On December 20-23, 1980 Jim White and I backpacked on a 10 mile round trip in the North Lake/Grass Lake area of the John Muir Wilderness.
We left Independence at 7 a.m. Saturday morning and drove to the North Lake road turnoff between Aspendell and Lake Sabrina. Started hiking about 9a.m.. Hiked up the road which had a little ice and few inches of snow at the start. (Saw a pure white Weasel in the rocks). Snow got deeper at North Lake so we put on our snowshoes after a snack.
Followed other people's ski/snowshoe tracks up the road. Stopped for lunch at end of road at North Lake Campground. Snowshoed up the Lamarck Lake trail to Grass Lake where we made camp about 3 p.m. Two other people were camped nearby. We camped on about 6 inches of snow with drifts deeper in protected areas.
Sunday we got up leisurely and then snowshoed up the Lamarck Lake Trail to lower Lamarck Lake. It was cloudy and windy like a storm was moving in. Lake was frozen solid. We returned to camp around 3 p.m. A little light snow fell in late afternoon and early evening but just dusted the ground.
Monday we got up leisurely again and then Snowshoed up valley above Grass Lake and to the north toward Lamarck Col. We had a pleasant climb in about two or so feet of snow most of the time. Very nice among the trees. It snowed lightly most of the afternoon. We returned to camp about 3 p.m. By the time we went to bed it was clearing and the moon (full) was shining in the front of the tent.
Tuesday morning we again got up leisurely to a clear sunny sky (only wisps of clouds). The night seemed like it had been colder but none of the nights probably got below 20 - we didn't check the thermometer. We left about noon and reached the car about 2 p.m. Did a little shopping in Bishop and headed home after a very pleasant and relaxing four days.
North Lake and Green Lake and Lamarck Col route 1980
NOTE: Not sure how far toward Lamarck Col we went.
