8/05/2016

Morgan Pass Round Trip ~ a paradise with beautiful lakes and wild flowers



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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