Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
PCT 2002 - June 26th
Day 71: Wednesday 26th June
Raymond Meadows Creek – Lost Lakes
In the early morning I walked beneath the towering pinnacles of the ridges dropping
down from Reynolds and Raymond Peaks. It was a roller coaster ride as the trail
dropped down sharply to cross creeks, before climbing over the ridges. The volcanic
rocks broke down better than the granite to form a topsoil and hosted a much greater
quantity and variety of wild flowers than further south. One thing I noticed was that the
Desert Paintbrush, one of the commonest flowers, which had been bright red in the
granitic soil was more of an orange colour in the volcanic soils, reverting to red when
there were granite outcrops. There was much bare ground as vegetation still found it
difficult to get a hold. This was a good time to see spring flowers as the snow had only
recently melted.
I had left a few minutes after “Mags” and soon overtook him. By late morning it
was very hot but clouds were building up and storms seemed to be a strong possibility.
John Davis Peak, a volcanic plug was prominent on the skyline. The storm did not fully
develop, but it had completely clouded over by the time I camped at Lost Lakes. Already
camped at the lakes were two southbound hikers, from Virginia, section-hiking from
Echo Lake to Yosemite. It was unusual to see a grey-haired coloured man on the trail,
as very few blacks, Mexicans or Indians were seen in the mountains. Lost Lake was a
reservoir with “snags” (Dead trees still standing in the water) still in the water.
Considering snow was still melting into the lake, the water was relatively warm and I
had a much-needed swim. These lakes are accessible by car, so the shoreline was a bit of
a mess with car tracks all over the place and the topsoil eroded away making it difficult
to find tent sites. The mosquitoes weren’t too bad for a lakeside site.
Day 71: 18.0 miles 8.16 hours Camp: Lost Lakes
Raymond Meadows Creek – Lost Lakes
In the early morning I walked beneath the towering pinnacles of the ridges dropping
down from Reynolds and Raymond Peaks. It was a roller coaster ride as the trail
dropped down sharply to cross creeks, before climbing over the ridges. The volcanic
rocks broke down better than the granite to form a topsoil and hosted a much greater
quantity and variety of wild flowers than further south. One thing I noticed was that the
Desert Paintbrush, one of the commonest flowers, which had been bright red in the
granitic soil was more of an orange colour in the volcanic soils, reverting to red when
there were granite outcrops. There was much bare ground as vegetation still found it
difficult to get a hold. This was a good time to see spring flowers as the snow had only
recently melted.
I had left a few minutes after “Mags” and soon overtook him. By late morning it
was very hot but clouds were building up and storms seemed to be a strong possibility.
John Davis Peak, a volcanic plug was prominent on the skyline. The storm did not fully
develop, but it had completely clouded over by the time I camped at Lost Lakes. Already
camped at the lakes were two southbound hikers, from Virginia, section-hiking from
Echo Lake to Yosemite. It was unusual to see a grey-haired coloured man on the trail,
as very few blacks, Mexicans or Indians were seen in the mountains. Lost Lake was a
reservoir with “snags” (Dead trees still standing in the water) still in the water.
Considering snow was still melting into the lake, the water was relatively warm and I
had a much-needed swim. These lakes are accessible by car, so the shoreline was a bit of
a mess with car tracks all over the place and the topsoil eroded away making it difficult
to find tent sites. The mosquitoes weren’t too bad for a lakeside site.
Day 71: 18.0 miles 8.16 hours Camp: Lost Lakes
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Pinnacles above
Eagle Creek
Eagle Creek
Pinnacles above
Eagle Creek
Eagle Creek
Snow Plant
John Davis Peak
The Nipple from Lost Lakes