Day Two (7.3.08): Start - Mehrten Creek (7,690'); End - Hamilton Lakes (8,240');
Mileage - 10.0; Time - 5:17 hiking (6:53 total)


We got a nice start before 8:30am, hiked for a few minutes until we met a ranger who told us we had to turn around and go back to the creek because they were doing trail maintence and needed to blast a rock. So we went back to essentially where we started and hung out for around 30 minutes until we heard the dynamite go off. Then we were able to continue. Here is the trail looking back after just leaving Mehrten Creek.


Dan looking at the valley with Sugar Bowl Dome in front of the Great Western Divide.


One of the many creeks we crossed on the trip. Because we were usually going along a valley wall the creeks and streams were usually cascading down in very pretty waterfalls.


A little over 12.5 miles into the trip there is a camp called "High Sierra Camp" at Bearpaw Meadow. You can reserve a bunk there and your bedding and meals are provided. We hung out on the porch and ate our lunch.


The trail heading east.


Looking back at a nice verdant trail. One thing this trail has is a wide variety of ecosystems that you walk through - nice changes of scenery even along the trail.


The trail heads towards the center of the photo. You can see the valley formed by the foreground coming in from the left in front of the background. The peak almost in the center of the photo is part of Valhalla.


The bridge crossing over Lone Pine Creek.


Lone Pine creek was roaring through a very narrow canyon.


After crossing the bridge we immediately began to climb the eastern wall of the valley. You can see the trail coming in from the left cutting across the rock and the bridge towards the bottom right of the photo.


Hamilton Creek falls. The trail crosses the creek at the very top of the falls, we could essentially look straight down the falls.


Hamilton Lakes - the larger of the lakes. This was an absolutely gorgeous location, and there is good reason there is a two-night limit for staying here, I thought about not leaving! This is the view from our campsite! We arrived here in mid-afternoon and washed our clothes and our bodies and just relaxed in the sun for a couple of hours. That waterfall comes down about 1500 feet!


Dan fishing. After four casts he caught a small rainbow trout and ended up catching a few more - he threw them all back since we were not depending on them for any meals.


Hamilton Lake at sunset.


Steve Busse relaxing.