| Mosquito and Ansel Lakes July 31-August 2, 1999 |
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| Making our way up the saddle northeast of Hengst Peak |
| This trip was a backpacking seminar called Pathfinding that was put on by the Sequoia Natural History Association. It was probably one of the most invaluable learning experiences of my life; our leader Lee taught us about using a 7.5 minute topo and compass, and also about route finding in the Sierra Nevada both below and above treeline. |
| We then made our way southeast towards Ansel Lake. We ate lunch at an unnamed lake on the way and then had a challenging afternoon traversing large boulder fields west of Ansel. But it was worth the challenge! Ansel is a perfect jewel of a lake located in a polished white granite glacial bowl. |
| On day three we made our way up the rocky ridge north of Ansel. At the top we had a fantastic view of White Chief Canyon and the Great Western Divide beyond. We then began to look for a route down off the ridge. We had to somehow get off a huge rock ledge. Andrew, the youngest of us in the group, found a way down but he had to basically hang off the rocks with his fingertips. He dropped his pack off below then came back up. The other two women in the group gave him their packs so he could carry them down. I then watched them make their way down off the ledge. I was pretty sure I could do it so I started down slowly and surely. I ended up being the only woman who carried her own pack off that ledge! |
| Once we got down off that ledge the going was still steep but it was easier. We ate lunch down at the mouth of a marble cave in White Chief Canyon. If you ever hike to White Chief be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to explore the caves! Then we were once again back on a trail and it was all downhill back to Mineral King… |
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| In the morning we crossed the even more challenging divide between Mosquito and the saddle northeast of Hengst Peak. I started to get an upset stomach so I rested while the rest of my party climbed Hengst Peak. Then we went along the edge to look down upon Eagle Lake. |
| Moon rising over Hengst Peak at sunset |
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| Eagle Lake |
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| The trip started off on the Tar Gap Trail which leaves from Cold Spring Campground in Mineral King. At Mineral Creek we started going cross-country and followed the creek up to Mineral Lakes. We ate lunch at the uppermost lake and then began the challenging climb over the ridge to Mosquito Lakes. At this point we basically were bouldering up the very steep slopes and footing was quite tricky… When we finally reached the uppermost Mosquito Lake we were exhausted. Some of us swam in the ice cold lake and then we ate dinner and watched the moon rise over Hengst Peak. |
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| White Chief Canyon |
| Ansel Lake |
| Uppermost Mosquito Lake |
| Making our way from Mineral to Mosquito Lakes |
| Uppermost Mosquito Lake and Hengst Peak |
| Making our way into White Chief Canyon |
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