I made three trips to Tuttle Creek, two backpacks and one day hike. I didn't do any peak climbs but some members of the backpack trips did.
The Tuttle Creek Trail leads to an abandoned stone building known as "The Tuttle Creek Ashram" located at an altitude of 7,600 between two forks of Tuttle Creek in the John Muir Wilderness. Beyond the first mile, the trail becomes a faint unmaintained route in this glacier carved canyon.
My first backpack was a 10 mile round trip on May 5-6,1973 with Gil Beilke, Scott Morton and Ralph Drollinger. We drove from San Diego to upper Tuttle Creek campground (north of Horseshoe Meadows Road) for Friday night camp.
Saturday morning we continued on Horseshoe Meadow Road a short distance to a dirt road on the south side of Tuttle Creek which leads to a ranch. Just before arriving at the ranch gate, a side road continues up the south side of Tuttle Creek.
This one lane road gets steep near the end, but a high clearance vehicle can drive to a turn-around area at about 6800 feet. From this point we followed a trail along an abandoned wagon road that leads into and crosses the South Fork of Tuttle Creek, then continues to a rather substantial stone house (abandoned) built on the point between the South and North Forks of Tuttle Creek.
This would be a good base camp for climbing on the walls of Lone Pine Peak. A variety of trails of various quality lead up the South Fork of Tuttle Creek. Some trail building was apparently done in years past, but most are use or animal trails.
With care a fairly good route can be followed up the north slope of the South Fork of Tuttle Creek. We camped at about 9500 feet in the upper of two tree and brush covered meadows. Excellent camping and plenty of firewood. We camped on a bare spot between snow banks and had running water available nearby.
We left the car about 7 a.m. and arrived in camp (me) at about noon. There is no particular advantage in going higher to camp. Gil went exploring while the rest of us took a nap. The cloudy weather came and went along with a light to moderate snowfall.
About 5 p.m. the weather improved so we got out and built a bench and campfire. Around 5 p.m. Gil returned and we had supper, after which we stood or sat around the campfire and talked.
Sunday morning we got up at 4:30 a.m. - still dark - and fixed breakfast. Gil, Ralph and Scott headed out for Mt. Corcoran about 6 a.m. while I finished breaking camp and departed about 7 a.m. for "Tuttle Creek Pass". Then got in the wrong chute near the peak and didn't go to the top - made the ridge at 13000 feet overlooking the Miter Basin. I also reached the ridge (pass) at 13000 feet.
It was a nice snow climb - long but not technically difficult. Fairly steep near the pass but the snow conditions were good for steps with crampons for assistance. I took a brunch break about 10:50 and made the "pass" at 1:00. Left at 1:50 and got back to camp shortly before 5 p.m. after several nice glissades.
Gil and the others had enjoyed a similar return trip arriving at around 12:50 p.m. We hit the down trail - got off the trail several times - and arrived back at the cars around 5 p.m. After supper in Lone Pine we headed home arriving around 11 p.m. after leaving Ralph off in Riverside. Nice trip and a scenic area.
Route up Tuttle Creek
My second backpack trip was eight miles round trip on April 13-14, 1974 with Gil Beilke, Scott Morton, Mic Mead and Brian Twohey. We followed the same basic plan as in 1973. Arrived at Tuttle Creek Campground around 11:50 p.m. and made camp about 9500 feet around 2:30 p.m. Saturday after a leisurely hike in. Gil and Brian went sightseeing up the canyon.
Sunday we all got up with the sun. Gil set out for Mt. Corcoran, followed by Brian. Scott set out for Mt. Langley. Mic and I cleaned up camp and then set out for the upper end of the valley. Met Brian coming back - he had slipped and scared himself pretty bad without catching Gil.
Brian joined Mic and I and later followed another route up toward Corcoran. Mic and I started back for camp about noon with Mic skiing. I met Brian returning - and Gil - and we all arrived at camp around 1 p.m.
Scott was observed high in a chute starting down - he arrived in camp about 5 p.m. He had made the ridge but turned around due to time. The chute was icy which slowed him down - he used Gil's crampons. We headed for the car and made it to Lone Pine about 5:30 or 6 p.m. for supper and then on home. I got to bed about 12:30 a.m. Traffic was light. Weather was outstanding and we had a good trip.
On September 17, 1978 I made a two mile round trip day hike with Johnny Bartlett, Rody Troeter and Raymond Lombard. We drove to the end of the road and hiked to the old stone house build 1930-50 by Dr. Wolfe as a place of worship. Things about the same as in 1974. Nice day hike.
