TR: North Lake Loop 9/5-12
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2019 3:54 pm
The initial plan was: (1)Muriel Lake-(2)Merriam Lake-(3)Feather Pass to Seven Gables Lake-(4)Marie Lake-(5) Spearpoint Lake/west Pinnacle Creek-(6) east Pinnacle Creek- (7)Golden Trout Lakes-(8) North Lake TH. Weather reports predicted a bit of rain the first day, then cool and dry. The route had several “bail-out” points if weather turned poor.
I picked up my permit at the Mono Visitor Center and then drove through some downpours to the North Lake campground, setting up my car-camping tent in a walk-in campsite. Just as I set up, the deluge began again. I ate dinner in my car. Sometime early in the night it cleared.
Day 1. North Lake to Upper Golden Trout Lake. 6.7 miles, 5.0 hours, 2270 elevation gain
I awoke in the dark, ate breakfast , threw the soaking tent into the car, drove to the parking lot, and walked back. With dry gear, I was on the trail by 7:30, hoping to beat predicted afternoon storms. The trail was muddy and wet. I passed a group who must have hiked in to Loch Leven Lake the day before; they were drying out all their gear. Clouds began to build and all hell broke loose as I topped out on Piute Pass. At this point, I decided to drop to the Golden Trout Lakes where there were trees instead of going to Muriel Lake. I could hit Muriel Lake on the return.
During the next hour, surges of wind-driven rain would pass. Luckily I found a nice sheltered campsite at Upper Golden Trout Lake that was relatively dry and set up. There was even a bit of sunshine to dry out. The rest of the day was spent doing quick day-hikes and running back and forth from the tent to the lake to fish. I caught one small trout for dinner. Luckily I had a nice “kitchen” under a tree that stayed dry for dinner. I gave up and hopped into the tent to listen to music at 7PM.
Day 2. Upper Golden Lake to Merriam Lake. 7.9 miles, 5.1 hours, 1530 elevation gain
Morning was clear and not too cold so I was able to get on the trial by 8AM, delayed a bit to dry the tent. The trail that connects with the Piute Pass trail is less maintained and at times I wondered if I was on the correct trail. I passed a tent and fellow who also wondered if he was on the right trail. Once I hit the main trail it was obvious. The numerous crossings of the braided creeks at Hutchison Meadows did not require wading, but I got soaked by tall wet grass. I took a break at the French Canyon trail junction.
I have never been up this trail and wished I had more time to go down to the beautiful meadows along the creek to fish. One could easily spend an enjoyable day fishing here where there were plenty of wonderful campsites. The trail to Merriam Lake is on the south side of the creek flowing from the lake, NOT on the north side as shown on the USGS map. I had been here before, so knew this, thank goodness!
As I climbed the steep trail, clouds began to build. At the beautiful upper meadow I saw a fellow in the distance and he waved. The trail basically ends in this meadow; one can go on either side of cliffs that block direct travel to Merriam Lake. I went left, as I had in the past. Once at the lake I dropped my pack and spent nearly half an hour looking for a campsite, finding one up on a bench near the inlet waterfalls, with two sheltered spots under trees for cooking, although the tent was out in the open.
By early afternoon waves of wind-driven light rain passed almost continuously. This went on all afternoon, so that I decided not to fish. Occasional sunshine allowed me to take a bucket bath and wash a shirt. Between squalls I would hike around a bit. Thankfully, cooking dinner was dry but I had to make an intricate wind break for my stove with my backpack, sleeping pad and bear can. It was another early into the tent evening. Now I worried about continuing. The wet weather pattern lingered longer than predicted. I decided to wait until morning to decide what to do.
I picked up my permit at the Mono Visitor Center and then drove through some downpours to the North Lake campground, setting up my car-camping tent in a walk-in campsite. Just as I set up, the deluge began again. I ate dinner in my car. Sometime early in the night it cleared.
Day 1. North Lake to Upper Golden Trout Lake. 6.7 miles, 5.0 hours, 2270 elevation gain
I awoke in the dark, ate breakfast , threw the soaking tent into the car, drove to the parking lot, and walked back. With dry gear, I was on the trail by 7:30, hoping to beat predicted afternoon storms. The trail was muddy and wet. I passed a group who must have hiked in to Loch Leven Lake the day before; they were drying out all their gear. Clouds began to build and all hell broke loose as I topped out on Piute Pass. At this point, I decided to drop to the Golden Trout Lakes where there were trees instead of going to Muriel Lake. I could hit Muriel Lake on the return.
During the next hour, surges of wind-driven rain would pass. Luckily I found a nice sheltered campsite at Upper Golden Trout Lake that was relatively dry and set up. There was even a bit of sunshine to dry out. The rest of the day was spent doing quick day-hikes and running back and forth from the tent to the lake to fish. I caught one small trout for dinner. Luckily I had a nice “kitchen” under a tree that stayed dry for dinner. I gave up and hopped into the tent to listen to music at 7PM.
Day 2. Upper Golden Lake to Merriam Lake. 7.9 miles, 5.1 hours, 1530 elevation gain
Morning was clear and not too cold so I was able to get on the trial by 8AM, delayed a bit to dry the tent. The trail that connects with the Piute Pass trail is less maintained and at times I wondered if I was on the correct trail. I passed a tent and fellow who also wondered if he was on the right trail. Once I hit the main trail it was obvious. The numerous crossings of the braided creeks at Hutchison Meadows did not require wading, but I got soaked by tall wet grass. I took a break at the French Canyon trail junction.
I have never been up this trail and wished I had more time to go down to the beautiful meadows along the creek to fish. One could easily spend an enjoyable day fishing here where there were plenty of wonderful campsites. The trail to Merriam Lake is on the south side of the creek flowing from the lake, NOT on the north side as shown on the USGS map. I had been here before, so knew this, thank goodness!
As I climbed the steep trail, clouds began to build. At the beautiful upper meadow I saw a fellow in the distance and he waved. The trail basically ends in this meadow; one can go on either side of cliffs that block direct travel to Merriam Lake. I went left, as I had in the past. Once at the lake I dropped my pack and spent nearly half an hour looking for a campsite, finding one up on a bench near the inlet waterfalls, with two sheltered spots under trees for cooking, although the tent was out in the open.
By early afternoon waves of wind-driven light rain passed almost continuously. This went on all afternoon, so that I decided not to fish. Occasional sunshine allowed me to take a bucket bath and wash a shirt. Between squalls I would hike around a bit. Thankfully, cooking dinner was dry but I had to make an intricate wind break for my stove with my backpack, sleeping pad and bear can. It was another early into the tent evening. Now I worried about continuing. The wet weather pattern lingered longer than predicted. I decided to wait until morning to decide what to do.