One Night in Sabrina Basin
-
llupine
- Topix Novice
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:59 pm
- Experience: Level 2 Backpacker
One Night in Sabrina Basin
Hi everyone. First of all, thanks for this forum filled with great information. From looking at photos on here in search of hiking ideas, I fell in love with Sabrina Basin. I got a permit for Sabrina Basin next week, but the downside is that I only have 1 night and 2 days. I'm a traveling healthcare worker helping out at the hospital in South Lake Tahoe for the summer, so I don't have any real time off other than my regular days off work. I've been spending a ton of time in desolation wilderness, but now I"m looking to branch out. Anyway, I'm super excited to check out Sabrina basin, and I hoped some of you could point me in the right direction to experience the most out of my limited time there. I was torn between camping at Hungry Packer or Moonlight Lake. Is it true that Hungry Packer has limited camping options? I am prioritizing beauty over comfort in camping for this trip since my time is limited. Which is more scenic? It's hard to judge from photos. I won't have a ton of time for side trips, but would it be worth it to see just Moonlight and Hungry Packer (along with the other lakes that are on the trail), or should I make Midnight or Echo lake a part of my itinerary? I'll be going solo if that matters. Thanks in advance for any tips!
-
balzaccom
- Topix Addict
- Posts: 2966
- Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:22 pm
- Experience: N/A
Re: One Night in Sabrina Basin
If you only have two days and one night, I would set up camp at one of the lower lakes like Dingleberry or Donkey and then day hike onwards to see more of the Basin...
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-R ... 0984884963
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-R ... 0984884963
-
llupine
- Topix Novice
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:59 pm
- Experience: Level 2 Backpacker
Re: One Night in Sabrina Basin
Thanks for the advice. I guess I was thinking that since I don't have time for barely any side trips, it made sense to camp at the most scenic spot I can comfortably get to in one day. Looked like Hungry Packer was only a little over 7 miles in, so I thought that seemed reasonable. I probably should have mentioned that camping at a beautiful spot with good sunrise or sunset views is more of a priority for me than seeing every lake in the area. Mostly just torn between picking Moonlight, Hungry Packer, or Sailor for the overnight spot. I see your point though. I guess I would have more energy to hike further if I set up camp sooner.
-
balzaccom
- Topix Addict
- Posts: 2966
- Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:22 pm
- Experience: N/A
Re: One Night in Sabrina Basin
And we liked Donkey Lake the best...
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-R ... 0984884963
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-R ... 0984884963
-
Harlen
- Topix Addict
- Posts: 2097
- Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2017 9:13 am
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
- Location: Santa Cruz Mountains
Re: One Night in Sabrina Basin
Hi llupine,
I'll try to include the trip report with photos by RoguePhotonic, which will provide you with some images of the various high lakes of Sabrina Basin.
Here it is: Sabrina Basin 6/6 - 6/8/15 http://www.highsierratopix.com/communit ... 885#p96570
you need to click on the blue "Sabrina Basin" to get access to the photos. Good luck and thanks for your work in Healthcare. Ian.
I'll try to include the trip report with photos by RoguePhotonic, which will provide you with some images of the various high lakes of Sabrina Basin.
Here it is: Sabrina Basin 6/6 - 6/8/15 http://www.highsierratopix.com/communit ... 885#p96570
you need to click on the blue "Sabrina Basin" to get access to the photos. Good luck and thanks for your work in Healthcare. Ian.
Properly trained, a man can be dog’s best friend.
-
balzaccom
- Topix Addict
- Posts: 2966
- Joined: Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:22 pm
- Experience: N/A
Re: One Night in Sabrina Basin
And here is our report:
Stunning Sabrina Basin
Post date: Aug 18, 2019 2:58:04 AM
With only a few more days before school starts, we wanted to get one last trip into the Sierra, and headed for Sabrina Basin. We'd hiked out of both North Lake and South Lake, so this was the last of the three trailheads for us to explore.
Day One: It was a long drive from Napa over Echo Summit and Monitor Pass to the Mono Lake Ranger Station, where we got our permit at about 1 p.m. There were still plenty of spaces available for both Monday and Tuesday, so we felt sure that it wouldn't be too crowded. After a quick bite at the Lee Vining Mobil Station, we drove down to Bishop to buy a few last minute supplies (a dinner for that night, a hair clip for M, and an extra bottle of Advil for our aching bones) and set up camp in the Sabrina Lake Campground. There were still places available here at 5 p.m. and we took a short walk around the area and settled in to an early night.
Day Two: We packed up and parked Le Vin Blanc on the road right outside the campground, then hit the trail by 9 a.m. Fishermen were already on the lake as we slowly climbed up past the trail to Lake George and onwards to Blue Lake. We got there in time for an early lunch, and probably should have taken a short rest at that point. But we didn't. The mosquitoes were not too bad in the middle of the afternoon, and we pushed on past Emerald Lakes to Dingleberry Lake.
There were a few campers on the granite ledges above the South end of the lake, and we half-heartedly looked for a campsite on the North end. But that was pretty rugged terrain. We wandered along the creek beyond the lake, and finally settled on a campsite overlooking the two fords of the creek: one for hikers, one for stock. It was a pretty spot, with shade in the afternoon for our nap, and nice views all the way around. We set up camp, napped, fished, rested, and generally felt a bit worn out after only five miles of hiking. But that comes with age, we suppose.
That night the mosquitoes made their presence known in spades, and we turned in early to escape them. Still, it was lovely country, and the weather was perfect: warm in the sun, cool in the shade.
Day Three; instead of packing up, we left our camp set up and day-hiked up to the lakes above. After fording the creek, we ran into a wilderness ranger doing trail work. In addition to sharing our experiences working on trails, we got our permit checked and had a nice chat. On our permit we had initially named Topsy-Turvy Lake as our destination, but we were happy with our campsite at the fords. And when we saw Topsy Turvy Lake, we were even happier with our decision. While it was beautiful, there didn't seem to be many campsites at Topsy Turvy amid the vast fields of talus--although there might have been a few above the lake on the South side--and they would have been very exposed. We like shade.
From there we continued on to Sailor Lake, and then topped out at Hungry Packer Lake, which had apparently earned the name Hungry Mosquito Lake this year. The bugs were absolutely fierce. We were hiking in headnets and it really helped to keep moving! Which we did. Lots of people camped around here, by the way.
We hiked cross-country over to Moonlight Lake and had a nice rest and snack sitting among the huge talus blocks above that lake. Then we continued down the granite slabs to Sailor Lake again, and back down to our camp. It was interesting that the ford, which was about 75 feet long over a long string of rocks, was drier later in the day, and wetter earlier in the day. Clearly the snowmelt was taking twelve hours to get down the creek to the ford. After lunch and a nap. we decided we'd explore Dingleberry Lake some more. While much of the shoreline was rugged, we did manage to find a route down from the trail to the North end of the lake, where there was a lovely pool, and a series of campsites further out above the canyon beyond the outlet stream. This would make a nice base camp, and it seemed to get little traffic.
Back at camp that night, we dodged and swatted the bugs, ate our dinner, and again headed to the tent just about dusk, leaving the field to the pesky mosquitoes.
Day Four: We'd heard that Donkey Lake had fewer mosquitoes, and since that was also on our itinerary, we headed there next. The trail back down to Blue Lake is really beautiful, and we enjoyed it much more in this direction. Once at the junction, we took the trail towards Donkey Lake, and were surprised to see a second junction only 1/4 mile later to Baboon Lakes. On our topo map, and on the Tom Harrison map, this junction is much higher up, right where the trail crosses the creek. Hmmm. Oh well. We continued on to Donkey Lake, absolutely loving the scenery of the creek as we followed it up the canyon past pools, cascades and rapids.
And Donkey Lake was charming. We set up camp and went to explore a bit, doing some fishing, filtering water, and getting a feel for the place. The lake was so clear and there were so many trout on the surface that at times it looked like an aquarium. After lunch and our usual nap, we headed back down the hill 1/2 mile to pick up the trail that was shown on our maps to Baboon Lakes.
What a bushwhack! We followed cairns and blazes; struggled, clambered, and finally found a section of trail that looked reasonable. After about an hour, and at least one conversation about turning around, we topped out on the crest of a ridge, and there was Baboon Lake. Spectacular! We wandered around the lake for quite a while before exploring different routes down. We could not believe that was the only trail! But as we explored, we found an easier down to the trail, and as P watched our progress and took in our surroundings, he suddenly exclaimed: "Donkey Lake is right over there!"
He was right. It was just 75 yards from where we had found the first real section of cairns to follow...and the whole first part of our hike up to Baboon Lakes had been a complicated and unnecessary circle. For those who are interested, if you find the small round pond just West of Donkey Lake, you can follow a series of cairns southwest up that ridge, over into the next chute, and at the top of that chute the cairns will lead you into the main chute that takes you up to Baboon Lakes. It's steep, but passable and clearly marked. And while it took us just over an hour to get up to the lakes, it took us only 25 minutes to get down, once we understood the geography.
(BTW, the other, signed trail to Baboon Lakes from near Blue Lake must take a very different route---but we never saw it, even though we looked for that trail up at the lake itself. We assume that it stays west of the creek the whole way up...) Great fishing that afternoon in Donkey Lake for brookies and rainbows from 6-10 inches long...and almost non-stop action. That evening we fought the bugs one last time, finally giving up around 8 o'clock to get into the tent.
Photos are here; https://photos.app.goo.gl/bZbDv9vXvaMXsita9
Stunning Sabrina Basin
Post date: Aug 18, 2019 2:58:04 AM
With only a few more days before school starts, we wanted to get one last trip into the Sierra, and headed for Sabrina Basin. We'd hiked out of both North Lake and South Lake, so this was the last of the three trailheads for us to explore.
Day One: It was a long drive from Napa over Echo Summit and Monitor Pass to the Mono Lake Ranger Station, where we got our permit at about 1 p.m. There were still plenty of spaces available for both Monday and Tuesday, so we felt sure that it wouldn't be too crowded. After a quick bite at the Lee Vining Mobil Station, we drove down to Bishop to buy a few last minute supplies (a dinner for that night, a hair clip for M, and an extra bottle of Advil for our aching bones) and set up camp in the Sabrina Lake Campground. There were still places available here at 5 p.m. and we took a short walk around the area and settled in to an early night.
Day Two: We packed up and parked Le Vin Blanc on the road right outside the campground, then hit the trail by 9 a.m. Fishermen were already on the lake as we slowly climbed up past the trail to Lake George and onwards to Blue Lake. We got there in time for an early lunch, and probably should have taken a short rest at that point. But we didn't. The mosquitoes were not too bad in the middle of the afternoon, and we pushed on past Emerald Lakes to Dingleberry Lake.
There were a few campers on the granite ledges above the South end of the lake, and we half-heartedly looked for a campsite on the North end. But that was pretty rugged terrain. We wandered along the creek beyond the lake, and finally settled on a campsite overlooking the two fords of the creek: one for hikers, one for stock. It was a pretty spot, with shade in the afternoon for our nap, and nice views all the way around. We set up camp, napped, fished, rested, and generally felt a bit worn out after only five miles of hiking. But that comes with age, we suppose.
That night the mosquitoes made their presence known in spades, and we turned in early to escape them. Still, it was lovely country, and the weather was perfect: warm in the sun, cool in the shade.
Day Three; instead of packing up, we left our camp set up and day-hiked up to the lakes above. After fording the creek, we ran into a wilderness ranger doing trail work. In addition to sharing our experiences working on trails, we got our permit checked and had a nice chat. On our permit we had initially named Topsy-Turvy Lake as our destination, but we were happy with our campsite at the fords. And when we saw Topsy Turvy Lake, we were even happier with our decision. While it was beautiful, there didn't seem to be many campsites at Topsy Turvy amid the vast fields of talus--although there might have been a few above the lake on the South side--and they would have been very exposed. We like shade.
From there we continued on to Sailor Lake, and then topped out at Hungry Packer Lake, which had apparently earned the name Hungry Mosquito Lake this year. The bugs were absolutely fierce. We were hiking in headnets and it really helped to keep moving! Which we did. Lots of people camped around here, by the way.
We hiked cross-country over to Moonlight Lake and had a nice rest and snack sitting among the huge talus blocks above that lake. Then we continued down the granite slabs to Sailor Lake again, and back down to our camp. It was interesting that the ford, which was about 75 feet long over a long string of rocks, was drier later in the day, and wetter earlier in the day. Clearly the snowmelt was taking twelve hours to get down the creek to the ford. After lunch and a nap. we decided we'd explore Dingleberry Lake some more. While much of the shoreline was rugged, we did manage to find a route down from the trail to the North end of the lake, where there was a lovely pool, and a series of campsites further out above the canyon beyond the outlet stream. This would make a nice base camp, and it seemed to get little traffic.
Back at camp that night, we dodged and swatted the bugs, ate our dinner, and again headed to the tent just about dusk, leaving the field to the pesky mosquitoes.
Day Four: We'd heard that Donkey Lake had fewer mosquitoes, and since that was also on our itinerary, we headed there next. The trail back down to Blue Lake is really beautiful, and we enjoyed it much more in this direction. Once at the junction, we took the trail towards Donkey Lake, and were surprised to see a second junction only 1/4 mile later to Baboon Lakes. On our topo map, and on the Tom Harrison map, this junction is much higher up, right where the trail crosses the creek. Hmmm. Oh well. We continued on to Donkey Lake, absolutely loving the scenery of the creek as we followed it up the canyon past pools, cascades and rapids.
And Donkey Lake was charming. We set up camp and went to explore a bit, doing some fishing, filtering water, and getting a feel for the place. The lake was so clear and there were so many trout on the surface that at times it looked like an aquarium. After lunch and our usual nap, we headed back down the hill 1/2 mile to pick up the trail that was shown on our maps to Baboon Lakes.
What a bushwhack! We followed cairns and blazes; struggled, clambered, and finally found a section of trail that looked reasonable. After about an hour, and at least one conversation about turning around, we topped out on the crest of a ridge, and there was Baboon Lake. Spectacular! We wandered around the lake for quite a while before exploring different routes down. We could not believe that was the only trail! But as we explored, we found an easier down to the trail, and as P watched our progress and took in our surroundings, he suddenly exclaimed: "Donkey Lake is right over there!"
He was right. It was just 75 yards from where we had found the first real section of cairns to follow...and the whole first part of our hike up to Baboon Lakes had been a complicated and unnecessary circle. For those who are interested, if you find the small round pond just West of Donkey Lake, you can follow a series of cairns southwest up that ridge, over into the next chute, and at the top of that chute the cairns will lead you into the main chute that takes you up to Baboon Lakes. It's steep, but passable and clearly marked. And while it took us just over an hour to get up to the lakes, it took us only 25 minutes to get down, once we understood the geography.
(BTW, the other, signed trail to Baboon Lakes from near Blue Lake must take a very different route---but we never saw it, even though we looked for that trail up at the lake itself. We assume that it stays west of the creek the whole way up...) Great fishing that afternoon in Donkey Lake for brookies and rainbows from 6-10 inches long...and almost non-stop action. That evening we fought the bugs one last time, finally giving up around 8 o'clock to get into the tent.
Photos are here; https://photos.app.goo.gl/bZbDv9vXvaMXsita9
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-R ... 0984884963
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-R ... 0984884963
-
llupine
- Topix Novice
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:59 pm
- Experience: Level 2 Backpacker
Re: One Night in Sabrina Basin
Thanks! That's helpful.Harlen wrote: ↑Tue Jul 21, 2020 11:03 am Hi llupine,
I'll try to include the trip report with photos by RoguePhotonic, which will provide you with some images of the various high lakes of Sabrina Basin.
Here it is: Sabrina Basin 6/6 - 6/8/15 http://www.highsierratopix.com/communit ... 885#p96570
you need to click on the blue "Sabrina Basin" to get access to the photos. Good luck and thanks for your work in Healthcare. Ian.
-
thegib
- Topix Regular
- Posts: 294
- Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:37 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
- Location: Berkeley
Re: One Night in Sabrina Basin
The stream that feeds Moonlight lake is extremely pretty and has excellent flat spots and being off trail feels much more isolated than Hungry Packer. Expect determined marmots.
-
llupine
- Topix Novice
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:59 pm
- Experience: Level 2 Backpacker
-
texan
- Topix Expert
- Posts: 564
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:47 pm
- Experience: N/A
Re: One Night in Sabrina Basin
I have hiked all over Sabrina Basin and the hike from Hungry Packer to Echo Lake to me is the most scenic too me, the outlet of Echo or waterfall is unreal.
Texan
P.S. Plus, if you fish there are nice rainbows in ECHO.
Texan
P.S. Plus, if you fish there are nice rainbows in ECHO.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: PhilB and 211 guests