This trip can be either a day hike, or a multi-day adventurefest of camping, fishing, hiking, mountaineering and more, so pack accordingly. Ediza lake to Minaret lake loop. It was Elaine and Youssif's first backpacking trip, so we were lucky to have an additional day to acclimate before hitting the trail. Taking a packs-off break and enjoying the views before looking for a camp spot. Ediza Lake Hiking Detail, hiking trail near Mammoth Lakes, California. The groups we passed on their way up looked quite beat. For the next 2.5 miles, the trail traverses open areas with low, deep green bushes, plenty of … 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. 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! 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. I fished Ediza unsuccessfully, as the fish were not feeding at the surface midday and with good wind. 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. Elaine and Youssif were stoked from their first trip and already could not wait till the next one. The Minaret and Ediza Lakes loop is a reasonable day hike. Sign up with your email address to receive occasional updates of new blog posts. 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!). After another 0.4 miles we reached the junction with the River Trail at 9620'. 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. Jul 1, 2020 - Backpacking to Ediza Lake and beyond to Iceburg Lake makes for a stunning adventure! 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. After setting up camp, we headed to the lake to pump water and swim. Those 6 days in remote backcountry absolutely blew me away. This area falls under Eastern Sierra regulations. After reaching Ediza Lake, you can either return via the way you came, or do the loop shown on this page. After the 2.3 mile trek back to the junction, we continued on the JMT for 0.9 miles to Shadow Lake. The view of Thousand Island Lake from the top of a nearby mountain. During our 3 day trip, we also hiked up to the summit of Mt. At the Agnew Meadows trailhead parking lot, Backpacking along the High Trail to head into the mountains. It's a sparkling twin--a highlight of a delightful hike up the glacial output stream on the way to Nydiver Lakes. It is right at the tree line on a bench below the Minarets, and as a result it feels much more exposed and barren. It looks tiny from that distance. Find out why this trail is a must, how to prepare and what to expect! 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 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. After we crossed the inlet of Garnet, the JMT followed the opposite edge of the lake before climbing up some switchbacks. Contact me here and say hi :). From here, there are ups and downs, but a total of only about 500 feet of climbing. Determined to see the sunrise, I set my alarm for 5:45AM. This challenging loop starts at Agnes Meadow and travels into the mountains on the Shadow Creek 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! A portion of the upper Nydiver Lake can also be seen in this picture below Banner Peak. Then we climb down over talus slopes to deep-blue Iceberg Lake and descend to Ediza Lake (9,320'). We woke early the next day to try to pass the kiosk at Minaret Summit before 7AM to avoid paying for the shuttle. 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. 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 fact that three out of three groups told us that the lake was buggy likely meant that they were bad. I often think I hear animal sounds at night that I attribute to the howling wind, so I was quite incredulous. 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. Than 10 miles roundtrip, the Minarets some 3,000 feet above months in advance was 2.6 miles from the of. 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