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View Full Version : Keasrarge Lakes trip 8/3/07



Gary C.
08-13-2007, 04:41 PM
This trip was originally planned for the Forks of the Kern but eventually our destination was switched to Kearsarge Lakes. We could not get a permit to enter Onion Valley TH on Friday. I was going with Pete and Mike from where I work and Mike’s son Aaron. None of us wanted to take a full day off so we decided to leave work at lunch on Thursday, race to Big Pine for the permit then on to Onion Valley. We got to the TH and quickly started our climb so we could be at Flower Lake before dark. I even had time for a couple brookies before I ate and went to sleep. I had really worried about not having time to acclimate to the altitude before we started but thankfully we all felt fine.

Friday morning I got up before the others and caught about a dozen more little brookies before the others got up. We had a quick breakfast and broke camp to start the trek to Kearsarge Pass and on to Kearsarge Lakes. I learned two important things on this trip, #1- Nat. Geo TOPO does not include much of the trail and switchbacks, and #2- I need to do a lot of cardio exercise if I want to keep going on these kinds of adventures. We finally made to the pass but it was a lot harder than I had expected. It was all worth it though because the scenery along the way and the view from the pass is simply amazing. Once at the top we rested, ate, and took pictures before heading down the west side for Kearsarge Lakes. It would only be a little over a mile to our campsite but with very few switchbacks it was very steep. We ended up worrying about what the climb back up would be like all weekend. On the way down we encountered a group of C.C.C. workers that are staying at Charlotte Lake and doing trail work putting in the badly needed switchbacks. I've got to admire those men and woman because that is one job I would not want.

After setting up camp at the second Kearsarge lake we fished then ate and fished some more. You guys know the routine the rest of the weekend, fish, eat, and sleep. Caught lots of stunted, cookie cutter size brookies from all the lakes. I threw nothing but dry flies and it didn’t matter what it was they took it. The lakes all seemed to me to be in very good shape, only a little bit low. The streams in between all had a decent flow, even on the west side all the way down to Onion Valley CG. The one real standout was the fourth lake that is higher and south of the three lakes you see in the pictures. It was a little over a half mile hike to the upper lake cross country because there is not really a trail to speak of. Hardly any signs of people and there was a fish on almost every cast. I figure that throughout the day Saturday A caught over 80 fish!

A couple of other things that stood out over the weekend were that we got to see several satellites each night. I guess they were so easy to see because of the altitude and clear air. The other was when a group of 30 Sierra Club members rolled into the lake area Saturday evening trying to find enough places to pitch there tents for the night. They were on a nine day trek to Horseshoe Meadows near Cottonwood lakes and doing Whitney also. I thought it a little strange that for an organization that touts low impact and leave no trace to travel in a group of 30 people. Can you imagine what it must be like for them trying to find a rock to go behind in the mornings?

Anyhow, it was an awesome trek and I’ll probably do it again some day.
The pictures are mostly of the beautiful scenery because the fish were pretty much all the same.

Second cast Saturday Morning.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3048.jpg

On the way up to the Kearsarge Pass you hike past 5 different Lakes, Little Pothole, Gilbert Lake, Flower Lake, then Heart lake and Big Pothole Lake.

Heart Lake
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3057.jpg

Big Pothole Lake
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3064.jpg

Mike, my self, Aaron, and Pete at the top of Kearsarge Pass.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3073.jpg

The view west from the top and Kearsarge Lakes.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3068.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3071.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3070.jpg

The view from camp.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3082.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3079.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3083.jpg

Me fishing the upper lake.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3087.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3088.jpg

One of three deer I saw.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3099.jpg

Pete, Mike, and Aaron from our camp site.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3100.jpg

Sun burned and happy on the climb out. Bullfrog Lake is in the background.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3107.jpg

Fisher-of-Men
08-13-2007, 04:54 PM
This trip was originally planned for the Forks of the Kern but eventually our destination was switched to Kearsarge Lakes. We could not get a permit to enter Onion Valley TH on Friday. I was going with Pete and Mike from where I work and Mike’s son Aaron. None of us wanted to take a full day off so we decided to leave work at lunch on Thursday, race to Big Pine for the permit then on to Onion Valley. We got to the TH and quickly started our climb so we could be at Flower Lake before dark. I even had time for a couple brookies before I ate and went to sleep. I had really worried about not having time to acclimate to the altitude before we started but thankfully we all felt fine.

Friday morning I got up before the others and caught about a dozen more little brookies before the others got up. We had a quick breakfast and broke camp to start the trek to Kearsarge Pass and on to Kearsarge Lakes. I learned two important things on this trip, #1- Nat. Geo TOPO does not include much of the trail and switchbacks, and #2- I need to do a lot of cardio exercise if I want to keep going on these kinds of adventures. We finally made to the pass but it was a lot harder than I had expected. It was all worth it though because the scenery along the way and the view from the pass is simply amazing. Once at the top we rested, ate, and took pictures before heading down the west side for Kearsarge Lakes. It would only be a little over a mile to our campsite but with very few switchbacks it was very steep. We ended up worrying about what the climb back up would be like all weekend. On the way down we encountered a group of C.C.C. workers that are staying at Charlotte Lake and doing trail work putting in the badly needed switchbacks. I've got to admire those men and woman because that is one job I would not want.

After setting up camp at the second Kearsarge lake we fished then ate and fished some more. You guys know the routine the rest of the weekend, fish, eat, and sleep. Caught lots of stunted, cookie cutter size brookies from all the lakes. I threw nothing but dry flies and it didn’t matter what it was they took it. The lakes all seemed to me to be in very good shape, only a little bit low. The streams in between all had a decent flow, even on the west side all the way down to Onion Valley CG. The one real standout was the fourth lake that is higher and south of the three lakes you see in the pictures. It was a little over a half mile hike to the upper lake cross country because there is not really a trail to speak of. Hardly any signs of people and there was a fish on almost every cast. I figure that throughout the day Saturday A caught over 80 fish!

A couple of other things that stood out over the weekend were that we got to see several satellites each night. I guess they were so easy to see because of the altitude and clear air. The other was when a group of 30 Sierra Club members rolled into the lake area Saturday evening trying to find enough places to pitch there tents for the night. They were on a nine day trek to Horseshoe Meadows near Cottonwood lakes and doing Whitney also. I thought it a little strange that for an organization that touts low impact and leave no trace to travel in a group of 30 people. Can you imagine what it must be like for them trying to find a rock to go behind in the mornings?

Anyhow, it was an awesome trek and I’ll probably do it again some day.
The pictures are mostly of the beautiful scenery because the fish were pretty much all the same.

Second cast Saturday Morning.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3048.jpg

On the way up to the Kearsarge Pass you hike past 5 different Lakes, Little Pothole, Gilbert Lake, Flower Lake, then Heart lake and Big Pothole Lake.

Heart Lake
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3057.jpg

Big Pothole Lake
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3064.jpg

Mike, my self, Aaron, and Pete at the top of Kearsarge Pass.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3073.jpg

The view west from the top and Kearsarge Lakes.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3068.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3071.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3070.jpg

The view from camp.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3082.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3079.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3083.jpg

Me fishing the upper lake.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3087.jpg
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3088.jpg

One of three deer I saw.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3099.jpg

Pete, Mike, and Aaron from our camp site.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3100.jpg

Sun burned and happy on the climb out. Bullfrog Lake is in the background.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n136/gary_4279/Kearsarge%20Lakes%202007/IMG_3107.jpg

Those are some beautiful pictures Gary. WOW! I'm jelous. I've been wanting to take a trip like that for the past year. My kids are 10, 7, and 6; so they won't be able to attempt this for awhile. That is the complete package: primo, virgin waters for fishing, the solitude and the breath taking scenery!

I'm glad you had a good time and were able to come back a share with us.



Fisher-of-Men

reelhigh
08-13-2007, 05:03 PM
AWESOME!

Granny Fish
08-13-2007, 05:08 PM
Great report! I miss my back country fishing hikes. Beautiful golden's too!

Thanks for the report.

Carrie
08-13-2007, 06:05 PM
That is a great report! Thanks for putting it on my report! I really thought about taking that route but I think I tried one that was a bit much! I agree with the trails. They are very steep and I struggled quite a bit. This place def tests what ur body c an and canno't do. Next time I will try that trail so as to not hurt myself. haha! And yes....the CCCs do a lot of work like my boys the YCC did. Lots of trail work and u lose lots of weight! We met several when we did our work at Devil's Post Pile.

Anyways, nice one! Pretty lookin brookies.

fishntoss
08-14-2007, 12:39 AM
One word...Damn thats Bitchin... :thumb:

tpfishnfool
08-14-2007, 06:08 AM
Wow, What a place.. Where is the trail head too those lakes and how
many miles to where you camped? I gotta go!! :D

Gary C.
08-14-2007, 06:46 AM
Wow, What a place.. Where is the trail head too those lakes and how
many miles to where you camped? I gotta go!! :D

It's the Onion Valley TH out of Independence. From the TH to Kearsarge Lakes is about 6mls. The eleveation at the trail head is 9,200ft and the pass is 11,760ft.
Gary C.

Wingnut
08-14-2007, 11:02 AM
Breathtaking pictures! Very nice trip, thanks for sharing. :thumb:

Troutman65
08-14-2007, 11:33 AM
Great report and Awesome photos !!!!

Thanks for sharing on FNN !!

8)

Troutman65

troutdog
08-14-2007, 01:03 PM
Great report...looks like something I am planning next season. Thanks for all the info and the fantastic scenery shots! Took me a minute to find the dear in that picture....very cool!



TD

johnsfishing
08-15-2007, 11:33 PM
what a great report.. all around.. nice job on the trip!

johnsfishing

johnsfishing
08-15-2007, 11:34 PM
nice report.. all around!! congrats on the trip!!

johnsfishing

tpfishnfool
08-18-2007, 10:05 AM
Wow, What a place.. Where is the trail head too those lakes and how
many miles to where you camped? I gotta go!! :D

It's the Onion Valley TH out of Independence. From the TH to Kearsarge Lakes is about 6mls. The eleveation at the trail head is 9,200ft and the pass is 11,760ft.
Gary C.


Thanks gary c. I have never been up onion valley but I now will be planning trip. Maybe in sept. Thanks again.. :D

clem de la clem
09-10-2007, 09:20 PM
great pics and report. thanks for posting...

looks like you must of brought a couple of those yosemite shirts or its the same one! just kidding. nothing like reaching the trailhead and peeling off the shirt and socks after a couple of days in the woods. makes you appreciate the little things like a nice pair of socks...

kearsarge is a tough pass. that's a great father son bonding moment.

tight lines!

c

TroutOnly
09-11-2007, 07:43 AM
great pics and report...T/O

pole'npants
09-11-2007, 11:49 AM
so very nice

Gary C.
09-11-2007, 02:26 PM
looks like you must of brought a couple of those yosemite shirts or its the same one! just kidding. nothing like reaching the trailhead and peeling off the shirt and socks after a couple of days in the woods. makes you appreciate the little things like a nice pair of socks...

c

Socks are about the only thing that I carry more than one set of extras.
Besides after 24hrs rolled up as a pillow shirts are considered clean again anyhow aren't they? :lol: :lol: