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SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA
HOOVER WILDERNESS
SUMMIT LAKE AREA
JULY, 1991

INTRODUCTION
This is a hike I made at the tail end of a couple of weeks roaming south from Oregon. I meet my friends Bob and Kathy in Lee Vining and we drove in my truck to the trailhead.

Friday, July 5, 4:00 p.m.

We are camped on the ridge above the saddle between Summit Lake and Hoover Lakes. Bob, Kathy and I left from Virginia Lakes trailhead at 10:15 this morning. At 11:05 we took about a 15 minute break at Cooney Lake. I reached the pass at 12:10 and Bob and Kathy followed about 10 minutes later. We took a break here for about half an hour, eating some snacks and taking pictures. We then headed downhill to the saddle, crossed the merging streams and climbed up to the ridge where we're at now. While Kathy stayed behind to rest, Bob and I scouted up this meadow a little bit and found a good area for a campsite in some trees on the edge of the meadow.

The wind is quite strong through here. We debated as to whether this was a temporary or normal wind, but after looking at the way the trees were all bent in one direction, we decided that this was probably a normal wind pattern. The wind appears to come up Virginia canyon out of Tuolumne Meadows, across Summit Lake, over the saddle we were camped on, and down the canyon towards Gilman and East Lakes.

A little while ago, after making camp and eating a late lunch, I was roaming near the edge of the ridge and found part of an obsidian arrowhead. A quick search yielded many pieces of chipped obsidian in the immediate area. I studied the landscape and realized that what I was looking at was probably a one time summer campground for the Indians of the Mono basin. The area was relatively flat with incredible views looking west-northwest. I theorized that they must have carried the obsidian with them and made their arrowheads while camped here, since there appears to be no obsidian in this area. There is an ample supply of obsidian in the Mono basin, due to all the volcanic activity (Mono craters). I later showed Bob and Kathy what I had found. Bob and I searched the area again, but came up with very little more.

Saturday, July 6, 9:00 a.m.
I just finished a fine breakfast of juice (Tang), Grape-Nuts, applesauce, a bagel with marmalade, and some tea. Last night we made a fire after collecting an ample supply of firewood. We then made dinner. Bob and Kathy had a freeze dried feast. My attempts at not using expensive freeze-dried food is working. My dinner last night consisted of brown rice with curry powder mixed with a little trail mix. A cup of tea followed later by some hot chocolate with Amaretto, was more than enough. I'm glad that I've gotten away from the freeze-dried syndrome. Meals made for two, a mess to clean up later, and a build-up of gas are definitely minuses. I feel like I'm traveling lighter or at least less bulky.

Last evening, before dinner, we decided to walk down the trail to the edge of Summit Lake where the trail crosses into Yosemite National Park, descending Virginia canyon. We thought maybe we could find a camp site offering more protection from the wind since Kathy had expressed some concern about her comfort for the evening. We found no respite from the wind but did discover more people camped here than where we were. Along the way I noticed several good campsites in the trees above the lake. Some men were fishing at the edge of the lake where the wind hadn't touched down and disturbed the water. We looked down Virginia canyon wondering what the trail was like. There was quite a bit of haze coming up the canyon. It was such a contrast with the scenery to the east; crystal clear and vibrant colors from the setting sun. We slowly made our way back to camp. The wind finally subsided after sunset, although it picked up again later in the evening. Many stars were visible last night. I saw one meteorite. The snow on the surrounding hillsides was plainly visible in the starlight.

There are many wildflowers in this meadow. Little purple ones blanket the area. The sound of water falling across the canyon and the trickle of water down the meadow in front of us makes for an idyllic setting. A few birds singing in the trees completes the mountain scene.

It's beginning to warm up now. I've been sitting on a rock outcrop across from camp eating breakfast and making these notes. I'm going to go wash up a bit now.

Saturday, July 6, 8:42 p.m.
Today we hiked to Gilman Lake, below Hoover Lakes. We were intending to go to East Lake; I wanted to try and nearly close the loop between Green Creek trailhead from my trip earlier in the week. The flow of water from Hoover Lakes was so much that we decided to bypass the trail where it crossed the river and attempt a crossing nearer where it emptied into Gilman Lake. We followed the drainage down only to find that we had to cross it anyway. In fact, half-way down, it dropped into a pretty little gorge which carried it to within yards of the lake. Upon finding a suitable spot to cross, I removed my boots, swung them over my shoulder and waded across. It wasn't too bad. Bob was reluctant to do this but finally gave in and he and Kathy came across.

We had lunch up on some rocks overlooking Gilman Lake. We stayed for about half an hour. We then slowly made our way back up, stopping a few times, once just below lower Hoover Lake. We commented on how the mountains around us could very easily be in a desert setting. Bob and Kathy left and I stayed behind for a few minutes contemplating these hills, trying to imagine myself in that setting. I watched as a pack train was crossing between the two lakes. I caught up with Bob and Kathy above upper Hoover Lake. Bob and I scrambled up the talus slope under the ridge we were camped above. It was pretty steep.

Once back at camp, we washed up a bit and had some of Bob's Sullivan Lake Slush; otherwise known as Marguerita's. Kathy made some Mulligatawny soup. Very good. We kicked around for a while then made dinner. We are now sitting around the fire (it's still a little windy) and are about to make hot chocolate. Now that the wind has died down a bit, I'm not so cool. Of course, I am sitting right in front of the fire. The light is beginning to fail now. I will add more tomorrow.

Sunday, July 7, 11:19 a.m.
I am at the top of the unnamed pass between Virginia Lakes and Summit Lake. The elevation here is approximately 11,100 feet. This morning it looked like rain. In fact, it sprinkled early this morning before or at sunrise. We decided to have an abbreviated breakfast and pack up just in case it did start to rain. The wind had stopped this morning. It was very pleasant, except that the mosquitos were beginning to find us. We took some photographs and then headed out at 9:50. It took me one and a half hours to get to where I am now. Bob and Kathy just arrived. There are lots of clouds, but nothing real threatening looking.

Sunday, July 7, 12:03 p.m.
We are now getting ready to head down off the pass. We have estimated it will take about 1 hour to reach the trailhead. We had some snacks here and searched for Bodie and through my binoculars, but couldn't see it. More clouds are forming now, although we are still in a lot of sunshine here. As I was headed up I met several people and a pack train coming down the backside of this pass, headed toward Gilman Lake. I also met a retired couple who were doing a loop trip between Virginia Lakes and Green Creek like we had discussed yesterday. We're moving out now.

Sunday, July 7, 1:33 p.m.
We are at the parking area. We arrived here five minutes ago. There are many clouds in the sky and some rain in the distance. We are celebrating by drinking beer I had in my camper's refrigerator. We will probably head for Lee Vining for lunch before parting company. Although somewhat crowded, we were able to find ourselves a nice spot away from other campers (although there were one or two groups camped up on the ridge above us). Aside from the wind which I think bothered Kathy more than Bob or myself, this was once again an enjoyable hike offering us all the beauty that is so unique to the Sierra Nevada. As always, this hike was far too short.