I backpacked on five trips in the Convict Creek area. From the west (far) shore of Convict Lake, the Convict Creek Trail makes its way south along the base of Laurel Mountain's Sevennah Cliff.
After about a mile, the trail crosses the boundary into the John Muir Wilderness and continues therein for its duration. Reaching Mildred Lake, after five miles, you have the option to continue climbing up to Lake Dorothy at 10,275 feet, and from there over to Lake Genevieve and Edith Lake. The Convict Creek Trail is accessed from the Convict Canyon Trailhead.
My first backpack was a 16 mile round trip on June 23-24, 1973 with Tom Foulds, Dan Curley and Tom Maher. We drove up from San Diego on Friday night to the Goodale Creek Campground, arriving about midnight.
We were up at 6 a.m. and after breakfast drove to Convict Lake. Hit the trail about 8:30 a.m. Weather was cloudy with occasional blue sky which kept it from getting very hot although the wind was warm. Well graded trail. Long walk along north shore which starts climb before reaching end of lake.
Trail stays above the creek for a good ways then drops down at a tree filled meadow. We stayed to the right on the primitive trail instead of beating it through the bushes. Picked up the main trail at the upper end of this valley and started climb. Many nice views of colorful mountains and Convict Creek rapids.
Waded across the outlet creek of Lake Genevieve where it joins Convict Creek. The main trail crosses Convict Creek shortly before this, but stayed on north side along edge of creek until reaching a snow bridge which made it easy and dry to cross Convict Creek where we rejoined the main trail as it switch backed up to Mildred Lake.
Very pretty multicolored rocks and rugged peaks. Main trail goes around east and north sides of lake but we took the trail around south and west sides - got feet wet crossing inlet stream after eating lunch. Climbed steep trail up to Dorothy Lake and found many people camped near the outlet so followed trail along south bank to nice - empty - campsites at upper end of the lake. Made camp and started supper.
After a good night's sleep (warm) and slow breakfast, left camp about 9:50 a.m. and looked around upper lake - too much sloppy snow for hiking to the lakes above Dorothy. Returned to camp and took pack to the Dorothy Lake outlet and took the trail to Lake Genevieve.
This is a beautiful lake with green mountains and many nice camping spots. Good views of Bloody and Laural Mountains. Good views of Red Slate Mountain back at Dorothy Lake. Boys (2) went swimming. Back to Dorothy and down to Mildred for lunch, then on to roadhead. Beautiful sunny day on Sunday and great scenery. Left the roadhead about 4:30 p.m. and after hamburgers in Lone Pine made it home about midnight. This was an outstandingly beautiful trip.
Backpack trip route on Convict Creek Trail in 1973
The second backpack was by myself on a 23 mile round trip on August 16-17, 1975. I left Lone Pine Saturday morning, picked up Wilderness Permit at Rock Creek and hit the trail at Convict Lake about 8:30 a.m. Made good time with brunch stop at the second ford and lunch about 11:30 at upper end of Mildred Lake while waiting on a pack train to pass.
Passed Lake Dorothy and at the top of the hill over to Lake Genevieve, cut cross country to Cloverleaf Lake (found the pack train here) and made camp about 3:30 p.m. Took a quick swim and sunbathed for a while then made supper. About 5:30 the ground shook and a piece of a nearby mountain fell down - it wasn't an earthquake, but an explosion set off by a mining operation on the other side of Bloody Mountain. Talked to several people during the day. Read a while and hit the sack about 8:30.
Up about 7 a.m. and after breakfast hit the trail about 8:30 for the pass over to Bloody Lake. Found a use trail up a creek and bench over easy terrain to the Pass - arriving about 10 a.m. for brunch and enjoy views.
About 11, headed down easy terrain, some talus, to Bloody Lake and on eventually to Laurel Lakes for snack. Mine operation on Bloody Mtn is building a road. About 3, set out to find the trail where it leaves the new road and proceeded toward Lake Genevieve.
Later found the Forest Service was building a new trail from higher on the road, near the lakes, which would have been easier. Found the new trail about half way and enjoyed its easier grade to the end of where they were still building just below the final summit before dropping to Lake Genevieve. Outstanding views from this summit.
Dropped down to Genevieve, talked to two teenagers I had seen the day before and left about 5:30 for Convict Lake via the trail where I arrived about 8:15 at last light. Headed for home, snack stop in Bishop, arrived about 10:30 and hit the sack after unpacking and shower. Great weather, views and trip - better three day trip miles wise.
Route for second Convict Creek backpack 1975
Third trip was a 14 mile round trip backpack on June 19-20, 1976 with Gil Beilke, Roger Getz, Scott Morton, Jim Nettleton, Joe Crimi and Ashley Heston. We left Lone Pine at 6 a.m., picked up Ashley in Independence and Jim in Bishop, hit the trail at Convict Lake about 8:30 a.m.
Gil and Roger took off cross-country to follow the ridge up to Laurel, then down to the trail via Dorothy and on to catch us. We had a pleasant hike up the ever beautiful Convict Creek arriving at Mildred Lake about noon.
After lunch and a nice rest we headed on up the valley, finding a trail. In about one mile we came to a mine camp across the creek and the trail turned up a small side stream and proceeded nicely up the slope and back towards Bright Dot Lake. This small stream was the last water until the lake.
The trail crosses a sandy plane before making the final climb to a saddle about 10,800'. Near the top is a calcite mine - more of a prospect (Calcite Queen #1, 1974). We topped the crest after examining the mine and soon arrived at the lake - beautiful. There is grass and some trees. We camped at the outlet where there is lots of room.
Two boys from San Francisco had arrived the day before - they caught 8 fish in 30 minutes. The views of Mt. Baldwin etc. are great. We made camp about 4 p.m. after a leisurely hike. Gil and Roger arrived between 6 and 7 p.m. - pooped.
After a windy night Gil got us up at 5 a.m. Ashley had gotten sick during the night - apparently a flu bug he had not fully recovered from. Gil, Roger, Scott and Jim set out for Mt. Baldwin which turned out to have an almost trail and calcite mine. They left about 6 a.m. and first man (Gil) on top at about 8 a.m. They said the views were good and climb easy.
Meanwhile Joe and I packed up part of Ashley's gear and got him on the trail down - leaving about 7:30. The three of use took the trail back with Ashley moving along fairly well. Two aspirins and 40 minute rest at Mildred Lake did wonders for him.
About two miles below Mildred things started to catch up with him again but he plugged along and made it to the car about 1:30 p.m. The climbers came back to camp and then took the direct route from Bright Dot Lake down the canyon side to the trail about a mile below Mildred Lake. They said the route wasn't too bad for descent - not recommended to go up. They hit the trail about 11 a.m. where they met up with Ashley and I. When we had all reached the car we headed for home after a great trip.
Route for thire Convict Creek backpack 1976
The fourth trip was a 12 mile round trip backpack on May 21-22, 1977 with Stan Haye, Jim Nettleton, Doug Sherburne and Charlie Woods. I left Lone Pine at 6 a.m., picked up Stan in Independence, Doug in Big Pine, Jim and Charlie in Bishop, hit the trail at Convict Lake about 9 a.m.
Stan wasn't feeling well so he went slowly. Above the second creek crossing there was a fair amount of snow on portions of the trail. No real problem. We all gathered together at Mildred Lake by 1:30 and decided not to go on to Bright Dot due to the snow and Stan's illness, so went up the valley about a mile and camped at the old mine claim.
Later we discovered a nicer campsite several hundred yards further beyond a group of trees. We left the lake after 3 p.m. and by the time we had camp set up it was time to prepare supper. This was followed by a campfire and bed.
It didn't freeze during the night, but the snow got crusty. We got up leisurely and fixed breakfast. Doug and I decided not to try for Mt. Baldwin due to snow and his wet boots. Also the clouds had settled in and it looked like it might storm.
We broke camp and headed down about 9 a.m. Stan was still not well and traveled slowly. The weather came and went with periods of nice sunshine. We all made the car between two and three just as a storm came blowing in over the lake - looked like it was snowing where we had been. We headed home about 3 p.m. after a good weekend.
Route for fourth Convict Creek backpack 1977
Fifth trip was a 15 mile round trip backpack by myself and Jimmy White on August 29-September 1, 1980. We left about 7 a.m. from Independence and picked up a permit in Mammoth before heading up the trail around 10 a.m. or so.
This was first trip in the area since the earthquakes and we found several areas of the trail in bad shape and plenty of evidence of large rolling rocks. There were no real problems, just boulder hopping and trail finding in a few spots. None of the major trail areas were damaged.
We passed two bad spots (the worst) as we neared the first creek crossing. The best route it turns out is to stay on the north side until you meet the regular trail instead of taking the usual crossing. It seems the creek has changed course and made a mess out of the south side trail. Trail streamers indicate they will rebuild the trail on the north side.
We had lunch at the first crossing then proceeded to the second crossing. A little damage on the trail before coming to the crossing but no real problems. Was very windy so we took a break below Mildred Lake, then hiked to the upper end of the valley, at the site of the old mine cabin (now burned) where we made camp nearby. Weather beautiful and bugs minimal.
The next day, Jim not feeling up to par so I hiked up over the ridge to Constance Lake - great views of Convict valley, then down past Wit-so-nah-pah and Bighorn lakes to Dorothy Lake and back to camp via the trail. This is a nice loop day hike. Constance is a beautiful lake with Red Slate as a backdrop. Numerous campsites at Wit-so-nah-pah and some at Bighorn (one really at Constance). Most people camp at Lake Dorothy.
Next day Jim still feeling lazy so we both layed around camp all day and hiked out the fourth day. It was a nice relaxing weekend for both of us.
Route for fifth Convict Creek backpack 1980
