Sierra Nevada - Twin Lakes/Rock Island/Slide Canyon
Hoover/Yosemite Wilderness

This trip covers forty-five miles in seven days with two layover days as described at the bottom of this page. A portion of the camp to camp moving route was cross-county on easy terrain, in most part lacking only a trail. An occasional slab walk or easy rock scramble was encountered on the drop into Slide Canyon. Route finding was easy and straight forward. The drop into Slide Canyon required a little care to get onto the right route, but was not a big problem.

The entire cross-country route was followed in the opposite direction in 1894 by Lt. N. F. McClure with a military party on horseback lead by a "captured Basque sheepherder".

The trailhead is located on the private Mono Village resort at the west end of the upper Twin Lake. They charges $5 for parking the car for seven days. There is no really reasonable alternative to using their parking area.

On June 29, 1990 Gil Beilke and I headed out for Barney Lake on the trail from Mono Village. The first two miles or so starts out in trees at the resort and then turns into open fields over gentle sloping terrain. It then turns into a steady climb up to Barney Lake with much of the trail "enclosed" in head high aspen's-which can getwarm if the breeze is not blowing.

Barney Lake has campsites but is not recommended due to heavy use. The trail then climbs up and down along the northwest shore of Barney Lake well above the lake until it drops and crosses the inlet stream above the lake.

The trail then enters trees with some open switch backed slopes on a steady climb up to the Crown Lake/Peeler Lake trail junction. Creek water was available off and on along the route. The second creek crossing above Barney Lake was a good place for a lunch stop. There were other spots for lunch above this if you don't require the creek.

The climb levels out some at the Peeler Lake Trail turnoff but continues to climb some. There is a campsite at the main outlet of Peeler Lake when you first arrive - not very good.

The trail climbs up and down along the north shore and passes two "alcoves" which have campsites which should be skipped. At the west side of the lake a number of campsites were available. The lake has fishing.

We left the resort around 7:30, stopped at Barney Lake about 30 minutes, stopped near but before reaching the Crown/Peeler Trail junction for about an hour for lunch, made camp on west side of Peeler Lake about 2 p.m.

The next day was an easy start down into upper Kerrick Meadow. The trail junction to Rock lsland Pass is a little used trail in a meadow and is signed by one of the old cutout rusty steel Yosemite style signs.

The trail cuts back slightly to go around a bend in the creek before crossing Rancheria Creek and cutting up the side hill and around the end of the ridge into the creek/valley from Rock lsland Pass.

The trail soon comes to an area of big open rocks and some cascades - ideal spot for a snack - from which the saddle over to Rock lstand Lake was obvious. We proceeded up the trail a little farther and then left the trail to contour around the head of the lower valley up to the saddle. Numerous routes are possible - all easy.

From the saddle it was an easy stroll across open hillside to Rock lsland Lake. Best camping is on some benches or in the flats along the east side of the lake near the south (outlet)end. There appeared to be no fish in this lake. Good views can be had from Suicide ridge which can be ascended by a number of easy walkup routes.

The next day was a layover Day. The lake offered swimming and wading. Nice hike downstream to the point where the stream drops toward Crazy Mule Gulch.

Peak climbers can do Bath Mountain - Class 2. Cross Suicide Ridge via the obvious notch over to Crazy Mule Gulch. The descent into Crazy Mule Gulch is in a fairly steep and rocky gully. This can be avoided by not climbing up the easy slope to the obvious notch from the lake, but instead just after entering the obvious route turning north and ascending one of the two easy gullies to the top of Suicide Ridge - then descend the easier ledge/slope system into the upper end of the Gulch. Use the reverse route on return.

Cross the Gulch and choose your route up the slope to the Bath Mountain ridge north of the mountain. You can go directly up through the trees across the gulch or loop around further to the north via the large open meadow saddle about a mile north of the peak. Follow the ridge to the peak. Great views from the peak.

Alternate leisurely hikes and activities are up to your imagination and energy.

The next day we followed the route described above over Suicide Ridge to the upper end of Crazy Mule Gulch. By avoiding the "obvious" notch over the ridge and taking one of the more northerly gullies to the top (which can be scouted the previous day) you will be able to go almost directly across to the large open meadow saddle north of Bath Mountain without dropping much.

From Suicide Ridge study the gully you must drop into and the other side to spot the route up the other side. Your goal, by whatever route, is to cross the large open meadow saddle north of Bath Mountain.

Once on the saddle, tend to the right (south). Do not follow the creek unless you brought your parachute. Think HORSE ROUTE. Tend to hug the slope to the right until you see the obvious sloping bench/gully leading diagonally down into Slide Canyon.

If you have climbed Bath Mountain you will have seen this route from the mountain. About half way down there are some great views of Slide Canyon from open slabs. Work around or through the brush staying to the right as you descend. If wet, watch for slippery rocks. Remember that HORSES have come up this route - chose your route accordingly.

Once on the canyon floor, there are campsites among the trees in any of numerous possible locations. We camped a few hundred feet upstream from where we descended to. This was the only campsite we had in Yosemite where campfires were legal. Firewood is abundant but don't waste it.

We were in camp by mid-morning. It was a very pleasant and scenic walk down the valley for about l.5 miles to where the creek starts a plunge down to Benson Lake. A nice cascade/waterfall area with a couple small waterwheels. The creek is FULL of trout and many nice pools. Evidence of deer,bear and possibly mountain sheep. Food should be Bear hung in this campsite, which we did.

The next day was a layover day. You can lay around or take any of numerous exploratory hikes. Big Meadow Creek was worth exploring - many beautiful cascades along the creek. Camp Creek is another possibility. You can climb the ridge north of Doghead Peak for fine views. The last 100 feet up to the peak is Class 4 from this route.

The peak is described as Class 2 from the Wilson Creek side - so you might be able to circle around to the south side from Big Meadow Creek and find a route??? Check the climbers guide for other possible peak routes in the area.

The next day we headed across to the east side of the creek upon leaving our campsite. There is first a small area and then a large area of avalanche tree fall to climb over if you don't cross the creek. Also, when you reach the SLIDE you will want to be on the east side of the creek.

Easy stroll up through meadows and trees about two miles to the SLIDE. Do not get into the large rocks of the slide. Climb up the east slope following the obvious and easy route where a trail might go. You will find a use trail on the slope going above the slide and eventually dropping into the valley above the slide.

As we did, you will likely find a "snow pillow", pole with solar collector, antenna, etc. and steel box containing electronic equipment - all part of the State snow survey data collection system for forecasting water runoff.

We continued up stream through some avalanche trees. Your goal is to intersect the trail from Burro Pass that traverses the upper slope. Numerous routes are possible. We crossed the main creek just below the first "Y" and climbed the steep but easy slope up to the second "Y" in the creek and there we crossed into the "Y" and met the trail at about 9800 feet (ending the cross-country route).

The Sawtooth Ridge dominates our views as we climb out of Slide Canyon. Finger Peaks offer a fine view from our campsite in this area. From this point, we scouted out a campsite along the creek leading up to the "crest" toward lce Lake.

lce Lake and Maltby Lake are hard to reach and provide limited or marginal camping (not recommended).

It was an easy and worthwhile hike up to the crest to look at lce and Maltby Lakes and this end of the Sawtooth Ridge. Kettle Peak can be climbed from this location.

The next day we followed the trail west to the unnamed pass on the crest, known as Mule Pass. The trail is about twice as long as shown on the map and makes several climbs and descents, twists and turns before reaching the pass. The trail then descends via numerous switchbacks to the junction with the Rock lsland Pass trail. In early season or heavy snow years this trail may have sections covered with snow.

We continued on good trail to beautiful Crown Lake. An alternate but heavily used campsite. Good place to stop for a snack. The trail continues past two small lakes and a tarn to eventually meet our original trail at the Crown/Peeler Lake trail junction. We are now retracing the first day's route. A good lunch stop is after crossing the main creek as mentioned under the first day.

This was the longest day - about ten and a half miles, mostly downhill. We left camp about 8 a.m. and arrived at the car about 2 p.m. with only two short stops in route.