Sierra Nevada - Hunewill Lake-Tamarack Lake

On September 20-21, 1980 Jim White and I backpacked to Hunewill Lake in the Hoover Wildernes.

We left Friday night about 8 p.m. after Jim got off work and drove to end of Jeep Road near Tamarack Mine above Summers Meadow just north of Green Creek and south of Twin Lakes/Bridgeport. We made roads end about 11p.m. and hit the sack by 11:30.

This was opening day of hunting season so many hunters were in the area and they hit the trail before daylight. We hit the trail about 9 a.m. or so and hiked up the closed mine road thinking we were following a route described in California Explorer. We hiked along the road along the north slopes of Monument Ridge, past Deep Canyon, and up over a low ridge to the end of the road.

At this point we decided to look at the map and discovered where we were. We had great views of Mono Lake, Bridgeport Valley and Green Creek including East Lake and Green Lake. We were probably at about 10,000 feet and proceeded westerly and upward to the 11,200 foot top of Monument Ridge.

Saw three doe deer nibbling snow and plants at about 11,000. We hit the top of the ridge about 2 p.m. and walked down the gentle flat top toward Hunewill Lake (we hoped} and sure enough when we came to the drop-off there it was straight below us.

We dropped down the fairly steep scree slope to Hunewill Lake and made camp at the upper end about 3 p.m. or so. Beautiful spot and lots of good water from springs coming out of the mountain side. We camped on lumpy grass at this 10,000+ foot lake.

Dundenberg Peak over Green Creek - Hoover Wilderness 1980

Mono Lake in distance over Green Creek from Monument Ridge - Hoover Wilderness 1980

Hunewill Lake from Monument Ridge - Hoover Wilderness 1980

Throwing a Frisbee at camp at Hunewill Lake - Hoover Wilderness 1980

Hunewill Lake - Hoover Wilderness 1980

Next morning we messed around until noon and then headed down canyon. Above a pond below Hunewill we found a large amount of what we later decided was sheep dung in the rocks and on the snow. We found a sheep skeleton which helped solve the mystery.

We hiked on down easy cross-country to Tamarack Lake where there are many nice campsites. Surprised two fishermen who were breaking camp. Followed the creek down and eventually the main trail to a pond just above 9600 feet, then following a use trail that we eventually lost – contoured over the ridge and back to the car.

In the process we stayed too high and went further east then necessary so got involved with aspen thickets. Made the car about 3 p.m. and checked out the correct route before heading home - nice weekend.

View over Hunewill Lake - Hoover Wilderness 1980

Pond below Hunewill Lake - Hoover Wilderness 1980

Tamarack Lake - Hoover Wilderness 1980

Tamarack Creek - Hoover Wilderness 1980

Approximate route to Hunewill Lake - Hoover Wilderness 1980