Backpacking in the Southern Sierras: Wright Lake Basin to Wallace Lake

Underway beneath a mostly cloudless sky shortly before 7:30. It's cold this morning! We are sure that's a good sign. Start by heading through lots of really wet grass along the long, lovely Wright Lake Basin. Follow this quite a while before reaching the bend in the stream signalling that we should cross and head cross-country over a slight ridge towards Wallace Creek.

Nice break in the woods on the other side of that ridge and then we continue with some very nice forest walking along the valley, heading down to the creek. Shortly before hitting the creek we cross the old path up the valley, which we turn onto and follow up, slowly up, through the woods. This is nice walking! At some point the path vanishes and we do the rest on our own. Encounter a footstep at a marshy area (first sign of other people today). Have a nice break at another marshy area, lots of fun walking and path finding. As we near the top of the valley we re-run into the trail and start following that again. After not too long the trail ends at a creek. We look around a bit, fail to find any stones across, and do a barefoot creek crossing. Yeah! Fun fun! :-)

Further along the path, across a high stony plain until the lake comes into view. We ditch the packs near a very bold marmot and start looking for the campsite. We also see another hiker getting ready to do some fishing. We find a good campsite, pitch the tent (several attempts required due to hard ground... flaring tempers due to hunger... note to selves: snack before pitching the tent if the weather allows). Quick chat with the fisherman (who ended up in the wrong valley but is making the most of it for an hour or so before trying to get back on-route). Snack by the tent, water pumping, washing, a quick (very quick) swim for greg that almost didn't happen, but luckily the sun came out at just the right moment.

Walk up to Wales Lake, allowing a reco of the first bits of tomorrow, and then a truly stunning lake theater with crazy vertical stone walls (and much less talus than normal) all around. Maybe some weather coming, so we hurry down to the tent and do a quick cup of tea/coffee, ready to run for the tent at the first drop, but everything behaves, it stays nice, and we get to enjoy our beverages outside. Greg moves into the shade of a convenient rock to read and Andrea goes for a stroll. We do dinner in the sun and another quick bit of water pumping, say hi to the two new fisherman who have shown up and are planning on staying the night, and then head back to the tent. Quick stroll, chocolate, blog writing, bed!

This was our first entire day without rain! Wow! Let's see what happens tonight.

Dinner: Black Bart Chili, downright edible!

Track:

Stats: 10.3km, 300m up, 280m down.