On October 15-16, 1977 I backpacked to Valentine Lake in the John Muir Wilderness. I left Lone Pine about 6:30 a.m. and drove to trailhead near the YMCA camp south of Mammoth Lakes. Hit the trail about 8:30. First 2.5 miles dry but mostly forested and well graded trail.
About 2.5 miles after passing a sign marking a side trail to Sherwin Lakes you come to many nice campsites and a nearby stream. The trail climbs in several steps. If you happen to turn around in the right place you can see Lost Lake - which you otherwise miss.
After passing a meadow with small pond (not on the map) you climb the final step to Valentine Lake which is a beautiful Alpine lake. Heavy use campsites are just to the north near the outlet. A little exploration on the north side reveals additional campsites back from the lake along a side stream.
I continued along the north side after lunch (I arrived about 11 a.m.) staying back from the cliffs along the lake and easily made my way to the inlet where I camped at a nice campsite. I later discovered some more nice campsites along the south shore where another side stream comes in. I made camp between 1 and 2 p.m., took a quick swim in the icy water and sunned for about an hour. The weather was outstanding.
Around 4 p.m. I hiked down the south shore and discovered a man from Mammoth had just arrived (left the trailhead about 11 a.m.). He preferred to camp by himself on the north shore so I returned to camp and fixed supper. After supper I watched the lake for a while, took a hike up the inlet stream for a ways, and then hit the sack about 6:30 or so.
After a pleasant night and laying in until the sun hit the tent around 9 a.m. I fixed breakfast, packed and headed out around 10:30 a.m. At the previously mentioned Sherwin Lakes sign, I took the side trail to Sherwin Lakes which were very low. Saw some hunters.
Continued down the well graded trail to the Sherwin Lake trailhead seeing a number of day hikers. Arrived around noon and cross-countried along the base of the hills using old loging roads, etc. past the Y camp to arrive at the car about 1:30. Ate lunch, drove to Mammoth for gasoline, then drove up the Laurel Lakes mine road most of the way to check it out before heading home. Great weekend.
Valentine Lake/Sherwin Lakes route 1977
