Bowman Circuit

From John:

Bowman Lake

Sierra Buttes

Watch Tree Tarn

Buckwheat



CA Fuchsia

Rock Lake

Above Loney

It's snowing!

Only three of us braved the threatening forecasts on Wednesday at 8:30 and, after some debate, decided to go ahead with the planned hike around Bowman Mtn.  The traffic was light on 20, and virtually nonexistent on Bowman Lake Rd.  Needless to say, our car was the only vehicle parked at the Loney Meadow trailhead.  It was a bit chilly but we had adequate clothing and we warmed up soon with steady climbing.  We managed to find the dairy barn with little trouble, but did a bit of crashing around in the brush until we hit on the trail which connects to the jeep road heading up the shoulder of the mountain.  It really was a beautiful day, with enough sun and beautiful clouds.  The views as we got higher were wonderful with Bowman Lake beneath us and a nice shot to the Sierra Buttes.  As we rounded the mountain and began descending a bit towards the watch tree, we were impressed with a nice show of flowers, CA Fuchsia if I'm not mistaken.  That little tarn by the watch tree, which is so beautiful in the spring and early summer is almost dry and not so pretty.  We lunched at Upper Rock Lake at the usual place, but that lake also is quite low, and lives up to its name, more rock than lake.  As we ate, the storm clouds closed in and it looked a bit threatening, with the random snow pellet from time to time.  We decided we shouldn't hang around much longer and quickly finished lunch and headed down the trail towards the car, heading down Texas Creek past Bullfrog Lake.  The snow picked up quite a bit, but never stuck.  There was a debate about whether it was snow or hail, or a combination (snail?).  I held out for snow.  It was beautiful to hear it falling on the dry Mules Ears.  All in all, we went a bit over 8 miles and climbed about 1500 feet.  A wonderful day.

Next week 10/2 there is some talk of trying once again to get to the top of Devil's Peak.  8:30 as usual; we'll go somewhere interesting.

Clockwise around Castle and Basin Peaks

Castle Valley with icy spots

Phew!!  Long hike yesterday with a lot of elevation gain.  Six of us hiked across Castle Valley with it's stunning fall colors and Peak view, to follow the PCT  north past Castle Pass and Peter Grubb hut.  From there,



Castle Pass



heading up PCT



Use trail on side of Basin





Lunch spot



Devil's Oven from lunch spot

Devil's Oven with Paradise Lake above it



Warren Lake Trail



Steep going

 the PCT climbs steeply.  We branched right on an unmarked use trail which climbs even more steeply as it goes by a couple of meadows on the side of Basin Peak.  In about a half mile the trail branched and we took the right fork which climbs toward Basin peak, but soon left that trail and headed cross-country in beautiful open woodland to the saddle area between Paradise Valley and Warren Lake.  After briefly floundering around in the woods, we discovered another use trail seemed to be headed in the exact direction we wanted.  We soon realized it was the continuation of the same trail we had been on before we took the right hand branch.  Delighted with our luck and the incredible scenery, we took off toward the Warren Lake trail (we hoped).  Beautiful heather meadows and open woodland with incredible rock outcroppings surrounded us.  It was enchanting.  By 1 PM we were starved enough to notice that we were right near a wooded, rocky view spot that looked into the canyon far below.  Lunch time.  This area was as beautiful as the views of it from the ridge between Castle and Basin Peaks had been.  A Red-tailed hawk circled the valley being menaced by a crow.

After lunch as we followed our trail as it went around the top of the cliffs above Devil's Oven Lake, Paradise, and Warren Lakes and under the cliffs of the ridge trail between the Basin and Castle Peaks.  We could see the lakes as well as smooth, sheered-off rocks reminiscent of Half Dome.  Finally we came to a steep downhill section that ended up meeting up with the Warren Lake Trail.  And a sign!  Our first since the trail off to Sand Lake near the Peter Grubb Hut.  The sign said that Warren Lake itself was only a mile away to the left but we headed the other way.  The hike was going to be long, the days were getting shorter, and I had been the unlucky recipient of a double yellow jacket sting.

Again we went around a valley until we once again ascended and descended steeply to still-wet meadows under Castle Peak.  This must be a very wet hike at other times of the year.  Finally we got to the last stream and headed steeply uphill towards the pass where the trail comes close to Frog Lake overlook.  I spotted a marmot in the rocky cliffs above the meadows we were leaving.  The uphill trail was longer than we remembered it...guess we were getting tired and we still had a lot of miles to go before the cars.  There we met some young hikers with some big dogs.  At some distance down the trail was a Chihuahua trying desperately to keep up with them. 





By the time we got back to the cars, we were pretty tired.  We had hiked just shy of 13 miles with a whopping 2650 foot elevation gain and a top elevation of 8600 feet.  As we discovered, this entire hike can be been done on trails with no cross-country.  But you won't find them on your maps, nor will you find many signs. 

From Peter- thanks

Castle/Basin

Looking up Castle Valley to our goal

Four of us headed up Castle Valley under a thin overcast.  We turned at Castle Pass to climb Castle Peak.  Having gotten there by noon, we ate our lunch.  The weather was warm and the wind on top NOT howling and rather toasty as well.  After lunch we headed down to the ridge between Castle and Basin Peaks which is certainly one of the most beautiful parts of the hike.  On top of Basin Peak, we found our last year's entries in the sign-in book and penned another.  As we observed the scene, John had another idea for an interesting and untried (by us) hike.  We would head up the PCT, peel off on the trail by Basin, and head cross-country over the saddle at the base between Paradise Valley and Warren Lake.  We would hit the Warren Lake trail and head back to Frog Lake Overlook area and down to the intersection with the PCT.  A big clockwise circle.

From Castle Peak looking towards Basin

Coming down Basin, we stayed on the ridge trail rather than our usual down hill cross-country.  The going was fairly easy as we went past our favorite meadow and down to Peter Grubb hut which is closed due to needed repair work.  The bathrooms are open but kind of trashy. 

We had hiked 10.5 miles with a 2400 ft. elevation gain.

From Castle Peak



From Castle Peak

Looking back at Castle Peak from ridge trail

Hiking along ridge between peaks



Penner by the back door

Fall Creek Mountain from Round Lake Trail

Taking a break at Penner

 Six of us including one new hiker went from the Carr/Feeley trailhead up the south side of Island Lake past several lakes including Long, Round and Milk and some lake "has beens" that seem to have disappeared.  We stopped for lunch at Shotgun Lake and then proceeded up past Upper Rock Lake and on to Penner Lake.  From there back to Island Lake and down to the cars. 

The hike was a 12 mile counter-clockwise loop.  The trails were well-maintained with little climbing over logs, etc.  The elevation gain was only about 1550(+) feet.  Beautiful weather and no smoke - the 12 miles were easy enough.  We saw no one else the whole day until we got back to Island Lake. 

Piece of Burning Man Art (?) at parking lot