June 19th, 2016
Miles Hiked: 13
Start Location: Vermillion Valley Resort
End Location: Mile 890
End Location GPS: 37.50134, -118.92419
We caught the “ferry” out of VVR, a small motor boat that carries 5 hikers across the mirror like surface of Lake Edison. We got started hiking around 9:30 and the goal for the day was to make it over yet another pass, Silver Pass.
We climbed 3000 feet to get there over 5.5 miles, and we again were greeted by lots of slushy snow (about 2 miles on either side), which was surprising since the pass was only at 10,900 feet. It made for great fun as the snow was like the consistency of a 711 slushy. Since it was so warm, it was difficult to find footsteps in the snow, which often do not go where the trail goes, but acts as a sudo trail and gets you to where you can meet up with the actual trail eventually.
We got to a point where it was just a snow field and sun cups, so we blazed our own trail for about a mile and eventually met up with the actual trail.
We are camped near a roaring creek. We have roughly 17 miles left to Reds Meadow which will get us into the town of Mammoth Lakes- a real town!! It’s been a long week getting there, but it really has been a fantastic adventure and one I will remember for a long time. The Sierra is one of the best mountain ranges I’ve hiked through, and it is up there with my other favorites including Glacier National Park, the Wind River Range and the San Juan Range. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time walking through such pristine wilderness. It is something I value and cherish immensly.
