North and South
across the
North Mokelumne River
at
Serene
Camp Irene
Looking South along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route
Across the North Mokelumne River at Camp Irene
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Approaching the river hiking South down the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail our best fording position is downriver, to our Right, or South.
We are looking to our West by the compass.
After crossing the North Mokelumne we've got to find and follow a very faint route downriver to the point where our route turns Southeast to begin the fierce climb over beautifully complex terrain up to the top of Mount Reba.
But not to worry too much, because as we turn away from the North Mokelumne River for the climb out of this massive canyon the quality of the trail route improves considerably.
Though faint in places, crossed by fallen trees in others, and sometimes completely overgrown with dense manzanita there is continious trailbed, and reasonable duckage providing a followable route from bottom to top.
We may have to stop and look around every now and then to find it, but it is there and find it we will.
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View Looking West
View of the Pristine Camp area on the North Bank across the rocky South Shore of the North Mokelumne River
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The same view across the North Mokelumne River as in the image above, but from the South bank looking North, rather than the North bank looking South.
We are looking West by the compass, but North along the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route...
Note the position of the broken off snag in both images above. |
North Mokelumne River Ford at Camp Irene
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Camp Irene Ford during high Spring Thaw flow. End of May 2014.
Peter sent us this great shot of the North Fork of the Mokelumne during high Spring Thaw flow levels.
Peter's perspective is looking Southwest across the North Mokelumne at the point on the North shore where he began his ford.
Peter posted up a trip reports on
Peter's
2014 Tahoe to Yosemite Trail Account
and
Peter also provided Tahoe to Whitney with an excellent account of his early season hike on the
Tahoe to Yosemite Trail updates
These accounts are good information for all prospective as well as experienced Tahoe to Yosemite Trail hikers.
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Video
Fording Camp Irene hiking South to rise above the Forest Cover
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Hiking 1.98 miles South of Camp Irene
Climbing 720 feet
This video explores the campsites on both shores of the Camp Irene ford, mostly focusing on finding and visiting the two excellent campsites on the South Side of the ford. The last video of this Southbound hike down the TYT explored the fine campsite on the North shore of the Camp Irene ford.
After checking out the Camp Irene campsite above the South shore of the ford, and the site downriver from the ford, we search out the faint trail remnants and ducks leading us South from Camp Irene on our 5.25 mile climb up 3340 feet to the top of Mount Reba.
This is a difficult hike.
comments or questions?
The video above covers the first 1.98 miles hiking South from the ford up 720 feet to the point where we climb above the forest cover, giving us grand views of the surrounding terrain as well as putting ourselves under the sheer face of the ridge composing the Northwest end of Underwood Canyon.
scouting reports?
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Backpacking Information
Miles-Elevations-Maps-Terrain
Camp Irene
to the
Top of Mount Reba
and down to
Lake Alpine
The Mileage Post at Camp Irene posts the mileage to Lake Alpine at 8.8 miles. As you can see, I have the distance at 8.02 miles.
The best time to make the long, hot, exposed 5.24 mile hike up to the top of Mount Reba from Camp Irene is in the chill of early morning. |
The Big Climb up Mount Reba
Camp Irene
to the top of
Mount Reba
Mileage
5.24 miles from Camp Irene South, to the top of Mount Reba. All up.
Elevation
Camp Irene, 5280 feet.
Mount Reba, 8720 feet.
Elevation Gain
3440 feet (From Camp Irene)
The top of Mount Reba
to
Bee Gulch on East Side of Lake Alpine
Mileage
2.78 miles from the Top of Mount Reba South, to Bee Gulch trail head on Highway 4. All down.
Elevation Loss
Mount Reba to Lake Alpine. -1400 feet
8.02 miles total from Camp Irene to Highway 4 at the Bee Gulch trail head.
Mileage and Elevations
comments-questions-insights? |
POST UP!
All backpackers can post text comments about the following section of trail through the comments links on all the trail guide pages. Registered Members can post up stand alone post about the trail with text, images, maps and videos in the Trails Forum that supplements this section of the Trail Guide.
Hiked this section of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail lately?
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Scouting Report
Check out the Tahoe to Whitney .org Backpacking Trails and Topics forums
comments |
Looking at the North Shore across the North Mokelumne River
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Notice here, again, the perspective we have on the broken off snag from this South bank perspective.
Note the great granite structure rising, and dominating the Right-background (Northwest) of the image. We can see the warm glow of sunset on the upper-Left background of the image.
Our Northbound fording Spot from this position looking Northwest is off to our Left.
comments or questions? |
Fording the North Fork of the Mokelumne River
at
Camp Irene
Let's go Check Out the Ford Point
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The most shallow ford position is on the South side of the pooling position of the North Mokelumne River when we are hiking North or South on the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.
This configuration will be swept away by the first significant Spring Thaw.
But that may happen next year, or in ten years time.
My point is that the configuration that will preserver is the pool.
If and when the logs float away, which they eventually will, then the Camp Irene Ford will revert to its most basic configuration: a very wet waist to armpit easy wade (depending on season) across the placid pool over to the other side.
I prefer the complexity of lowering myself down onto the foot-wetting trunk of the longest of the fording trees, and a "tree-tightrope" downstream to the shallow gravel bank that's collected on the downstream side of the fantistic pool that marks the riverside location of Camp Irene.
Otherwise I would have to wade waist-deep across here, which I would prefer not to do unless I have to.
I'll push across very rough conditions if I have to.
Otherwise I find the easiest and longest route possible...
scouting reports?
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Drop down onto the end of the semi-submerged trunk
Walk out into the Shallows
Upstream View of Camp Irene Ford from the South Bank of the North Mokelumne River
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Camp Irene Ford point on the North Mokelumne River.
We've made our Southbound ford and are hiking downriver along a faint path.
comments or questions?
INDEX |
Lets find the South Shore Campsite
Old History-Current Terrain
A great jumbled wash sits above our ford point on the South shore of Camp Irene. Part of this jumble is a product of floods rushing down the creek draining Underwood Valley.
The general look of chaos on the South bank of the Camp Irene ford point is a product of the power of the water behind the logjam that formed between Camp Irene and the Enchanted Forest during the Great Thaw of 1998.
When this logjam finally broke the shape of the rock channel above Camp Irene directed a wall of water across the South shore of Camp Irene.
These activities created the jumbled terrain on the South Shore of Camp Irene we observe.
These jumbled terrain features obscure the first parts of the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail hiking South out of Camp Irene. These jumbled features also make it a lot easier to find the campsite above the ford by first hiking downriver a bit before we turn Left (East) to find the easiest way up to the campsite on the South Shore of Camp Irene. |
Hiking Further Downstream we look back again at the Fording Point
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We have hiked about a hundred yards downriver after crossing the ford to the South side of Camp Irene.
I'm pointing upriver at the fording point we just crossed over. Note the brightly lit up tree in the upper Left corner of the above image. That is the tree in the Right foreground of the second picture above.
The ford is just a few feet upriver from this tree.
I'm pointing at the fallen tree above the ford point from the position where we can turn East, away from the river for an easy hike up to the main South shore Camp Irene campsite.
Before this point we can hike up to the campsite, but the jumbled terrain makes it more challenging to both walk around and find the campsite.
We can hike directly to the campsite from the ford, but the jumbled terrain makes it a lot easier for us to hike a hundred yards South along the riverbank to the two fallen trees pictured below before turning up and away from the river to the main Camp Irene campsite.
scouting reports? |
Two Fallen Trees
To the South Shore Camp Irene Campsite
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From the position about a hundered yards downstream where we pointed out the ford above we see these two fallen trees just a few feet to our East.
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I am pointing out the way to the South Camp Irene Campsite around the Right edge of the tree.
A big trail leads up up to the campsite. |
Camp Irene
South Bank Campsite
Trail Detour
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From this fallen tree our Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite Trail route swings away from the North Mokelumne River into and through a dense forest/thicket of fallen trees.
The trail loops around a section of even thicker fallen forest between us and the river before turning back to again hike along the riverside. |
Trail Conditions
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The trail conditions around Camp Irene are rough, as indicated by the obstacles we have to cross.
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Duck marking fine campsite North of Camp Irene.
After circling through/around the rough section of fallen forest our route swings back to the riverside, better quality faint trail, and this duck marking the path towards a fine campsite nestled on a flat above a pooling section of the North Molkelumne below the ford at Camp Irene.
A thicket separates our trail from the campsite.
Follow this trail through the thicket to the river to find an excellent campsite.
comments or questions? |
Campsite and Pool South of Camp Irene
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Campsite South of Camp Irene.
I am getting real tired of seeing non-burnable crap in the fire rings. I like beer. I never carry beer, but if I come upon beer in the wilderness I carry my empties out.
So should you.
But it's much smarter to carry a plastic flask... and I don't even do that. But I will buy you one in the Lake Alpine Bar, the Kennedy Meadows Bar, and buy you a beer at the Tuolumne Meadows Store.
scouting reports?
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Pool along campsite South of Camp Irene.
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Evan and the Bear
I met a cool dude, Evan, from Marin County, at the campsite located South of the Camp Irene fording point. This must have been around 2000. He was cruising around looking to safely store his food away from a bear prowling the area. |
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This was Evan's first backpacking trip. He picked a good trip for his capabilities, making a solo three day round trip from Lake Alpine to Camp Irene and back. This is a hard trip for a first-timer because it is in a remote location, the trails are good if thin, and it is a hell of an Eight Mile Climb from Camp Irene over the top of Mount Reba and down to Lake Alpine. Evan gave himself a good challenge for his first backpacking trip. Here's my notes on this encounter, it was 1999:
"Sunday, Sept 5, 1999. Walking back to his camp Bear, was approaching his camp & (bear) departed very quickly upon our arrival. I showed Evan the proper way to suspend food."
When I ran into Evan he was worried about the bear that was actively trying to get his food. Neither was used to each other. The bear was not used to humans, and was fearful but hungry. A Yosemite Valley bear would have just walked right into Evan's camp, taken the food, flipped him off, and sat down and ate it right in front of him. Trust me, I know! But that is yet another bear story. But this particular bear was not acclimated to humans, and was very uneasy approaching Evan.
Evan, on the other hand, was doing his first backpacking trip and was as unused to bears, or protecting his food from a bear, as the bear was unused to him. Evan was very uneasy having the bear approaching his camp and probing his defenses.
This made for a situation where two very nervous creatures were eyeing each other uneasily across a void of mutual uncertainty. One wanted to steal food, the other wanted to prevent that. Neither had a great deal of experience with the other.
I met Evan as he was checking out moving to a different campsite closer to Camp Irene proper from his camp just a bit further South of Camp Irene, along the SE shore of the North Mokelumne River.
He explained his bear problem, and we went back to his camp site and I showed him how to scare the shit out of the semi-wild bear prowling his camp. I make bears that are curious about humans never want to see a human again.
No bears are injured during these lessons, though their feelings of comfort around humans are destroyed. Better me putting a deep fear of humans into the bear before a hunter or ranger shoots the poor bastards after they become acclimated to humans.
(If any of the Riverside Firemen I met mule-camping at the camp in Fish Valley read this, POST UP! That was a great time, & yet another great bear story...That bear didn't bug you guys again after I got done, did it?)
Then I explained "Bear Technology" to Evan and showed him the two basic ways to hang food, the counterweight and hidden line methods on a tree branch that was bear-proof.
I'll put up articles about the stuff I mention above, being Bear Tech, scaring the shit out of "borderline" acclimated bears, and proper food hanging in the Bear Section of the Living Things Forum as I continue building this trail guide South towards Mount Whitney.
Evan, if you see this Post Up!
top of page
comments or questions?
INDEX |
Turning Southeast
away from the
North Fork of the Mokelumne River
Our upcoming Segment of Trail:
1.98 miles of trail from Camp Irene to above the Forest Cover
Hiking South past the South Camp Irene campsite our faint trail route turns Southeast to continue a twisting, sometimes switchbacking 1.98 mile increasingly difficult climb under forest cover to the point we climb above and out of the East end of the forest.
The trail under forest begins with a moderate-difficulty trail that becomes steeper with each step.
The end of this segment switchbacks us up, out, and above the highest part of the forested ramp of terrain up from Camp Irene into majestic views of the surrounding terrain, especially our complex route through Summit City Canyon. And the view gets better and better as we climb higher and higher...
Keep your eyes open, and especially make sure you observe the terrain behind. These grand views are fleeting, momentary experiences along the long trail.
Maintain 360 degree awareness.
At the top of the forest we are now out on the rock ramp that will lead us under Underwood Valley and bend us into Lake Valley.
As of 2013 a reasonable if faint trailbed runs almost continiously through this 1.98 mile forested ramp of terrain leading to granite mountains from Camp Irene.
The trailbed may be faint. It may be covered by a dense
layer of Pine needles. It has many trees and snags fallen across it.
But it is a trail nonetheless, and even listed as a maintained trail on all the federal maps.
Up Ahead... Generally...
In 2013 I was pleased that great sections of manzanita had been recently cut through, and noted that the annual rock work (on the upper sections above the forest section) that was begun in the early 2000s has continued to proceed.
The only segment of trail I anticipate serious problems with in the future are the final switchbacks up to the crest of Mount Reba. In Sept of 2013 two of these switchbacks were at, or right near, the Angle of Repose.
The Angle of Repose is the slope of the mountain, meaning these switchbacks have worn off the mountain. It was a bit hairy even in September...
Switchbacks like these, cut into compacted loose volcanic terrain, erode a little bit with each year's Winter rains and especially during the Spring Thaw. After about three years a previously well dug out trail bed is about gone, sitting at or near the Angle of Repose.
I left a message with Stanislaus National Forest Trails noting that these switchbacks had melted into the mountainside in October of 2013.
Other locations with the same terrain conditions experience the same cycle. The trails across the flanks of Raymond, Sonora, and Leavitt Peaks on the PCT are other examples of trail segments composed of loose-packed volcanic debris that constantly degrade and require regular maintenance to keep open and safe. |
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Good trailbed characterizes the Tahoe to Yosemite Trail South of Camp Irene.
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Forested Switchbacks moving us quickly out and above the forest.
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Granite cliff marks our route South.
Our trail South passes above and to the Left, the East of this formidable feature.
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Massive rock formation on the Northwest side of the Camp Irene Ford
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We are climbing up, South out of Camp Irene. This picture is looking to the North. The great rock dome pictured here is the main feature that sits between Camp Irene and the Enchanted Forest that we came through on the North side of this huge rock. |
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This is the flat below the dome, pictured at Left. Check out the map, and notice how the N Mokelumne River bends around the base of this feature, passing though a very steep and narrow gorge at its base, before spreading out at Camp Irene. |
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Our trail from the Enchanted Forest passed around the West side, the Left side of this rock. The East side, where the N Mokelumne River passes through, is impassable for hikers.
Note the flat at the bottom Right of the dome. The next picture shows the flat. |
When you are climbing South out of Camp Irene, make sure you check the view North, to understand the features that determine your trail's route.
comments or questions? |
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Grand Views North
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Higher up on the Northwest flank of Peak 8353 hiking South high above Camp Irene. This is the view looking North. The canyon running from bottom Left to top Right is Summit City Creek. Horse Canyon is cutting deeply into the Northwest flank of Summit City Creek's canyon. |
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Summit City Creek is about 800 feet below where the hanging base of Horse Canyon cuts through Summit City Creek's canyon wall. The highest point on the ridgeline North of Horse Canyon, along Summit City Creek, is peak 9607. Identify it on the Carson Pass Region Map.
Covered Wagon and Melissa Cory Peaks sit on the crestline in the far distance behind and Left of peak 9607.
comments or questions? |
VIDEO
Above the Forest to the Top of Mount Reba and on down to Lake Alpine
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The previous video brings us climbing 1.98 miles up 720 feet of elevation South through and above the forest behind Camp Irene.
The video starts with a hike 3.26 miles from our position above the forest surrounding Camp Irene up another 2720 feet of elevation while passing under the mouth of Underwood Canyon on our way to enter Lake Valley for the final length of our hike to the Top of Mount Reba.
The total of our hike from Camp Irene to the top of Mount Reba crosses 5.24 miles of trail climbing 3440 feet of elevation.
The end of the film covers our 2.78 mile hike down 1400 feet of elevation from the top of Mount Reba to either the Bee Gulch Trailhead on the East shore of Lake Alpine or the backway into the Lake Alpine Lodge.
This film, when combined with the previous film, covers the 8.02 miles between Camp Irene and the Bee Gulch Trailhead on Highway 4 at the East Shore of Lake Alpine.
comments or questions?
scouting reports?
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End of Northwest Ridge above Underwood Valley. Our route is carring us to the Right, to the South of this first peak we will pass under on our climb up to the mouth of Lake Valley.
comments or questions?
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A little higher up our route bends Southeast and we can make out the End of the Southwest Ridge dividing Underwood Valley from Lake Valley on the other side. This is the next peak we will cross under and bend around its Southwest flank to enter Lake Valley...
Looking North at our position from the End of Summit City Canyon.
comments or questions?
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Terrain
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The varied terrain of trees, brush, and rock. Note the faint trail before us. |
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This is Lizard Territory. |
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The trees are not dense enough to give cover from the Sun. The brush had overgrown big sections of trail as of July '09, but the trail was still visible and followable to the next open section. |
A large population of lizards lives on the Northwest flank of Mount Reba. I believe the hot, exposed nature of this area is good for them.
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Freshly chipped trail.
Across the canyon on the other side of the North Mokelumne River we can see the flank of Mokelumne Peak, and barely make out the tips of the Mokelumne Tetons along its flank.
scouting reports?
comments or questions? |
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Recent rock work. This trail previously had chipped-out sections along the granite marking the trail route, before this massive amount of work. You can't miss the trail now! |
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This section precedes a right turn in the trail, where your climb will parallel the fall of the creek draining Underwood Valley.
Top of Page |
Great Rock Wall to the sw of Underwood Valley
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Heading up to the Rock Wall guarding the Southwest End of Underwood Valley. |
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There is a nice flat at the base of this rock wall with expansive views up and down the North Mokelumne River and up Summit City Creek. This would make a wonderful place to camp, but there is no water nearby. We will pass from Left to Right under this impressive wall.
I took this shot while still some distance below this upper part of the trail.
When we get there we will bend Southeast, to our Southbound left, to hike around to the Right side, the Southwestern end of this wall to cross its manzanita-covered flank to enter the mouth of Lake Valley.
Looking North at our position from the End of Summit City Canyon.
comments or questions?
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We are now hiking up, over and around the great granite features we observed from the end of Summit City Canyon.
Pretty cool terrain here, back there, and in-between.
Underwood Valley is above us to the East, our Left. We can see the peak at the end of the ridge dividing Underwood Valley from Lake Valley in the upper Left corner of the image. We're going to bend around the far flank of that peak entering Lake Valley.
What a frkn amazing hike...
comments or questions? |
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Yes, this is the trail. |
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This thicket is also part of the trail. |
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Though the trail through here is maintained and easily passable, there are some sections of manzanita that are almost totally grown in.
scouting reports? |
Sections like this one are the reason why your pack should be properly secured, and of a strong fabric.
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Hot Pines
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Jeffery Pine Cone. |
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Jeffery Pine. |
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Jeffery Pines like warmer locations.
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The Rock Flat preceding Underwood Valley
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The nice flat under the rock wall guarding the Southbound entrance to Underwood Valley.. |
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A granite boulder split into almost symmetrical shards. |
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This would be a fine place to camp if there was any water nearby. |
This looks like trail crew rock art.
comments or questions? |
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Heading South around the edge of the rock wall will bring us climbing up, to pass below the mouth of Underwood Valley. Passing by Underwood valley bring us under and around the nose on the ridge under the peak of Mount Reba to Lake Valley. |
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As we head South, views of the North Mokelumne's grand drainage canyon, which is making a big turn West here, opens up. |
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We can now see down the massive North Mokelumne River canyon. Soon, we will be at the top of Mount Reba, and our views will again encompass most of the horizon. |
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As we turn the corner we will lose our majestic view of the granite vault holding Summit City Creek. |
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View Northeast across Underwood Canyon's Northwest end.
We've just climbed South up to, then across the bottom of this beautiful rock.
On the far side of this rock a creek runs from Camp Irene up to Frog Lake. The North fork of the Mokelumne River runs from the far side of the
Underwood Canyon rises to our Right on this side of that peak, that massive pile of rock marking its end.
comments or questions?
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The Canyon of the North Fork of the Mokelumne River turning West
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Long view Southwest down the North Fork of the Mokelumne's river basin. |
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Rough Country. There's stories of lost cabins down that valley...
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View Down the Canyon of the North Fork of the Mokelumne River
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Detail of canyon wall, looking down the North Fork of the Mokelumne's river basin. |
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The lower elevations of the N Mokelumne River gorge is blanketed by thick forest. This is much different than the thin forests that decorated the great granite basin that we just followed South down Summit City Creek.
comments or questions?
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North: Camp Irene South: Lake Alpine
Below: The view up Summit City Creek from the Northern Flank of Mount Reba. Summit City Creek intersects with the North Mokelumne River flowing into the frame from the Right, between the near descending ridge, and the massif beyond blocking our view of Round Top.
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Almost the full length of Summit City Creek viewed from the flank of Mount Reba before turning the corner southbound past Underwood Valley. The Sisters and Round Top, where we entered the Summit City Creek drainage, are the tallest peaks visible in far distance. You can just see the top of Round Top peeking over the flank of the big mountain sitting Right of center in the distant foreground. |
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Note the pointy granite feature down below us in the middle-Right of the image. That is the feature that seperates Camp Irene from the Enchanted Forest. Beyond it note the L-shaped patch of forest rising up to the Left of a lower granite feature. That lower granite feature is what we hiked up and over from the Lower Ford of Summit City Creek into the Enchanted Forest.
That is exactly where we entered the Enchanted Forest.
The gap in along the far distant crestline, beyond the great yawing gap of Horse Canyon, in the upper Right of the distant crest line, is where the Tahoe to Yosemite trail passes by Fourth of July Lake to enter Summit City Canyon.
Note the thick manzanita in the foreground below. I can make identification of this section of Sierra Crestline simpler:
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A Big View of Summit City Creek's Canon, showing where we entered the canyon by rounding the Sisters' Left Shoulder, passing by Fourth of July Lake as we dropped down into the canyon. |
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This image is valuable for Northbound hikers planning a Lake Alpine to Carson Pass trip, as well as Southbound Tahoe to Yosemite hikers heading through this difficult section.
Now check out the pointy granite feature below us, and our position here below the mouth of Underwood Canyon from the End of Summit City Canyon.
comments or questions?
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This view of Summit City Creek has good detail. I took this with an old SLR in the '90s
comments or questions
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Turning our attention West by Southwest we notice the main feature on the other side of the Canyon of the North Molkelumne River is Mokelumne Peak. We notice the unique feature on its Southeast facing flank, a series of serrated rock features known as the Mokelumne Tetons.
comments or questions? |
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Climbing around the face at the end of the ridge arm making up the North flank of Lake Valley.
We will work our way to the right of this peak to bend Southeast around its flank into Lake Valley.
comments or questions? |
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Through manzanita on final approach to Lake Valley.
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Tahoe to Yosemite Trail bending into Lake Valley.
We can plainly see up upcoming trail route bending into Lake Valley.
The West Mount Reba Peak is visible across the mouth of Lake Valley. Our trailhead is beside the Eastern Mount Reba Peak at the head of Lake Valley.
Looking North at our position from the End of Summit City Canyon.
scouting reports?
comments or questions?
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A Visitor
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A little beetle flew over and landed for a visit.
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Nice Rock on Pedastal
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Entering Lake Valley's North End
Entering Lake Valley
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These ripples descending from the top of Mount Reba looked small from Summit City Creek! |
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The trail does well following the logic of the terrain through here.
Top of Page |
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Meadow in mouth of Lake Valley.
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Campsite at the forested entry to Lake Valley
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Entering Lake Valley below the peaks of Mount Reba. |
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Campsite at the mouth of Lake Valley. |
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This is a nice place to take a break from the sustained climb up the Northwest Flank of Mount Reba. |
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We enter a small bit of forest cover as we pass up Lake Valley. |
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North: Camp Irene top of page South: Lake Alpine
I find Wild Flowers very Relaxing
Stop to Smell the Flowers every now and then...
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Subtle colors and patterns |
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Simple beauty is composed of complexity. |
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High Sierra Nevada Wildflowers
Spruce Grove in Lake Valley
Nice backpacking couple at the campsite entering Lake Valley
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Sunday, July 19, 2009. |
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The joy of backpacking. |
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Like me, this nice couple was taking a break at this shaded campsite from the difficult climb up Mount Reba from Camp Irene.
After a brief conversation and break, they saddled up to finish their climb to the top of Mount Reba. |
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Heading back to society after a weekend trip into the deeply secluded Camp Irene, I could see they were really refreshed, despite the hard work of hiking in and out of the steep N Mokelumne River Valley over Mount Reba. |
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Unlike the human hikers, Dog was not real happy I was there. |
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This nice couple, and their neurotic dog, were taking a break at the campsite in Underwood Valley on the North side of Mount Reba when I arrived.
They were nice enough to share their break spot with me.
They had hiked down to Camp Irene and back from Lake Alpine.
Note our different approach to clothing. I'm wearing a tank top and shorts, while they prefer long sleeves and long pants.
We took different approaches to balancing comfort between the heat of long clothing vs the exposure to mosquitoes of shorts and a tank top. |
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I just rubbed this guy the wrong way! This is not a "I'm happy to see you" look on Dog's face. |
Mosquitoes! |
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Mokelumne Peak from Lake Valley.
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Great rock block section as we reach the top and end of the granite.
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South through Lake Valley
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Lake Valley features a beautiful, but short, almost-flat area before you resume climbing to the peak of Mount Reba. |
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Though still moving through granite terrain in Lake Valley, as we climb above it towards the top of Mount Reba, we will see elements of a vast interface zone between granitic and volcanic terrain, and cross it, into predominantly volcanic terrain.
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We will constantly cross fingers of lava around islands of granite. |
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As we approach the top of Mount Reba, we can see that the ridge top separating Lake and Underwood Valleys is decorated with exotic volcanic features.
Beautiful pedestal.
comments or questions?
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The Head of Lake Valley
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Looking SW at crest line across the Western side of Lake Valley just North of Mount Reba. |
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The head of the valley looks very promising for camping.
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The Final steps South up to the top of Mount Reba
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As we climb up the Eastern side of Lake Valley to reach the top of Mount Reba, we can see the remnants of a snow berm along the Western side of Lake Valley climbing up to Mount Reba. |
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This snow berm was not a problem in Mid-July during 2009, but it can be a problem crossing it during Spring and early Summer.
Below is the meadow where the ranchers stay when they are rounding up their grazing stock. |
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As the trail pushes over to the Southeast side of Lake Valley for the final climb up to the top of Mount Reba the garden of volcanic rock formations decorating the top of the ridgeline comes into view.
There are some huge chunks of volcanic rock up here. |
Hard Volcanic Rock Formations along the ridge line dividing Lake Valley from Underwood Valley run up the ridge line to the crest line Reba sits upon.
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As we have just hiked around massive granite to get up here, it is a breathless transition.
Note the protruding element.
comments or questions?
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As we climb high enough to see the ridgecrest and get long views North we are positioning ourselves for the final climb up to the top.
The trail swings East before beginning the switchbacks up to the top of Mount Reba.
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Switchbacks just below the Top of Mount Reba.
The Snow Berm just below the Northwest approach to the top of Mount Reba
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The snow berm just below the top of Mount Reba. Though shrunken in this image, I have seen this snow berm covering the final couple of hundred yards of the steepest part of the trail below the Northern flank of Mount Reba, in June and early July. |
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scouting reports? |
North: Camp Irene top of page South: Lake Alpine
Snow Berm Story
A long time ago I was doing an early Spring trip between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite.
Snow remnants all along the trail, and packing the route across mountain gaps and passes made the trip difficult and exciting. At the time I did not own an ice axe or crampons.
I reached the steep wall of hard Spring snow covering the last couple of hundred yards up to the top of Mount Reba, exactly the same one pictured above, except for its size. This early Spring berm bearded the whole ridgeline along the Northern side of the ridge crest, and extended about 200 yards down the Northern flank of Mount Reba, to where it terminated in mushy, wet soil.
My only option was to kick footsteps into the hard surface of the berm, to create my own steps up the snow berm to the top of Mount Reba. I was doing fine, until I was about 20 yards below the top of the snow berm. I figured out later that I was pretty tired, and likely I became lazy while kicking steps, not making the last few deep enough into the snow berm.
Just below the top of the berm my last footstep broke out, and I whacked the flank of the berm, and bounced onto my side, as I started a rapid slide down the steep snow berm.
I was picking up speed sufficient to possibly injure myself significantly as I slid down the steep berm, and again at the bottom. Being on my side, I flipped onto my ass into the seated position, and reached up and back to grab the top uprights of my external pack frame.
Self Arrest with an external framed pack
Grabbing and pulling the pack frame uprights at the top of my pack towards my shoulders causes the bottoms of the uprights to pull away from the top of my ass, and dig deeply into the snows of the flank of this steep snow berm.
I came to a very rapid stop. I was pretty happy with my crafty self-arrest, until the receding numbness of my frozen ass brought me to the realization that my ass REALLY hurt. Closer inspection showed that the butt of my pants was gone, worn away my rapid trip down the hard ice of the berm. Darn.
My brief slide down the hard, steep, icy surface had removed the butt of my pants, and threw in a free sandpapering of my ass. I was stepping gingerly for a few days after that slide... and the kids at the Lake Alpine store were laughing like heck when I came in to buy a set of shorts to replace my trashed nylon pants.
Darn!
comments or questions?
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The top of Mount Reba
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At the Wilderness Boundary at the top of Mount Reba.
Over my shoulder you can see the trail dropping off the North side of Mount Reba. |
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Mileage sign at the Top of Mount Reba. |
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This sign indicates that the distance between Highway four and Camp Irene is Nine Miles.
The Sign at Camp Irene posted this distance at 8.8 miles. My experiences and measurements indicates that the distance between Camp Irene and the Bee Gulch trail head on Highway 4 is 8.02 miles. |
We entered the Stanislaus National Forest Southbound passing through Camp Irene and are now exiting the Mokelumne Wilderness at the top of Mount Reba.
comments or questions? |
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The North High Sierra from the Top of Mount Reba
Turning around to view the path of our last Steps up to the top of Mount Reba. Note Wilderness Boundary in lower Right Corner, almost slashed off by the white edge... |
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I had this bright idea in the '90s, to take multiple panoramic shots of the Sierra Crestline from high points along the trails between Lake Tahoe and Mount Whitney. Here you are. |
Crossing over to the South flank of Mount Reba. |
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The Jeep trail heading Southeast down towards our junction with the trail to Bee Gulch. The rock formation in the distance is the Dardanelles. |
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This dirt road reaches the Top of Mount Reba from the paved road to the Mount Reba Ski Area.
This road runs along the ridgeline visible in the middle distance through the base of the line of trees.
The Bee Gulch junction is out of sight along the Left side of that ridgeline. That's where we are hiking towards.
scouting reports?
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Road Map
View Highway 4: Ebbetts Pass, Lake Alpine, and Bear Valley Road Map in a larger map |
I add this road map as our trailhead at the top of Mount Reba is a couple of hundred yards from an active dirt road. This dirt road runs down to the road from Highway 4 to the Bear Valley Ski Area.
Though an old jeep track runs right up to the trailhead at the top of Mount Reba, the last couple of hundred yards of the jeep track are now off limits to vehicles.
But you can drive to within a couple of hundred yards of the trailhead at the top of Mount Reba, so I have added the map above.
See all Tahoe to Whitney Road Maps.
scouting reports?
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North: Camp Irene top of page South: Lake Alpine
Backpacker Forums
Have General Information or Questions about Long-Distance Backpacking, Gear, or the Sierras?
Your comments and questions posted from this page appear on the Mount Reba Forum Page.
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North: Camp Irene South: Lake Alpine
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