Eagle Lake

July 18-20, 2003

Eagle Lake was our first trip this year. We had two new people in our group this trip, Sue, and Ross. Tom and Char were not able to make the first trip due to conflicts with work and old age, respectively. The weather forecast is a little tricky to figure out for Mineral King. The closest places I could find on The Weather Channel web site were Three Rivers, and Kings Canyon. Neither location is close enough, as far as weather, for an accurate forecast.

We arrived at the Eagle/Mosquito Trailhead on Friday about 1:00 pm. The weather when we left Visalia was already over 100, but when we reached Mineral King, it was a pleasant 72. It was now time to marmot proof the truck. I talk about marmots on the beginner page of the sight. The paragraph I wrote there was from information gathered from articles I have read, and a conversation I had with a ranger on the phone one day. Before this trip, I had never seen a marmot. I just knew we were going to get back and find the truck void of all wire and hoses, and have to call a taxi for a ride home. Well it wasn't that bad. As a mater of fact, when we arrived in the parking lot, I counted nineteen cars, and only one had put screen around their vehicle. Three others had left there hoods up, which I have never read about, but if it works great. I had purchased mothballs, which hang in a plastic container, and hung them under the hood. When we got back to the car on Sunday, everything was fine.

The hike up went very smooth. There were a few sprinkles, but it was just enough to cool us off. As you start the assent out of the valley, the trail climbs gradually through brush and forest. As you look off to your left (east), you can see Crystal Creek, Which flows from Crystal Lake. After passing the White Chief fork, you can look back and actually see Crystal Creek were it leaves the lake at 10,300' and follow it all the way down to the valley floor, 2500' below. At this point you’re close to the Eagle Creek Spring, which surfaces after a half-mile trip underground from Eagle sinkhole. The spring was off the trail, and I never found it to get a picture. After stopping at the sinkhole for a rest, we started the second half of the hike. At this point you are hiking through meadows and forest area, which is mostly in the shade. About 3/4 of a mile below the lake, we started a steep assent through a rock field. By this time the sprinkles were gone, and it got a little warm. While negotiating the rock field, you can look back to the east for some spectacular views. Sawtooth towers over everything in sight. Just before we reached the dam, Ross and I ran into a couple of deer. I was amazed we didn't scare them off when we approached. All of the animals up here seemed comfortable with us around.

By the time we got camp set up, and dinner cooked, it was too late to fish. Ross and Matt decided not to take tents, so the slept outside Friday night. We had a few sprinkles, but not enough to get anyone wet.

The lake was down about 8', and was looking a little ugly. There were still patches of snow on the upper walls surrounding the lake. The west side of the lake is lined with trees, which makes the best spot to set up camp. There is also an outhouse at Eagle Lake, which is a nice feature at 10,000'.

Back to the marmots, which are in abundance up there. They hung out in our camp like they were part of our group. We kept our food in a tree, but they didn't seem interested in the food. They would play with our pots and pans when we were fishing. Then there was "Alvin", our chipmunk friend. I know they're not chipmunks, but he looked like a chipmunk. The deer seemed like they wanted to hang out too. There was a male who hung out with the marmots in camp on Saturday. He would let us get within 15' before deciding that was close enough.

About 3:00 pm on Saturday the rain started. Remember back a few paragraphs, I mentioned Ross and Matt had no tent. First came the rain, then hail, and then lightning. Then Ross and Matt had to get in a two-man tent with Sue and Jesse. I haven’t seen the pictures yet, but I heard it was a little close. In the end, everything worked out fine, and when Ross got back to Santa Maria, he went down bought a tent.