On February 16-18, 1974 I snowshoed on an 8 mile round trip up Tinemaha Creek in the John Muir Wilderness with Gil Beilke, Scott Morton, Brian Twohey, Brian Jordan, Dan Curley, Tom Beasley and Bill Rhoades. We got away from El Cajon about 4:45 p.m. and rendezvoused with Gil and Scott about 5:15. With two vehicles we headed for the Sierra - wandering what the gasoline situation would be.
We found no open stations until just past March Field where we got gas at a Shell Station. Saw about five stations open along the freeway as we headed for Cajon Pass. Stopped for gas and food at Four Corners and on to Lone Pine for more gas and finally to camp at Tinemaha County Campground arriving around 12:30 a.m.
Gil got us up around 6:30 a.m. and after a hot oatmeal breakfast we drove to the end of the road at Tinemaha Creek - about 6500 feet elevation. We had a couple of spots of snow on the road. We headed up the gully just south of the creek and had good footing on either dirt or hard snow. As we neared the ridge it got windy and began to snow - but this soon cleared up.
We proceeded to the ridge and up it to a lunch stop overlooking a valley of Tinemaha Creek. We later found a forest of aspen trees and a number of beaver dams. Gil and Dan set out to traverse along the south side of the valley on hard snow - found it very hard and had to cut steps so advised us to drop down into the valley.
Brian Jordan and I - and later Brian Twohey did this and snowshoed up the valley to about 8200 foot elevation. Scott decided to follow Gil and Dan. Tom and Bill dropped down and then decided to climb back up and follow Scott. Scott, Tom and Bill finally caught up with the rest of us and since it was close to 3 p.m. we decided to make camp.
Later the wind came up and the snow really blew for a while - while we were trying to fix supper. We finished supper and after some goofing around hit the sack around 8 p.m. The wind blew for a while but finally calmed down.
After a long night we got up at dawn and after breakfast all but Brian Twohey headed up the valley to try climbing Tinemaha Peak. Brian Twohey had a headache so stayed in camp. Gil and Dan raced ahead and cut steps as needed as they traversed up onto the north valley slope and climbed to the upper basin, then headed up Tinemaha Peak.
They reached around 12000 feet in a steep snow slope where they found a gully which would take too much time and they probably should have had a rope and Gil his Crampons (he left them in camp).
Tom and Bill followed right along behind Gil-and Dan and got to about 11800 when I told them to come down since Gil and Dan had returned and said they didn't make the peak.
Brian Jordan and I made it to about 11400 and decided to wait for Gil and Dan who came down shortly after we stopped. Scott with slick soled boots cut a lot of steps and made it to the upper basin at around 10400.
It was a beautiful day and the snow was firm - needed crampons in many places. As we headed back to camp we didn't do much glissading because it was too fast and dangerous. I walked down a long snow slope in crampons and it was great. We got back to camp shortly before 5 p.m. and fixed supper.
It was already 20 degrees and later got down to 15 so we expected a real cold night. The weather changed however, and it was 20 in the morning at 6 a.m. We were a little lazier and finally had breakfast around 7:30 or 8 a.m. We packed and had a pleasant walk down the valley to the cars.
Saw a number of beaver ponds and dams. The firm snow made walking great. We hit the cars around noon and drove to Lone Pine for lunch and gasoline - then on to home with a gas stop in Four Corners - arrived home about 7:30 p.m. The 55 MPH driving wasn't too bad - in fact it was more relaxing than the usual rush. It was a great weekend.
Route up Tinemaha Creek 1974
