Hike 2 - Duck Creek to Pine Creek

Party - Doug Bock, Lizzy Wenk, Nick Murray, James Turton, Andrew Cox, Pip Walsh, Oliver Bock, David Noble, Madeline Shultz

On this hike - as well as taking colour slides and digital photos - I also took along a digital video camera and the result is a 44 minute video (on DVD) of the hike.

All photos © David Noble 2004. No photos can be used without permission.

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Day 1 - 18 July 2004

This was the hike organised by Doug and Lizzy. We started from the Duck Creek Trailhead and walked up the valley to Duck Pass (10,797'). Then we went around Duck lake and descended onto the John Muir Trail and continued to Purple Lake - our intended campsite. To avoid mosquitoes we descended a bit further and camped near some slabs away from the creek and lake.

Day 2

We dropped down to Fish Creek - finding the mosquitoes realy bad! So we quickly crossed the creek and climbed to jackson meadow and headed up the trail to Olive Lake. A bit before the lake we left the trail and went cross country to beautiful Peter Pande Lake. We had lunch near the outlet of the lake, and then some of us went to the summit of Graveyard Peak (11,494') - where we obtained excellent views. The we returned to camp near the lake.

Above - Doug, Madeline and Lizzy on the way up Graveyard Peak.

Above - Graveyard Peak and Peter Pande Lake

Day 3

We followed trails to the Lake of the Lost Indian, on the way farewelling Madeline, who had to leave the party early. Then we got onto the John Muir Trail once again and continued along it over Silver Pass (10,895'). Not far past Silver Pass Lake, we left the trail and went cross country up a delightful valley that led towards Mt Izaak Walton. We climbed onto a pass just east of the peak, and some of us went the short distance to the summit of Izaak Walton. The panoramic views were excellent.

Above - Andrew Cox near the summit of Mt Izaak Walton (12,077'). The flat topped peak in the far distance on the left is Recess Peak

View from the summit of Izaak Walton. Bighorn and Rosy Finch Lakes are visible on the left

We then descended to a ledge high above Bighorn Lake. Part way along this ledge we camped in a very scenic spot.

Above - Bighorn Lake

Above - James rests while Nick takes a photo of Mt Izaak Walton. Our pass was the saddle just to the left of the peak.

Above - James and Lizzy enjoy the evening alpenglow

Day 4

Above - Morning view, looking towards Recess Peak

Above - Our campsite, L-R Nick, James, Doug, Oliver, Andrew, Lizzy

From the campsite we dropped down to Lake Rosy Finch and then climbed a pass to the east and dropped into Laurel Creek. On the descent we spotted a salamander.

Above - Lizzy and Oliver on the pass above Lake Rosie Finch looking down Laurel Creek. In the far distance is the Second Recess, our next goal

Above - A small lake in Laurel Creek valley.

As we descended we got onto a trail that took us down to Mono Creek. We crossed the creek and followed another trail into the Second Recess. Later we climbed up into Mills Creek and camped at Upper Mills Creek Lake - a most delightful place!

Above - Doug, James and Nick setting up camp near Upper Mills Creek Lake

Above - Our campsite

Day 5

Lizzy and myself set off before the others for Gabbot Pass - our goal being to climb Mt Gabb and then rejoin the others. On the way up to the pass we came accross some interesting footprints of some large animal - perhaps a wolverine. Once at the pass we traversed the peak for a bit then ascended up easy slopes to the summit, The views from the top were outstanding.

Above - View south from Mt Gabb (13,741')

Above - Lizzy and myself on the summit of Mt Gabb

We then descended and walked down to Lake Italy. We met the rest of the party a short way after near Teddy Bear Lake.

Above - Walking past Brown Bear Lake on the way to the Bear Lakes Basin

Climbing over the pass at the head of the valley in the photo above we were hit by a hailstorm that lasted about an hour. This was the only significant precipitation I encountered on all three hikes.

Above - In the Bear Lakes Basin

We set up cam on a shelf not far above Little Bear Lake - an absolutely beautiful place with fantastic views of the Bear Lakes Basin and the surrounding peaks.

Above - In the Bear Lakes Basin

Above - In the Bear Lakes Basin - looking at Lake Vee

Above - Feather Peak from our campsite in the Bear Lakes Basin

Day 6

Lizzy and Andrew set of early for a day hike to climb Mt Gemini and the Seven Gables. The rest of us took an easier option - following the outlet stream of Little Bear Lake and then traversing on slopes above Seven Gables Creek and up through a steep gully to Vee Lake. This walk was easy and very pleasant.

Above - an un-named peak near the Seven Gables

Above - James, Nick, Doug and Pip at Vee Lake. Looking towards Feather Peak

Day 7

Very pleasant and easy walking took us past Big Bear Lake, Lake Ursa and Bearpaw Lake into a beautiful basin that led to a pass just south of Feather Peak.

Above - Bearpaw Lake.

From the pass, Lizzy, Doug and myself climbed Mt Feather up an "interesting" route up the south face.

Above - View west from the summit of Feather Peak

Above - Lizzy and Doug sign the summit register on Feather Peak

Above - a friendly marmot

After returning to the pass, we descended further to La Salle Lake and Merriam Lake were we met up with the rest of the party for a late lunch. We then picked up a track that took us down to French Canyon. It was then easy pleasant walking along a trail to Pine Creek Pass were we camped.

Day 8

Above - Pine Creek Pass

The last day of the hike was an easy, pleasant and spectacular descent down the Pine Creek Valley. Interesting peaks towered above beautiful lakes.

Above - a "stripey" peak above Pine Creek

Above - We leave the John Muir Wilderness

At the trailhead, we drove to Bishop and visited the Bakery and the Mountainlight Gallery.

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Proceed to Hike 3 - Bishop to Whitney Portal