This year the emphasis was on a six day backpacking trip.  Terry and his son Todd did a long day hike on Sunday the 3rd into the upper part of Horse Canyon.  The backpack trip started on Wednesday the 6th to Monday the 11th.  Emily and John did all the planning for the backpack and did a great job organizing all the food.

Terry in  upper Horse Creek Canyon

Todd just above Horsetail Falls

The plan was to hike from Twin Lakes to Peeler Lake; down Kerrick Meadow and over Seavey Pass to Benson Lake; over Volunteer Pass and Benson Pass and up the Matterhorn Canyon; over Burro Pass, down to Crown Lake and back to Twin Lakes.


Emily, Bud, John, Terry, Todd

The plan changed as reality materialized.  The first day we made it to Peeler Lake as planned.  With all the weight people had it was a difficult hike of 8.5 miles and about 2,600 foot altitude gain (7,000 to 9,600 feet).  

Cooking dinner at Peeler Lake

Todd at Peeler Lake


Terry in Kerrick Meadow


The second day the group did even more miles going from Peeler Lake to Benson Lake.  Seavey Pass has many false summits (John claimed 11) and is quite steep.  From the pass to Benson Lake all agreed is a very long hike going down and down.  Todd and Terry wondered if the lake would ever come.  We were ahead of  the others and had no map.

The group was so tired that night we ate peanut butter and jelly on tortillas for dinner and went to bed.  The next morning the group decision was to have a layover day at Benson and then return over three days via Arndt and Peeler Lakes to Twin Lakes.  John put it well - we are not at a 'medical emergency' yet.  All agreed we needed rest and the intended route was too much for us at that time.

                       

Benson Lake and the weather that day (in fact the whole trip) was fantastic.  Benson has lots of wood for fires, the largest sand beach of the high Sierra lakes, and water warm enough for swimming (which we did).  It also is a minimum of two days of hard hiking from any trail head.  We did some like hiking, swimming, and got lots of rest.

The hike out of Benson Lake (7500 ft), over Seavey Pass (about 9200 ft), and over to Arndt Lake was a full day.  To find Arndt Lake to the combined map reading and navigation skills of John and Todd.  It is a cross-country trek off the main trail and up a canyon about a half mile.  There are no signs and we were tired enough that no errors were allowed!  Todd found us a fantastic campsite on a rock point about 50 feet above the lake.  We had a campfire, watched the full moon rise over the lake, and slept under the stars.  We were the only people on the lake that night.  Of course getting to the campsite required us to climb over some very large boulders with full packs.

John & Emily                                                           Todd     

The fifth day was easy going from Arndt Lake to Peeler Lake.  This is only five or so miles going up the beautiful Kerrick Canyon and Kerrick Meadow.  Todd again found a very private and remote campsite.  It was needed as all the common campsites were crowded unlike our first night there on the way up.  This site was also required climbing over large rocks and was well above the water.  Again the weather was so warm and clear we all slept under the stars.


Campfire with rising full moon at Arndt Lake (Bud & Terry)

The last day was uneventful.  The 8.5 miles down to Twin Lakes were much easier than the first day traveling up the same route.  During this whole trip there was a major search for a lost hiker by the Mono County and Yosemite authorities.  Search teams with dogs along with helicopters and airplanes were used.  Terry had a two way radio that was able to hear much of the search communication.  We later learned the hiker 'Fred' was never found nor any trace of him found. On August 25, 2003 he as declared a missing person.   Click to see story.