Sierra Nevada - Ansel Adams Wilderness
Thousand Island-Pine Creek 1959

On August 8-20, 1959 I backpacked 76 miles in the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses on the John Muir Trail starting at Silver Lake on the June Lake Loop and ending at Pine Creek.

I drove from San Diego to the June Lake loop and parked at the pack station near Silver Lake. Then backpacked up the steep trail - across the tramway used for the power company dams to camp at Clark Lakes near Agnew Pass. Beautiful sunset.

Silver Lake - June Lake Loop - 20 Aug 1959
Silver Lake - June Lake Loop - 20 Aug 1959
Looking back at Silver Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
Looking back at Silver Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959

Looking up at Edison tramway - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
Looking up at Edison tramway - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
Edison tramway to Agnew Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
Edison tramway to Agnew Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959

Agnew Lake and Dam - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
Agnew Lake and Dam - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
Agnew Lake and Gem Lake Dam - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
Agnew Lake and Gem Lake Dam - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959

Looking back on Agnew Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
Looking back on Agnew Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
Gem Lake Dam - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
Gem Lake Dam - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959

Sunset at Clark Lakes - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 07 Aug 1959
Sunset at Clark Lakes - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
A Clark Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959
A Clark Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 08 Aug 1959

On the next day, I continued to Thousand Island Lake with continuously changing views of Banner Peak & Mt. Ritter. Now on the John Muir Trail past Badger Lake, Garnet Lake, views of the Minarets. Camped at Shadow Lake.

Banner Peak, Banner/Davis Pass, Mt. Davis from Agnew Summit - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
Banner Peak, Banner/Davis Pass, Mt. Davis from Agnew Summit
Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
Looking down on Badger Lake from near summit - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
Looking down on Badger Lake from near summit
Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959

Looking south from near Agnew Summit toward Middle Fork San Joaquin - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
Looking south from near Agnew Summit toward Middle Fork San Joaquin
Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
Looking back over a lake southeast toward Middle Fork San Joaquin - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
Looking back over a lake southeast toward Middle Fork San Joaquin
Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959

Banner Peak and Banner/Davis Pass from the trail - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
Banner Peak and Banner/Davis Pass from the trail
Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
Banner Peak, Banner/Davis Pass, Mt. Davis, 1000 Island Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
Banner Peak, Banner/Davis Pass, Mt. Davis, 1000 Island Lake
Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959

Mount Lyell, 1000 Island Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
Mount Lyell, 1000 Island Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
View over Garnet/Shadow Summit - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959
View over Garnet/Shadow Summit - Ansel Adams Wilderness - 09 Aug 1959

Next day I proceeded past Rosalie Lake, Gladys Lake, Trinity Lake to the Devil's Postpile and Red's Meadow for camp.

Rosalie Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1959
Rosalie Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1959
Rosalie Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1959
Rosalie Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1959

Gladys Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1959
Gladys Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1959
One of Trinity Lakes - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1959
One of Trinity Lakes - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1959

Soda Spring near Devils Postpile National Monument - Aug 1959
Soda Spring near Devils Postpile National Monument - Aug 1959
Soda Spring near Devils Postpile National Monument - Aug 1959
Soda Spring near Devils Postpile National Monument - Aug 1959

I then continued with views of Fish Creek Valley and the Silver Divide to camp at Purple Lake.

Red Cones - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Red Cones - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak from near Red Cones - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak from near Red Cones - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Mammoth Mountain from near Red Cones - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Mammoth Mountain from near Red Cones - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Silver Divide, headwaters of Fish Creek Valley - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Silver Divide, headwaters of Fish Creek Valley - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

View south - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View south - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Purple Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Purple Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Purple Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Purple Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Next I moved on past beautiful Virginia Lake, down into Tully Hole and on to camp high on the Silver Pass trail near Squaw Lake (aka Helen Lake) with views of Banner and Ritter in the sunset.

Lake Virginia and Silver Divide - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Lake Virginia and Silver Divide - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Lake Virginia - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Lake Virginia - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Lake Virginia - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Lake Virginia - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View from Virginia/Tully Divide - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View from Virginia/Tully Divide - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Red Slate Mountain - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Red Slate Mountain - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Looking down on Tully Hole - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking down on Tully Hole - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking down on Tully Hole - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking down on Tully Hole - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Tully Hole - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Tully Hole - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Looking up Fish Creek - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking up Fish Creek - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking down Fish Creek - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking down Fish Creek - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

View along trail up Silver Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View along trail up Silver Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Goodale Mountain from trail up Silver Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Goodale Mountain from trail up Silver Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Mountain from trail up Silver Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Mountain from trail up Silver Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Sunset from Squaw Lake aka Helen Lake  - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Sunset from Squaw Lake aka Helen Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Squaw Lake aka Helen Lake  - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Squaw Lake aka Helen Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

The next day I moved on over Silver Pass into Mono Creek and camp at Quail Meadow with a view of the Vermillion Cliffs.

Goodale Pass Trail junction - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Goodale Pass Trail junction - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Warrior Lake aka Bob's Lake Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Warrior Lake aka Bob's Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Un-named mountain west of Silver Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Un-named mountain west of Silver Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Silver Pass Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Silver Pass Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Volcanic Knob - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Volcanic Knob - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Vermillion Cliffs - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Vermillion Cliffs - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

The next day was a steep climb over Bear Ridge into Bear Creek and camp on the Hilgard Branch at Hilgard Meadow.

Seven Gables, John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Seven Gables, John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Bear Creek at Kip Camp - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Bear Creek at Kip Camp - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Bear Creek - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Bear Creek - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Bear Creek - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Bear Creek - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Hilgard Meadow camp, Mt. Hilgard - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Hilgard Meadow camp, Mt. Hilgard - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View up Hilgard Branch - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View up Hilgard Branch - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

I continued up the Hilgard Branch past Lake Italy and over Italy (aka Hilgard) Pass into the Granite Basin and camp at Honeymoon Lake.

View up Hilgard Branch - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View up Hilgard Branch - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View up Hilgard Branch - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View up Hilgard Branch - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Looking back down Hilgard Branch - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking back down Hilgard Branch - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Looking back down Hilgard Branch - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking back down Hilgard Branch - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View forward just below Lake Italy - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View forward just below Lake Italy - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Just below Lake Italy - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Just below Lake Italy - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Lake Italy - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Lake Italy - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Lake Italy from west side of Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Lake Italy from west side of Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Lake Italy from west side of Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Lake Italy from west side of Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Jumble Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Jumble Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking back over Jumble Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking back over Jumble Lake - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Hikers on Italy Pass trail - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Hikers on Italy Pass trail - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Seven Gables from Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Seven Gables from Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Hilgard Branch and Mt. Hilgard from Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Hilgard Branch and Mt. Hilgard from Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking east from Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking east from Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

View across Granite Park toward Pine Creek - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View across Granite Park toward Pine Creek - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking southeast from Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking southeast from Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

Looking along ridge from Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Looking along ridge from Italy Pass - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Mountains around Granite Park - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Mountains around Granite Park - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959

View from Granite Park - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
View from Granite Park - John Muir Wilderness Aug 1959
Twin Lakes above Mammoth Lakes 20 Aug 1959
Twin Lakes above Mammoth Lakes 20 Aug 1959

August 20, 1959 was the final hiking day down Pine Creek to the Tungsten Mill where I caught a ride with a mine worker down to the highway where I caught another ride with a Bishop Motel operator who took me to Crowley Junction where I waited three hours before catching a final ride who took me all the way to my car at Silver Lake.

Drove around looking at Mono Lake and the Mammoth Lakes and Mine area before heading back to San Diego.

Waterfall and Upper Twin Lake above Mammoth Lakes 20 Aug 1959
Waterfall and Upper Twin Lake above Mammoth Lakes 20 Aug 1959
Mammoth Mountain from Mammoth Mine - 20 Aug 1959
Mammoth Mountain from Mammoth Mine - 20 Aug 1959

Cabin at Mammoth Mine and Mammoth Rock (upper right) - 20 Aug 1959
Cabin at Mammoth Mine and Mammoth Rock (upper right) - 20 Aug 1959
Mammoth Mill fly wheel at site of Mill City - 20 Aug 1959
Mammoth Mill fly wheel at site of Mill City - 20 Aug 1959

Mammoth Mill fly wheel at site of Mill City - 20 Aug 1959
Mammoth Mill fly wheel at site of Mill City - 20 Aug 1959