Trails Report: Mammoth Pass, smokey skies
As the San Joaquin River leaves Devils Postpile National Monument, it twists and turns through the Sierra Nevada where it eventually feeds into the Mammoth Pool Reservoir. This is where the French Fire has been burning and what was responsible for making the skies in Mammoth Lakes so smoky over the last couple of weeks.
On Sunday, August 10th, the Sierra National Forest stated that the interior parts of the fire are cooling but unfortunately, more smoke could be possible. However, while the sky remains clear the trails throughout Red’s Meadow are certainly worthy of excursion.
On Saturday August 9, 53 volunteers converged on the Sotcher Lake loop trail and feeder trail for the fourth Summer of Stewardship Event of the season. Volunteers improved informational signage, maintained and installed trail drainage structures, re-established trail tread around upturned root balls and more. After the infamous blow down of 2011, the trail connecting Sotcher Lake to Minaret Falls was buried by trees and all but forgotten. Now hikers can enjoy this unobstructed and retreaded stretch of trail that meanders through mixed conifer forest. While hiking, make sure to include the lake loop trail. Here, Giant Mountain Larkspur can be found growing overhead and, on the far end of the loop, the stream gently cascades before emptying into the lake.
Anyone looking to avoid a bus-ride or an entry fee can park at Horseshoe Lake and hike west. Some of the best loop hikes in the Mammoth Lakes Trail System (MLTS) can be linked up between any combination of Mammoth Pass, McLeod Lake, Crater and Upper Crater Meadows, the John Muir Trail, Red Cones and Reds Meadow. These trails offer some of the best vistas of the San Joaquin Valley while making their way through mature old growth, blown-down and charred forest communities. While hiking be watchful for some of the stateliest Red Fir and Western White Pines that grace the MLTS. Through the burn wildflowers such as Aster, Daisy, Pennyroyal and others grow in the company of sapling pines and spruces to begin the new forest succession.
This trail report is provided by Friends of the Inyo with support from the Town of Mammoth Lakes – Mammoth Lakes Trails System funding. The next opportunity to get out and give back to your public lands is August 23 — Coldwater. Join the Inyo National Forest, MLTPA and Friends of the Inyo for the fifth 2014 Summer of Stewardship project working to improve and maintain these popular trails. For more info contact Chris Niebuhr: chris@friendsoftheinyo.org and/or Matthew Paruolo: matt@friendsoftheinyo.org
