Rock Lake, Dinky Lakes Wilderness

Check out the photos! Yes, we got caught in a snow storm. All my buddy and I had to sleep under was a tarp. The snow would cause the tarp to sag until it rested on my nose. The pressure would wake me and I would have to knock the snow off the tarp before I could go back to sleep. That same weekend, several other backpacking groups in our area got trapped by the snow and had to be rescued. Two climbers even died in Yosemite in that storm! Luckily, we were fairly prepared for weather.

Rock Lake is a great destination for beginners and those of you looking for a relaxing weekend without a lot of stressful hiking. The trail is fairly flat with relatively little elevation gain. The trail passes several other lakes including First Dinky Lake and is a good staging area for day hikes to Island Lake, Dogtooth Peak, and the Three Sisters. Dogtooth is known for it’s rock climbing and is a very prominent landmark that can be seen for miles around.

THE DESTINATION
Rock Lake is in the Dinky Lakes Wilderness, Sierra National Forest. Lots of camping sites with large, flat areas around the lake.

THE DRIVE
About 45 minutes from Shaver Lake, CA. About the last 20 minutes of the drive is on a dirt road that can be difficult for a car. A truck or SUV is definitely recommended, especially if there has been recent rain or snow.

THE HIKE
Gradual incline, well marked trail. About 2-3 hours hike to the lake and some nice places to stop and rest along the way. Because the trail follows a canyon of sorts, it is almost impossible to get lost. Apx distance is 4 miles.

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Good luck on your hike! Tell us about your trip including best times, personal experiences, etc, by filling out the comments field, below. Have you ever been trapped in the snow? Tell us about it!

How to Stay Warm at Night

One of the most miserable things that can happen on a backpacking trip is to get cold while you’re sleeping. When I go to bed cold, I tend to stay cold all night long. Here are several ways that I have found to insure that I stay warm all night long.

• Put on clean socks. You may not realize it, but your feet sweat even in cold weather. Get those damp socks off and get your feet into a clean pair. When your feet are cold, the rest of you is cold. When your feet are warm, it’s much easier to stay warm.
• Wear layers. Again, make sure that your sleeping garments are clean and dry. Use a couple of layers on your torso if it’s really cold.
• Wear a bini. Keep your head warm. The scalp is incredibly vascular and a lot of heat is lost through your head, especially since it is usually the only exposed part of your body while you’re sleeping.
• Get a good sleeping bag. In my opinion, there’s no substitute for a good goose down bag.
• Use the “bathroom” right before you go to bed. Getting up in the middle of the night when it’s freezing is no fun and you may not be able to warm up again.
• And finally, my secret weapon… the hot water bottle. On really cold nights, I boil a quart of water and fill my lexan water bottle. Throw that heat source in the bottom of your sleeping bag a few minutes before you climb in, and I guarantee that your bag will be toasty warm. It will warm up even the coldest of feet and will probably stay warm almost the entire night! Just make sure the lid’s on tight to prevent leaks.

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Do you have more ideas for staying warm? Let us know!

Isberg Lakes, Ansel Adams Wilderness

The further in you hike, the more rewarding the trip. At least that has been my experience when choosing a backpacking destination! Last summer, I was in the mood to get away from some of the more frequently traveled lakes in my “neck of the woods” so I chose Sadler Lake. I estimate that it’s about a 8-10 mile hike and I didn’t expect to see many people up there. Unfortunately, Sadler Lake is flat and grassy - it should be called “Mosquito Hatchery”. I kept hiking about another 45 minutes up to Isberg Lake which was well-worth the extra hiking.

Isberg lake (lower) is a great backpacking destination and rates very high on my personal favorites. It is a great staging area for bagging Isberg Peak as well as Sadler Peak, Post Peak, etc. It sits up on a rocky outcropping so it gets a breeze at night to keep the bugs away. There is also a killer view of the sierras from one end.

My only beef with this destination is that it is a LONG hike. Most people you see back there have horses. I estimate that it is 9-12 miles to the lower Isberg Lake.

THE DESTINATION
Isberg Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierra National Forest, California

THE DRIVE
2 hours from Oakhurst. Take Beasore Road from Bass Lake all the way to the Granite Creek Trailhead. A truck is recommended due to dirt roads and occasional bad road conditions.

THE HIKE
Well marked trail, 9-12 miles, fairly steep in sections. Not for the beginner! Count on hiking for most of the day. If you poop out early, you can always stay at Cora Lake, which is about 1/2 way there.

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Good luck on your hike! Tell us about your trip including best times, personal experiences, etc, by filling out the comments field, below.