Trinity Alps backpacking trip over Memorial Day weekend, 5/23-5/2 6

[Guest guest]

Okay, I know Tammy already has a well-planned Yosemite

trip over Memorial Day weekend, so I won't coax anyone

to join my trip instead But, if you've never been to

Trinity Alps or want a little more backpacking exercise

then this may be of interest to you. And I'll make sure

we have an equally good vegan feast next to a campfire

amidst the mountains, lakes, and the woods!

 

Erhhung

 

Trinity Alps backpacking trip over Memorial Day weekend

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Sign-up required, see below.

 

Overview:

 

Friday afternoon/night, drive to trailhead at Bridge Camp Campground.

Saturday, hike to Portuguese Camp near Caribou Scramble (11.8 miles,

2800' gain). Sunday, day hike to Emerald, Sapphire & Mirror Lakes,

the gems of Trinity Alps' lakes. Monday, break camp and hike back

out to trailhead on the same trail.

 

Mileage Marks:

 

00.0 - Trailhead (Bridge Camp)

04.1 - Deep Creek

04.5 - Oak Flat

05.0 - Bear Creek Trail

08.0 - Deer Creek Trail

08.8 - Morris Meadow

10.0 - Bear Gulch

11.9 - Portuguese Camp (Camp for Saturday and Sunday night)

12.1 - Caribou Scramble

14.0 - Emerald Lake

14.5 - Sapphire Lake

15.5 - Mirror Lake (off-trail)

 

Hike Description:

 

Stuart Fork Trail leads into the heart of the Trinity Alps. From the

trail at Bridge Camp Campground the trail climbs up along the Stuart

Fork River, the largest river in Trinity Alps.

The path starts out wide and level, following an old dirt road to

the wilderness boundary at Cherry Flats. The road ends and the climb

begins slowly up, paralleling the Stuart Fork river on the east bank.

The river remains below as you travel up the east bank, but water is

available in tributaries like Salt Creek, Little Deep Creek and Deep

Creek. About 4 miles in the trail dips down to cross the Deep Creek

Bridge, an excellent place for a late morning dip. Next we'll pass

the trail to Alpine Lake, about 5 miles in (3500'). A mile or so

later we will traverse over Salt Creek, a major tributary of Stuart

Fork River. Slowly we'll continue our climb up, crossing over Deer

Creek Bridge, another good spot for a quick dip. At 8 miles in the

trail intersects with Deer Creek Trail, heading off to the East and

Deer lake.

 

Now we reach the beginning of Morris Meadow (9 miles from the trailhead).

What would look like an excellent place to drop back and call it a day,

except for the bears and rattlesnakes that also call it home. The guide

book suggests that because of the MANY people who camp in the area and

dropping crumbs and such that the rodent population has grown. With

the increase in rodents the snake population has also grown. The bears

have also come to this meadow, attracted by the smell of our wonderful

backpacker meals and such. So we will push onward and upward. After

Morris Meadow we cross Bear Gulch (let's hope that is just a name) and

the final push into Portuguese Camp, just shy of 12 miles from the

trailhead at 5500'.

 

Sunday's day hike: we start by going by the Caribou Scramble trail.

To the north only 100 switchbacks and 2500' and you get to Caribou

lake (http://www.backpacker.com/article/0,2646,477__5_5,00.html).

Great view but, not for the faint of heart! The Stuart Fork trail

continues to bend west and starts to climbing more steeply towards

the head of the canyon, now plainly visible through breaks in the

trees. After this steep climb we are reward with Emerald Lake

(http://www.stanford.edu/~kate9/Trinity/trinity2.html). Twenty-one

acre Emerald Lake lives up to its name: cold, clear water, granite

piled on granite, and mass of Sawtooth Mountain's northern shoulder

towering overhead. It's hard to believe that the lake sits at

a mere 5500 feet. Remnants of the dam built by miners are still

visible along Emerald's eastern shore. Next we will hike around

Emerald Lake and continue our climb up to Sapphire Lake, another

half mile away. Sapphire Lake is over 40 acres, sunk deep into

the canyon over 200'. On the eastern edge is old rusting mining

equipment and a dam built here over a century ago. Another mile

and 500' of gain and you reach Mirror Lake, named for it tran-

quility and reflections of both Thompson Peak and Sawtooth Mountain.

This is as deep as we go into Trinity Alps, now it's back to camp

and a nice big dinner and sleep.

 

On Monday, we'll break camp and head back out, about 11.9 miles

back to the trailhead. All and all, looks like it should be a

great little trip and I hope you can make it.

 

Useful Links:

 

http://www.killerdeals.com/guide/packing/trinity/SF%20to%20MM%2C%20SL%2C%20E

L.html

 

Topo Maps:

 

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=10 & n=4524421 & e=507025 & s=50 & size=l

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=10 & n=4538472 & e=502595 & s=50 & size=l

 

Sign-up Information:

 

* Full name

* Email and mobile #

* Where do you want to leave from and when can you leave on Friday?

* Do you have a car? How many passengers (with gear) can you take?

* Do you have a tent? What size?

* Do you have a stove? What kind?

* Do you have a bear canister?

* Do you have a water filter?

 

Send sign-up info to Kevin Connaughton: KevinC4383

Co-leaders: Erhhung Yuan and Kevin Connaughton