Isabela, Tenaya and I took an amazing 5-day/4-night trip into Emigrant Wilderness just north of the northern Yosemite border. This was our second BIG trip together after last year's Hoover Wilderness trip. Both trips were amazing in their own ways, but Isabela really is starting to develop into a backpacker this year.
I didn't journal while hiking with her this year....but she did.... The following are her own words, writing and sketches accompanied by pictures taken with only my iPhone and external camera lens. Be sure to click on the first picture in each day to read her words, see her sketches, and view the pictures.
I've made some comments to the left of each day as well but this was done after the completion of the trip.
Enjoy....
The Trip By The Numbers
Total Miles--29
Unmaintained Trail Miles -- 5
Total Elevation Change--10,400 Feet
Bee’s Backpack Weight--11.8 lbs.
Tenaya’s Backpack Weight--5.9 lbs.
Dad’s Backpack Weight--27.9 lbs.
5 Days Of Food Weight--7.9 lbs
Number Of Lakes Hiked Passed--12
Number Of Adults Passed – 40ish
Number Of Children Passed – 2 On Horses (none on foot)
Blisters--A Few
Mosquito Bites--Too Many To Count
Day 1
The packing started a week before the trip. We bought Isabela a new larger backpack that should last her into her late teens as it has an adjustable torso.
Food was tasted and bagged…. Packs were packed and we were off.
The drive took us took us through the Gold Country and we stopped in Twain Harte for breakfast. Bee enjoyed the chocolate chip pancakes before the short drive to the Pinecrest Ranger station for a permit. We then drove to the Crabtree Trailhead and set off on our adventure. The first day was a tough one as we were all getting into the groove. We hiked throughout the hot afternoon past Grouse Lake and then onto Piute Creek and finally ending in Groundhog Meadow. We saw a lot of groups coming out today….many horses and pack mules as well…We didn’t get to where we set off for at the start of the day, but we did cover a LOT of miles for our first day out. Our campsite was above the creek in a jumble of beautiful rocks….we all slept well this first night!
Day 2
I woke up about an hour before Bee….fixed some breakfast and started packing. Bee woke up and we were excited to make it to Rosasco Lake…a lake off the main trail and thus away from people, horses and mules.The hike to Cherry Creek had some elevation change but not much to comment on. Cherry Creek on the other hand really stood out. The colors of the rock beneath the running water was spectacular. We took a break…ate a snack and appreciated the beauty. Then it was all UP! The climb to Rosasco was on an unmaintained trail and had been build out of steps for a nine foot person…NOT a nine year old! Bee had a lot of trouble getting her leg up over the next step and then lifting her body to the following step. It took a lot of time and a lot of effort. I was amazed at her perseverance.
Bee joined the ranks of backpackers today with some hot spots on her feet. We fixed her up with the hiker special---moleskin and duct tape!! We arrived at Rosasco Lake at about 2 and decided that it was time to celebrate….so….we took the rest of the day off. We swam, ate, Bee sketched and journaled…. And I soaked up the silence. Because this lake was off the main trails it was deserted….it was all ours. After a dinner of Mac & Cheese it was time to fall asleep looking at the stars above.
Day 3
Today started out with a beautiful sunrise over the glass lake. After eating breakfast and packing up we made our way south using waypoints since there was really no visible trail. We hiked along a creek before climbing another tricky pass for Bee. At the top of the pass we found a spoon…and…in the spirit of leave no trace…picked it up to pack out only to later decide that it would make for a nice trail memento. A tricky cliff followed about an hour later where I had to climb it twice. Once to get my pack, poles and dog to the bottom, and the second to get Isabela down while shouldering her backpack so she could try out some of her Class 3 Mountaineering scrambling. Every experience makes us stronger! We re-entered a maintained trail a couple hours later after seeing spectacular untouched sights. As we hiked to Wood Lake the clouds built. We rested a Wood lake for a couple hours before continuing on a connecting trail that would take us to the northern trail that parallels the southern trail we had come in on. Through a light drizzle we passed Deer Lake and watched the sky turn to a dark black in the east…and that was followed by an AMAZING rainbow. We finally arrived at Jewelry Lake. This was Bee’s BIGGEST single mile day ever. She covered 8.8 miles today. Five of those were off trail. I was so very proud of her and everything she accomplished. Upon arriving at Jewelry Lake we had two offers from two different groups to camp with them. If it had been a few hours early we might of considered it…but at almost 8 PM we were both ready to retire. After getting Bee settled into the tent I spent some time chatting with Jeff and his 17-year-old son JJ who were out for a few days. Great people in the great outdoors… Feel asleep to crickets and frogs…
Day 4
We started early today because Bee, “wanted to do some big miles.” We did some big miles for Bee….7.9 to be exact. Today we started seeing lots of “clean people” as we called them….hikers just out of their cars and headed into the wilderness. All wanted to know where we had been and how long we had been out. ALL had wonderful things to say to Isabela about what she was doing and accomplishing. Bee beamed every time and deserved every bit of praise. She was really getting stronger each and every day. We passed Gem Lake, Cherry Creek, Piute Lake, Piute Meadow, a couple unnamed lakes, and then arrived at our destination…Camp Lake. The butterflies and wildflowers were spectacular today. Everywhere we turned there were more. Upon arriving at Camp lake we immediately went swimming before our evening chores of setting up camp and making dinner…. Tonight it was nothing but frogs and the wind to fall asleep to…
Day 5
Short day today so we slept in and went for a morning swim before heading out. We really wanted to get the most out of Camp Lake before moving on….it was a beautiful place. We had some rolling hills on the way back but nothing really of note. We fantasized about greasy food and fresh fruit. We both longed for clean clothes and our own bed…But most of all…we both missed Paula. When we hit the bridge to the car Bee was literally jumping for joy…she had done it…she had really done it.
I didn't journal while hiking with her this year....but she did.... The following are her own words, writing and sketches accompanied by pictures taken with only my iPhone and external camera lens. Be sure to click on the first picture in each day to read her words, see her sketches, and view the pictures.
I've made some comments to the left of each day as well but this was done after the completion of the trip.
Enjoy....
The Trip By The Numbers
Total Miles--29
Unmaintained Trail Miles -- 5
Total Elevation Change--10,400 Feet
Bee’s Backpack Weight--11.8 lbs.
Tenaya’s Backpack Weight--5.9 lbs.
Dad’s Backpack Weight--27.9 lbs.
5 Days Of Food Weight--7.9 lbs
Number Of Lakes Hiked Passed--12
Number Of Adults Passed – 40ish
Number Of Children Passed – 2 On Horses (none on foot)
Blisters--A Few
Mosquito Bites--Too Many To Count
Day 1
The packing started a week before the trip. We bought Isabela a new larger backpack that should last her into her late teens as it has an adjustable torso.
Food was tasted and bagged…. Packs were packed and we were off.
The drive took us took us through the Gold Country and we stopped in Twain Harte for breakfast. Bee enjoyed the chocolate chip pancakes before the short drive to the Pinecrest Ranger station for a permit. We then drove to the Crabtree Trailhead and set off on our adventure. The first day was a tough one as we were all getting into the groove. We hiked throughout the hot afternoon past Grouse Lake and then onto Piute Creek and finally ending in Groundhog Meadow. We saw a lot of groups coming out today….many horses and pack mules as well…We didn’t get to where we set off for at the start of the day, but we did cover a LOT of miles for our first day out. Our campsite was above the creek in a jumble of beautiful rocks….we all slept well this first night!
Day 2
I woke up about an hour before Bee….fixed some breakfast and started packing. Bee woke up and we were excited to make it to Rosasco Lake…a lake off the main trail and thus away from people, horses and mules.The hike to Cherry Creek had some elevation change but not much to comment on. Cherry Creek on the other hand really stood out. The colors of the rock beneath the running water was spectacular. We took a break…ate a snack and appreciated the beauty. Then it was all UP! The climb to Rosasco was on an unmaintained trail and had been build out of steps for a nine foot person…NOT a nine year old! Bee had a lot of trouble getting her leg up over the next step and then lifting her body to the following step. It took a lot of time and a lot of effort. I was amazed at her perseverance.
Bee joined the ranks of backpackers today with some hot spots on her feet. We fixed her up with the hiker special---moleskin and duct tape!! We arrived at Rosasco Lake at about 2 and decided that it was time to celebrate….so….we took the rest of the day off. We swam, ate, Bee sketched and journaled…. And I soaked up the silence. Because this lake was off the main trails it was deserted….it was all ours. After a dinner of Mac & Cheese it was time to fall asleep looking at the stars above.
Day 3
Today started out with a beautiful sunrise over the glass lake. After eating breakfast and packing up we made our way south using waypoints since there was really no visible trail. We hiked along a creek before climbing another tricky pass for Bee. At the top of the pass we found a spoon…and…in the spirit of leave no trace…picked it up to pack out only to later decide that it would make for a nice trail memento. A tricky cliff followed about an hour later where I had to climb it twice. Once to get my pack, poles and dog to the bottom, and the second to get Isabela down while shouldering her backpack so she could try out some of her Class 3 Mountaineering scrambling. Every experience makes us stronger! We re-entered a maintained trail a couple hours later after seeing spectacular untouched sights. As we hiked to Wood Lake the clouds built. We rested a Wood lake for a couple hours before continuing on a connecting trail that would take us to the northern trail that parallels the southern trail we had come in on. Through a light drizzle we passed Deer Lake and watched the sky turn to a dark black in the east…and that was followed by an AMAZING rainbow. We finally arrived at Jewelry Lake. This was Bee’s BIGGEST single mile day ever. She covered 8.8 miles today. Five of those were off trail. I was so very proud of her and everything she accomplished. Upon arriving at Jewelry Lake we had two offers from two different groups to camp with them. If it had been a few hours early we might of considered it…but at almost 8 PM we were both ready to retire. After getting Bee settled into the tent I spent some time chatting with Jeff and his 17-year-old son JJ who were out for a few days. Great people in the great outdoors… Feel asleep to crickets and frogs…
Day 4
We started early today because Bee, “wanted to do some big miles.” We did some big miles for Bee….7.9 to be exact. Today we started seeing lots of “clean people” as we called them….hikers just out of their cars and headed into the wilderness. All wanted to know where we had been and how long we had been out. ALL had wonderful things to say to Isabela about what she was doing and accomplishing. Bee beamed every time and deserved every bit of praise. She was really getting stronger each and every day. We passed Gem Lake, Cherry Creek, Piute Lake, Piute Meadow, a couple unnamed lakes, and then arrived at our destination…Camp Lake. The butterflies and wildflowers were spectacular today. Everywhere we turned there were more. Upon arriving at Camp lake we immediately went swimming before our evening chores of setting up camp and making dinner…. Tonight it was nothing but frogs and the wind to fall asleep to…
Day 5
Short day today so we slept in and went for a morning swim before heading out. We really wanted to get the most out of Camp Lake before moving on….it was a beautiful place. We had some rolling hills on the way back but nothing really of note. We fantasized about greasy food and fresh fruit. We both longed for clean clothes and our own bed…But most of all…we both missed Paula. When we hit the bridge to the car Bee was literally jumping for joy…she had done it…she had really done it.