On September 22-23, 1973 I backpacked on an 8 mile round trip on the East Fork of Rock Creek to Francis Lake in the John Muir wilderness with Gil Beilke and Karl Kohagen. We left El Cajon shortly after 5:00 p.m. on Friday and drove to Tinemaha Campground arriving just before midnight.
We hit the trail Saturday before 9 a.m. - starting at the lower Rock Creek Lodge and Pine Cove Campground. (There are alternate routes) Went along the road to the lodge and crossed Rock Creek on bridge, then headed upstream on a trail. Crossed another road and come to the corner of a fenced pasture adjacent to the lodge corrals.
We followed the fence along the creek to the next corner which is in some woods. A gate opens into the pasture - turning right, another gate opens to the hillside and signs on the trail reading 3 miles to Francis Lake. Good trail climbs steeply up the hillside and then levels out. Shortly arriving at a junction which is apparently the old "pioneer road" up Rock Creek or as access to the mining.
A trail now follows this roadside from lower rock creek, over the bench at this junction and on to Rock Creek Lake. Karl got on the trail to Rock Creek Lake and Gil had to chase him down. There are no signs. Using the map we identified the correct trail and continued past meadow areas to a junction near Kenneth Lake.
The Francis Lake trail climbs steadily to the Francis Lake valley and levels out as it approaches the lake. Small trees provide a number of nice campsites at the lower north end of the lake. We made camp in a blustery wind. I had a cold so stayed in camp for a nap.
Gil and Karl left about 12:30 for the Mt. Morgan peak. They went up the valley - an easy walk for 3/4 mile, then a scree climb on fairly stable scree. They arrived on top about 4 p.m. and got back to camp about 5:30 p.m. They came down the ridge leading to camp and stated that the best route up is to follow the ridge from camp.
The route is Class 1 except in a few minor places and presents no technical problems. The wind was a major problem and it clouded up and there were snow flurries. The wind blew wildly all night - the sky cleared - and we had ice in the morning.
Sunday was clear and sunny with the wind moderating a little. Temperatures were not real cold - the wind made skin temperature pretty cold. This would be a nice area to visit in the spring - probably high level of mosquitoes once they start hatching. Many meadow areas on the bench.
Route map to Francis Lake 1973
