The next morning we woke up, quickly packed in anticipation of making it back, and hiked the final 3 miles in an hour and a half. See a map of trailheads for the area. Lakes: Shadow Lake, Ediza Lake, Iceberg Lake, Cecile Lake, Minaret Lake Waterfalls: Minaret Falls, Rainbow Falls. It was Elaine and Youssif's first backpacking trip, so we were lucky to have an additional day to acclimate before hitting the trail. We watched the sky change from a deep red to a bright orange, then to a golden warm yellow. This trip can be either a day hike, or a multi-day adventurefest of camping, fishing, hiking, mountaineering and more, so pack accordingly. RSVP: You will be put on a waiting list, we will contact you via meetup message. We woke early the next day to try to pass the kiosk at Minaret Summit before 7AM to avoid paying for the shuttle. Elaine and Youssif were stoked from their first trip and already could not wait till the next one. Ritter (L) & 12,942' Banner Peak (R) tower above Ediza Lake: Lively waterfall SW above Ediza Lake: View north to the entry from the western shore, the only place camping is allowed: High on the western ridge, the cross-country route to Iceberg … Distance: 6.5-sh the first day from trailhead to Ediza Lake camp spot. Expect lots of snow in early season. It is right at the tree line on a bench below the Minarets, and as a result it feels much more exposed and barren. Discover everything you need to know about John Muir Trail meets Ediza/Iceberg Lakes Trail —a hiking attraction recommended by 2 people on komoot—and browse 2 photos & 1 insider tips. The scene of the turquoise water below the surrounding dramatic mountain peaks will always be a memorable one. We realized we were now hiking along the long waterfall we spotted a couple days ago from the High Trail! 1. If you arrive after 7AM in the summer, you'll have to buy a roundtrip ticket from the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center for 8$ per person. From there, we hoped to be able to explore Iceberg Lake, then head over to Thousand Island Lake. First view of Ediza Lake and the Minarets: 13,149' Mt. The jagged spires of the Minarets and two 14ers, Mount Ritter and Banner Peak, form the dramatic backdrop for Ediza Lake, one of the most stunning lakes in the Ritter Range. Find out why this trail is a must, how to prepare and what to expect! Rock Climbing Chillin Camping Thousand Island Lake, Ediza Lake, and Iceberg Lake Loop - Ansel Adams Wilderness, CA, North Fork Big Pine Creek (Summer) - Inyo NF, CA, See my blog post here for a list of all important deadlines and dates for all Sierra backpacking permits, Click here for my favorite backpacking lunches, Backpacking Island and Twin Lakes — Desolation Wilderness, CA, Backpacking the Lakes Trail Overnight to Pear Lake — Sequoia National Park, CA, Backpacking Little Lakes Valley to Gem Lakes — Bishop, CA, Backpacking Duck Lake Pass Trail — Mammoth, CA, Backpacking Matlock Lake & Kearsarge Pass — Eastern Sierra Inyo NF, CA, North Fork Big Pine Creek (Spring) - Inyo NF, CA, Backpacking Sabrina Lake to Hungry Packer and Moonlight Lakes — Inyo National Forest, CA, Backpacking Mono Meadow to Lower Ottoway Lake - Yosemite NP, CA, How I Save Money on Camping and Hiking Gear, New Zealand South Island 10 Day Roadtrip Itinerary for the Outdoor Lover, Backpacking the High Sierra Trail in 6 Days, Backpacking Lake Aloha to Mt. The Gem lake option is an interesting alternative, only easier if you're bypassing Ritter-Banner in favor of Donohue Pass, but it's all good. Hikers can go north or south on the John Muir Trail or continue up Shadow Creek to Ediza and Iceberg Lakes. The Minaret and Ediza Lakes loop is a reasonable day hike. We spotted several groups camping along the river during this section. It was the perfectspot to enjoy our last night out in the wilderness. Because of the thin cloud covering the entire sky, we enjoyed a sunset that painted the entire sky orange. Jul 1, 2020 - Backpacking to Ediza Lake and beyond to Iceburg Lake makes for a stunning adventure! That day we decided to follow a fellow hiker's advice to hike up to Nydiver Lakes. This trail also leads to where potential climbers of Mt Ritter make base-camp. It's a sparkling twin--a highlight of a delightful hike up the glacial output stream on the way to Nydiver Lakes. Home for the night in my favorite affordable backpacking tent - the REI Half Dome 2. The groups we passed on their way up looked quite beat. This area falls under Eastern Sierra regulations. Between Mammoth and Yosemite. Excited for our first view of 1K lake just over this ridge. Hike down into a canyon to Olaine Lake and then take Shadow Creek Trail up to Shadow Lake and John Muir Trail. After we crossed the inlet of Garnet, the JMT followed the opposite edge of the lake before climbing up some switchbacks. Iceberg Lake down below, with Mount Ritter and Banner Peak towering above and 1/2 of Ediza Lake in the righthand portion of this picture. From our angle, the trail looked very precarious and dangerous, and we could even spot several rock slides that seemed to cover parts of the trail. Tagged: loop, backpacking, Minarets, Mammoth, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sierras, Eastern Sierra, NorCal, I'm Alice, a weekend hiker and outdoor adventurer based out of the Bay Area in California. When we finally reached the site we had aimed for, we collapsed and were glad that it was actually a suitable camp spot (and that still followed Leave No Trace principles!). Iceberg Lake is certainly stunning. The Zebra Slot Canyon is one of my favorite hikes in the Grand Staircase-Escalante area. From here, there are ups and downs, but a total of only about 500 feet of climbing. I fished Ediza unsuccessfully, as the fish were not feeding at the surface midday and with good wind. Price — Desolation Wilderness, CA, Zebra Slot Canyon - Grand Staircase-Escalante NM, UT. Along the way you'll have beautiful views of Shadow Creek as well. Taking a packs-off break and enjoying the views before looking for a camp spot. The basin below the Minarets is filled with many beautiful lakes and creeks that I could have spent several more days exploring further. Even though we went slowly, it was much faster than backtracking! Jul 14, 2020 - Backpacking to Ediza Lake and beyond to Iceburg Lake makes for a stunning adventure! Crossing the outlet of Thousand Island Lake in fashion, The view of Garnet Lake before descending the switchbacks. Take an upper section of Shadow Creek Trail up to Ediza Lake. See my blog post here for a list of all important deadlines and dates for all Sierra backpacking permits. Once we climbed up and over the final ridge, we were treated with the view of Iceberg lake sitting in a sunken basin. Iceberg Lake (along with Cecile Lake) is located along a high and almost cross-country route between Ediza and Minarets Lakes, and it passes very close beneath the east side of the imposing ridge of the Minarets. A trip in the Minarets, from Devil's Postpile, to Minaret Lake, cross country to Cecile and Iceberg Lakes, dropping down to Ediza and out to Reds Meadow. The day was originally planned out to be the shortest day, which now became the hardest. For the junction by Ediza Lake up to the outlet of Iceberg Lake is two miles round trip with 510 feet of elevation change. Ediza Lake and Thousand Island Lake I was lucky enough to score permits out of Shadow Lake Trail heading over to Ediza Lake for the first weekend in June. After dropping our packs and following the trail along the southeast side of the lake to find a campsite, we were unable to find anything on the rocky slope with a nice view of the mountains above the lake. Over 7.3 miles with 1,250 feet of elevation changeSet out on River Trail from Agnew Meadows. The last stretch to Cecile Lake gets a bit technical as you need to scramble up a fairly steep face at the south end of Iceberg Lake. We were now on the JMT! It was another mile of hiking till the junction to Badger Lakes at 9590'. And Lake Ediza by itself is doable with my camera pack, but Iceberg seems a bit too far to leave from Agnew Meadows far before dawn! 2015-08-08 Distance: 18.83 mi Time: 7:44:57 Elevation Gain: 2,316 ft There were no floating icebergs in the water at this time, but we did spot a steep trail scaling the sloped sides up to Cecile Lake. Since we were already here, we decided to hike cross country to Iceberg Lake, which actually is an easy 2.5 mile hike on a maintained trail straight from Ediza Lake. Shadow Lake, After the Storm Minarets, Lake Ediza Late Thaw, Garnet Lake Banner Peak and Suncups, 1000 Island Lake Banner Peak Clearing, Island Pass Next, follow some switchbacks on the SE side of the lake as you ascend above treeline to Iceberg Lake. We had another 2.3 miles and a 270' climb until we reached Ediza lake, and everyone was beat. We ended up at the wrong parking lot, and had to hike along the paved road to finally reach our car. The Mammoth Minarets reaching high above Iceberg Lake are a very eye-catching feature of the Lake along this cross-country route in either direction. Dates: 7/23 - 7/26Miles: ~30 roundtripTrail Type: LoopTrailhead: Google Maps. We trailblazed to iceberg lake, which was strikingly right beneath the minarets some 3,000 feet above. If you do not respond to our message, we will go to the next person on the waiting list. Sunrise at Ediza Lake as seen from Ediza Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Inyo National Forest. From Ediza you can day hike to Iceberg Lake, or climb 13,000ft mountains. The bottom of Ediza Lake Falls can be seen up close by following a trail along the southern shore of the lake. Begin up River Trail (Pacific Crest Trail) from Agnew Meadows, Stay to the right through a junction where PCT breaks off toward Reds Meadow, Descend into a canyon and stay to the right past another trail to Reds Meadow, Turn left up the next stretch of Shadow Creek Trail to Ediza Lake, Reach the outlet of Ediza Lake and continue up the trail. DAY 2 (Wednesday, August 8): We hike cross-country to hidden, windswept Cecile Lake (10,280') where Clyde Minaret looms overhead. No camping at Shadow Lake and some areas along Shadow Creek and Ediza Lake. Determined to see the sunrise, I set my alarm for 5:45AM. by SC seagoat. When I climbed out of the tent, I let out a shriek of amazement, getting Youssif out of his tent. By the time we finished dinner, the sun had started to set. 5.5 miles day two to Rosalie Lake, including a 2 mile side trip to Iceberg lake and back. Lake Ediza is hidden in the back of the valley behind Shadow Lake. We didn't find a lake over the large ridge like we thought we would, and after checking the map, we realized we should have followed the inlet rather than the outlet! Here's what it looks like close up. This was a particularly beautiful portion of the trail, with views of the valley in front of us, and the series of waterfall behind us. Distance: 15.6 miles, roundtrip (where you set up camp will vary your mileage slightly) Elevation Gain: 1,870 ft. Iceberg Lake has a much different feel from Ediza. From this side of the lake, we spotted a potential camp site on the other side of the lake, and we chose to continue clockwise around the lake rather than clamber over the rockfall on the northeast shore. Click here for my favorite backpacking lunches. Day 2:Ediza Lake to Iceburg Lake and back: 2 miles (where we explored) Then Ediza Lake to Shadow Creek Trailhead: 6.7 (made it back to our car) Thanks for Reading! On the opposite side of the lake, the Minarets tower well over a thousand feet above. What a breathtaking view! 5 miles on day three back to trailhead. If you make the hike to Ediza Lake, it is well worth the extra effort to reach Iceberg Lake. Iceberg Lake and Clyde Minaret had been on my list for a photograph for a long, long time. You'll find the trailhead on the west side of Ediza Lake (look for the Iceberg Lake sign). After 2.5 miles, we reached the junction at 9000' to Ediza Lake. (3 miles) DAY 3 (Thursday, August 9): Layover day at Ediza Lake with a day hike to the foot of Mt. When we explored to see if we could find a way down to the water to take a swim, we only found steep cliffs and sheer dropoffs.. no way down from here! Pumping water near our campspot at Ediza Lake, Enjoying sunset from the perch near our campsite. Hike Type: Overnight Difficulty Level: Difficult Food Storage: There are two bear boxes at the Agnew Meadows trailhead. Since we only had a short hike to Garnet Lake, we took our time in the morning and got a late start onto the trail. Contour around to Thousand Island Lake at 7.8 miles and find unobstructed views of 12,945-foot Banner Peak (pictured), with crevasses riddling the remnant glaciers on its north face. Less than 10 miles roundtrip, the Duck Lake is the perfect overnight backpacking trip to experience classic Sierra lakes and mountains. An alpine lake at 9,300 feet elevation, it can be done as an out-and-back hike but you end up missing much of the scenery surrounding it. Ediza waterfall. They however, were quite spooked for the rest of the trip and were super diligent with putting everything scented into the bear can at night. Ediza Lake is pretty, but no comparison to Iceberg. As we emerged on top of the ridge and saw Thousand Island Lake at 9840', we were all so relieved and amazed by the impressive Sierra views. Too bad we were in a valley for the best sunset we saw all week, but we did get to have a warm fire. For the next 2.5 miles, the trail traverses open areas with low, deep green bushes, plenty of … Valley view on the switchbacks down from Shadow Lake. Backpacking Ediza Lake: Hike Details. When we arrived back at camp, we packed up to try to decrease the miles we had left on our hike out the next day. Go to the southwest side of the lake for the best campsites. Price. We were happy the strong winds kept the skeeters away, but we had only just started to see the cloudy band of the Milky Way come out before we turned into our warm tents. Here are some of my favorite snacks, breakfasts, lunch, and dinner meal ideas for your next backcountry trip, Outdoor gear is not cheap, so here are a couple of tips I’ve found that have helped me save a little on gear, Here's our 10 day road trip itinerary along with things to do on New Zealand's south island to help you plan your trip. Lake Ediza, via Cecile, Iceberg, talus and scree. The next morning Youssif and Elaine claimed they were awaken in the middle of the night by something circling their tent and brushing up against it. Of course not without stopping by Schats for delicious, fresh sandwiches. Aloha Lake is one of the most popular backpacking trips in Desolation Wilderness, CA. Near Olaine Lake the trails split. This turned out to be longer and more exhausting than we thought, as we had to cross the outlet, a grassy area, and climb over two large granite slopes. As we made our way towards Ediza we ran into only three groups and each group informed us that the bugs at Ediza Lake were bad. Well, it was supposed to be the start of a great fall backpacking season. As with all Eastern Sierra overnight trips, these permits can be booked as far as six months in advance. (Note that these are based off of Google earth so I am probably underestimating, it has been a long time.) After reaching Ediza Lake, you can either return via the way you came, or do the loop shown on this page. We passed several other groups of backpackers who also seemed to be struggling with the final climb. As soon as we reached the valley floor and crossed a wooden bridge, we found a camp spot complete with fire ring and benches to sit on. This classic Sierra loop through Ansel Adams and Inyo National Forest was one of the most beautiful areas I've ever hiked through. Continuing down Shadow Creek, you join the JMT, and the loop can be shortened by turning off at Shadow Lake, dropping down to Agnew Meadow and taking the shuttle bus back to the trailhead. Ediza Lake Hiking Detail, hiking trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. While the new backpackers took a nap, I continued climbing up a nearby peak to see if I could get a better view of the lake. I thought they were just being paranoid, but when we looked around their tent there were definitely footprints around the tent! During this section you'll pass the beautiful Shadow Lake, and then continue climbing up to the striking Ediza Lake. Eating lunch above the unique lake. A portion of the upper Nydiver Lake can also be seen in this picture below Banner Peak. Your email address will not be published. Many other groups had already set up camp at the available spots, so we had to hike in about 0.4 miles before we found a great spot up on a smooth, rocky hill. We threw everything in the trunk, paid the $10 fee on the way out, and were on our way home! The PCT had great views and was relatively flat after the initial switchbacks, Our first junction at 9710' after 5.2 miles. I finally hiked the High Sierra Trail, a trip I've been dying to do for years! We day hiked to Lakes Ediza and Iceberg a few miles uphill of our campsite - two spectacular lakes at the bases of the massive peaks. Success! We realized we were viewing Iceberg lake from the ridge circling the deep granite bowl. The red, smooth, striped walls make for unique photo opportunities. After a gorgeous overnight trip backpacking to Ediza Lake and Iceberg Lake we are so excited to see more and more beauty in the area. We were glad to have hiked the High Trail in, because the switchbacks up to Shadow Lake via the River Trail were steep and endless. Agreed with Bob. This challenging loop starts at Agnes Meadow and travels into the mountains on the Shadow Creek Trail. The fact that three out of three groups told us that the lake was buggy likely meant that they were bad. Starting Elevation: 8,100 ft. I highly recommend doing a morning hike to Iceberg Lake from here (only two miles roundtrip) - the trail, the perfectly calm and clear lake, and the peaks above it are all worth the short hike. Monday September 22, 2014 1:45pm. We passed the outlet and started a section of endless switchbacks alongside the continuous river falling on a series of waterfalls. After another 0.4 miles we reached the junction with the River Trail at 9620'. Just look for the stream flowing out of Cecile Lake … Ediza Lake was the highlight of the entire trip for all of us. 3 nights backpacking with the Young Men from our ward in the high Sierra. It was 2.6 miles from the Thousand Lake junction to Garnet Lake up at 9680'. Camp near the west side of the lake (per national forest restrictions). The view from our second night's camp spot. However, from our current spot we were treated to an unconventional view of Iceberg Lake. Hikers to Iceberg Lake may have noticed a waterfall across the valley toward Mt Ritter. Backpacking Ediza Lake | Written by Brian Callender | Photography by Julie Boyd . Elevation change: 510 feet. After getting an early start on the road, we made the obligatory Schat's Bakery stop to pick up some chili cheese bread before camping at Old Shady Rest Campground off the 203 near Mammoth. Find out why this trail is a must, how to prepare and what to expect! Some parts of this cross country trek were very steep, and we had to carefully pick our way through a large rock slide at one point. Ritter. After the 2.3 mile trek back to the junction, we continued on the JMT for 0.9 miles to Shadow Lake. We had our sights set on Ediza last September. The jaunt to Ediza is one of the most beautiful trails in the Ansel Adams Wilderness and needs an overnighter to fully appreciate. Seeing Shadow Lake from across the gorge.. where we would be in a couple days! https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/silver-lake-to-the-minarets-loop After setting up camp, we headed to the lake to pump water and swim. Those 6 days in remote backcountry absolutely blew me away. Overnight permits can be reserved online through Recreation.gov, and the ones we reserved were for AA09 - High Trail. I often think I hear animal sounds at night that I attribute to the howling wind, so I was quite incredulous. For another angle, see this artistic shot by psa148. Thousand Island Lake was absolutely stunning. Then we climb down over talus slopes to deep-blue Iceberg Lake and descend to Ediza Lake (9,320'). The jagged spires of the Minarets and two 14ers, Mount Ritter and Banner Peak, form the dramatic backdrop for Ediza Lake, one of the most stunning lakes in the Ritter Range. The main climbing is now behind us. Buy I take one last look back on the terrain that I had to cross to get from Cecil Lake to Iceberg Lake. We didn't double check the map and followed the outlet all the way up a large ridge. Contact me here and say hi :). After we drove down into the valley and parked in the dirt lot at the end of the windy and narrow road, we started to pack our bags at the Agnew Meadows trailhead. At the Agnew Meadows trailhead parking lot, Backpacking along the High Trail to head into the mountains. Sign up with your email address to receive occasional updates of new blog posts. The Shadow Trail climbs past Shadow Lake to connect with the John Muir Trail. Click here for my overnight backpacking trip to Minaret Lake. We decided to continue on to Iceberg Lake instead of subjecting ourselves to the merciless mosquitos. Since we were already here, we decided to hike cross country to Iceberg Lake, which actually is an easy 2.5 mile hike on a maintained trail straight from Ediza Lake. Read More. After we finished lunch, we climbed back over the ridge to hike back to our campspot at Ediza Lake. This hike visits this alpine jewel, passing beautiful Shadow Lake and a series of pretty waterfalls on Shadow Creek along the way. After reading the posted sign of restricted camping areas, we headed along the dirt trail that skirted around the lake to find a camp spot. Dogs are permitted on this trail. Ediza Lake is one such gem. When we got there, we didn't feel like setting up camp at 11AM and felt great, so we decided to continue on to make it to Ediza. Even though we knew the first day was going to be the hardest, we were all quite exhausted as we ascended the final mile up a ridge up to Thousand Island Lake. After making our exposures, we packed up our camera gear and ate breakfast, consisting of Mountain House—my go to backcountry food since it’s quick, easy, no cleanup, and it gets the job done! The view of Thousand Island Lake from the top of a nearby mountain. Our seldom-photographed view of Iceberg Lake. Consider an extension to Iceberg Lake. Here you'll find blog posts about some of my favorite backpacking and travel adventures. The wind had picked up since we set up camp, which meant we didn't see any mosquitoes. During our 3 day trip, we also hiked up to the summit of Mt. This hike visits this alpine jewel, passing beautiful Shadow Lake and a series of pretty waterfalls on Shadow Creek along the way. What to eat while backpacking? Ediza lake to Minaret lake loop. Ediza Lake, hiking trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. When we finally caught a glimpse of the turquoise lake, we were so excited, and dumbfounded by the view. Camp overnight at Ediza Lake. Starting from Agnew Meadows (8340 ft)., it was a steady climb along the exposed High Trail. We didn't find a lake over the large ridge like we thought we would, and after checking the map, we realized we should have followed the inlet rather than the outlet! Instead of hiking around the lake the way we came, we decided to brave the rockfall. We stopped for a quick snack break at Shadow Lake (restricted to camping) and decided to continue onto the River Trail to see if we could find a camp spot further down. It looks tiny from that distance. 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