Emigrant Wilderness, 39 miles, 3,900 ft, August 16-18, 2020
I have been wanting to return to the Emigrant Wilderness after walking through the far east side along the PCT in 2015. I am traveling with three women with uncertain abilities so I devise a trip with minimal elevation gain and multiple opportunities to bail early. There is a obvious loop trail and we start from Bell meadow.
The trail starts at 6,600 ft, so altitude is not an issue, but it is a scorching hot 85 degrees. The trail wends its way through a new forest that is full of new growth and animal life.
We emerge out of the woods to begin to experience the typical Emigrant landscape of rounded higher rock hills that rise above the treeline.
We reach Grouse Lake none-too-soon for the first of many cooling swims. The dense lily pads hint at warm water. I estimate around 76 degrees, perfect for some, a bit bit warm for me.
We also jump into Piute, Gem and Jewelry Lakes.
Some of the waterways between the lakes are lined with green and are quite remarkable.
We spend the night at Deer lake where I spot this Watersnake who is attracted to the light of my headlamp.
The campsite on the south-west elevated rocks above Deer Lake is memorable.
My group is doing well and to my surprise and approval elects to complete the big loop around the Buck and Wood lakes. The waterway of Wood lake is unique and inviting, really unlike anything I normally see on the eastern side of the Sierra.
We circle back to our original trail just so we can jump into Gem and Piute Lakes a second time. The light becomes suspiciously yellowish.
The trail back is well traveled and cared for and contains many episodes of cleared woods, dynamited rocks and old-style rustic steps.
By the time we reach the end of the trail it is clear that there is a fire nearby, which explains the yellow light. We still have no idea that the fires all over California have erupted while we were gone and that virtually all of the Sierra would shut down for the rest of the summer. I hope to return to Emigrant next summer for a longer trip that can include some off-trail travel.