
Ken #3697 04/21/10 11:09 PM
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For those who have the time, this photo essay/trip report takes the reader through all 4 recesses, up Pioneer Basin, over the ridges....and down into the Grinnell Lake recess:

One of my favorite TR's of all time Here


Last edited by Bee; 04/21/10 11:40 PM. Reason: Add quick link
Re: Grinnell Lake
Ken #3698 04/21/10 11:54 PM
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I agree, Ken -- one of the best trip reports that I have had the pleasure of reading. I appreciate the author's lack of flourish,all the while, still including incredible descriptions/photos and even a couple of recipes. I will consider this TR a fine template should I ever be inspired to write one, myself.


The body betrays and the weather conspires, hopefully, not on the same day.
Re: Grinnell Lake
Bee #3703 04/22/10 02:32 PM
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Ken that is a SPECTACULAR photo!!!What a great wall hanging that would make.

Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3705 04/22/10 05:20 PM
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Well I plan to layover a day in Pioneer Basin so I suppose I could hike over to the Fourth Recess Lake and back, i'll have to see how I feel.

At this point I think I need to put a cap on adding more days into this hike, I have already crossed the 60 day mark. crazy

Re: Grinnell Lake
RoguePhotonic #3706 04/22/10 09:27 PM
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Had a chance to read that trip report and I agree it was done quite well. Very beautiful locations!

I think I will go ahead and take the cross country route over the same ridge he did between Grinnell Lake and Lower Hopkins Lake, looks to be worth it.

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