Mt. Lamarck, fishing and fall colors

[mammothfishin]

Winter can wait. Hopefully the snow will hold off for another month and a half so everyone can get into the mountains and enjoy the peace and quiet of Fall. This is the best time of the year by far.

Three friends and I left Mammoth around 2pm on Friday for the last of summer backpacking, peak bagging and fishing trip. Heading south towards Bishop you see the smoke piling up in the valleys from the Tehipite fire in Kings Canyon.

On the way to North Lake trailhead.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5623.jpg

From the parking lot it didn't look too bad. We waited a few minutes for some friends from down south and then hit the trail.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5625.jpg

The trail splits once you leave the campground. Go right to Paiute Pass or left towards Lamarck Lakes. As soon as you cross the creek the climbing begins and the views begin to open up.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5629.jpg

2.5 miles and a few hundred switchbacks in you reach Lower Lamarck Lake.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5631.jpg

2.75 miles, 1800 vertical feet and an hour and forty five minutes later we hit camp.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5632.jpg

It was cold and windy so we hunkered down, ate some food, had some spirits and watched the sun fade on the Paiute Crags.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5633.jpg

Nothing beats a down sleeping bag.

We got up early the next morning and pounded tea to warm up the core before fishing. It was still windy at Upper Lamarck and I think the fish were deep. No luck so back to camp to get ready for the day hike.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5636-1.jpg

The beginning of the steep ascent to Lamarck Col and Mt. Lamarck 13,417'

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5639.jpg

Up the first push to gain the plateau before the plateau before the plateau before Lamarck Col

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5640.jpg

Once you get to the top of the first push the trail traverses under this cliff ban. It's a long way down from here.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5641.jpg

Looking towards Bishop.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5642.jpg

Upper Lamarck, Paiute Crags and our camp.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5643.jpg

The trail turns the corner and you head up to the next plateau.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5644.jpg

You gain elevation quickly and enter the high alpine moonscape.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5645.jpg

Up and up to the last plateau.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5646.jpg

The ridge to the summit of Mt Lamarck 13,417

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5647.jpg

Lamarck Col.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5652.jpg

The summit.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5654.jpg

Looking over the edge to a glacial lake, Wishbone Lake, Upper Lamarck and Lower Lamarck.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5655.jpg

The smoke came in and obscured the views a bit. Mt Darwin.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5657.jpg

Looking North towards Mt Humphreys

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5658.jpg

East towards Bishop 9000 feet below.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5659.jpg

The smoke made the mountains look like Mordor

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5665.jpg

My buddy a few feet from the summit

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5666.jpg

Summit shot. It was cold and windy.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5667.jpg

We got back to camp around 3pm and crashed. We ate a ton of food and everyone passed out early. Up early the next morning to get some fishing in at Lower Lamarck Lake.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5678.jpg

My first cast I hooked a tree.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5675.jpg

The hooked a Brookie on the next cast.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5680.jpg

and another

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5682.jpg

and another

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5683.jpg

oops

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5685.jpg

rippin' lip

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5686.jpg

Colorful little guys

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5687.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5688.jpg

These are really nice fish and fight harder than a stocker three times their size.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5691.jpg

Lower Lamarck Lake

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5690.jpg

We hauled *** out but stopped to get a few parting pictures

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5693.jpg

The steepness of the trail

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5695.jpg

Fall colors towards North Lake

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5698.jpg

More colors on the way out.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5699.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5700.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5701.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5703.jpg

It was cool walking through the different levels of color changes.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5704.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5705.jpg

and back to the truck

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y72/sherwinskier/Mt%20Lamarck/IMG_5712.jpg

Good times and I hope winter holds off until the second week of Nov. There is still so much to do in the empty Sierra.

[Flying]

:Worship:


This has got to be the post of the year

[Skaguy04]

Wow is all i can say!!!

What a trip!!!

[fishing_addict]

Finally I get my fix! Awesome post!:Big Grin:

[Troutman65]

I have only seen a few of the pics. Nice brook trout. Thanks for sharing on FNN.:Big Grin::Envious::Cool:

[Get Emmm!]

It's certainly one of those posts that makes you want to pack up and go....TODAY!!! Thanks for sharing.

[Sparky70]

Really the Best Pictures and Presentation i've seen so far this year..............outstanding job. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Sparky70]

65,

Get rid of that dial-up, go DSL and U can see all the pic's these guys print up.:ROFL::ROFL::ROFL:

[Big Country]

Thanks for taking such incredible pictures of a place where fat men don't belong.

I love living vicariously through others.

I concur - report of the year...thus far!

[DccFISHerMan]

Thats beautiful man ... Bet that was one hell of a trip . Thanks for all the pics man!!!

[Trout-Slayer77]

great pics and great report, thanks for the read !! nice brookies....man it sucks being at work, i need to be fishing in the sierras !!!

[Granny Fish]

Beautiful pictures. Perfect time of year for a back country hike.

[DCCTrouserTrout]

Some beautiful country back there... 13+ thousand feet is something to brag about. The highest I have been was about 11,500 and the lack of oxygen really can mess with you (we went from 7'800 to 11,500 on a 19 mile hike in one day which was stupid as hell so it really kicked our butts). But nice report and nice work...

[tacklejunkie]

Simply Awesome! :Applause:
Great pictures.
My GF was diggin' the clear waters and your colorful fish!
What a way to finish the summer.

[Badfish2]

I'll be up there in 4 days.. thanks for the post. Fall colors should be nice this year with the slow cooling.. although temps will be in the upper 20s all this next week at night

[troutdog]

Awesome pictures....thanks for sharing your adventure!


TD

[one_leg]

Nice post. I hope that the weather holds as well. I will make a Sierra trip this year if it does.

Thanks for the report/pics.

[Wingnut]

Simply spectacular! Thanks for sharing your awesome adventure. Brought my stress level down a few notch. :Wink: :Cool: :Envious:

[Joshua]

Thanks for taking the time to post. Awesome fotos and commentary. Almost makes me want to grab my gear and haul *** up to the sierras. I bet the walk down was much easier
Looks like a good time to head up for the fall colors. Gods canvas. masterful brush strokes

[SoCalGuy7]

Incredible trip, great pics. Must have been a blast!

SCG7

[FishnSierra]

dang! sweet pictures! and nice brookies

[Sierra_Smitty]

KILLER report man!

[FemaleFishinFool]

:Worship:

Thank you for a fabulous pictorial & editorial prefectly representative of the Glorious Eastern Sierras :Not Worthy:

I must agree :UDaMan:, this IS the most illustrative, envy-evoking report to date! :High Five:

For those who have yet to make it up - if this report doesn't convince you to make the trip before the flurries fall :Smack: :Wink:

Thank you!!!
Those pix are exactly why I shall retire to the ES when the time comes!!!

:Fishing Hole: FFF

[diamondbear]

AWSEOME REPORT , I didn't get a chance to make it up there this year but reading this report almost makes me feel like I was there , ha , good job and what an adventure for sure and NICE FALL COLORS .

[one_leg]

I got to make a trip this year after all. Report is up. No pics/vids yet though.

[ikeman]

Beautiful, beautiful pictures! I wish I had the time to do that type of camping and fishing. Looks like you all had an awesome time!

Thank You