Right Before Heart Lake
In Rock Creek Area,
there are a few major trails in a map
which is provided by Inyo National Forest.
There is a brief guide as a part of Inyo
National Forest Web site. This is
really nice area, but it is not very crowded like Yosemite National Park /
Mammoth Lake area. I only went hiking to
Morgan Pass round trip twice, however, it seems Mono Pass and Tamarack Lakes
are good trails. A trail to Mono Pass
also starts from Mosquito Flat which is the same as a trail to Morgan Pass. A
trail to Tamarack Lakes starts from Rock Creek Lake where we camped this
time. The trail to Mono Pass, people
could go further with a few nights camping on the trail. I want to try the other trails someday.
This time, we went
to Morgan Pass round trip that we went there three years ago. Since it is probably one of easy trail with
gentle slope for families with kids.
Mosquito Flat is 10,322 feet (3,146m) elevation and Morgan Pass 11,119
feet (3,389m). The elevation gain is 797
feet (243m) in 4 miles (about 6.4km).
There are a several lakes along the trail and we can see beautiful
mountains.
Mack Lake is the
first Lake after Mosquito Flat. It is a
little off the trail and we did not stop by.
We just saw the lake on our left hand.
The second rake is Marsh Lake.
Heart Lake
Heart
Lake is the third lake after across a small stream. We can see mountains over the lake and many
people stop by the lake to take some rest and take photos.
Box Lake
Box Lake is the next lake and this is also
really beautiful lake. This time some
people did fly fishing.
Long Lake
Long Lake is
along the trail and the color is deep green, especially on the way back from
Morgan Pass, the color is really beautiful with the background mountain. This is one of my favorite spot to take
photos. Chicken foot Lake is off the
trail and we did not stop by this time.
Gen Lakes are also off the trail.
I just go there just see the first lake on the way back. But the trail continue to other lakes.
Below the tree
line, there are some meadows and there are so many wild flowers the both side
of the trail. This trail has not only
beautiful lakes, but also there are many wild flowers, small streams. I think all people enjoy the nature during the
hiking. Morgan Pass is just a little
above the tree line and the trail is getting a little steeper in the last
section to Morgan Pass. But is just a
moderate slope, not very steep. The view
is changed above the tree line. The
trail is getting rocky and no green color any more. We turned around at the Morgan Pass, but the
trail continues toward Upper / Lower Morgan Lakes. Just another half miles to Upper Moran Lake
and a little more than a mile to Lower Morgan Pass.
East side of Morgan Pass,
it is completely different view from the west side
On the way to
Morgan Pass, it was really clear sky. We
did not see any clouds at all. However,
on the way back, many clouds were shown and started feeling cold wind. It could be a sign for a shower. The last hiking here three years ago, right
after we were back to the trail head, a shower started. This time we did not caught any shower, but
it could happen a few hour later based on the sky above mountains.
From Box Lake, more cloud on the way back
Some of groups we
saw on the trail, they spend a few nights on the trail and they told me it was
great camping next to lakes. It would
be a good option to consider overnight hiking there. However, people plan to do overnight hiking
require permit. No permit is required
for day trip hikers. The permit can be
issued at White Mountain Ranger Center in Bishop where about 30 miles away from
the trail head is.
Other notes for
this time, there were so many mosquitos during the hiking. They are annoy. I guess this is where the name of the trail
head is from. I do not know why, but
there was no problem last hiking three years ago.
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