Leavitt Meadows--Sept 2012

Mountain Record

September 24—27, 2012

Leavitt Meadows, Hoover Wilderness, North Yosemite (not in the park)

Hwy 108 through Sonora Pass (9,000)

Leavitt Meadows to Freemont Lake, via one night stop at Roosevelt Lake along the West Walker River. 7,000 ft—8,200 ft, 18 miles round trip.

An amazingly beautiful hike, through and out of the meadow, astounding variety of flora even late in the season, a gradual climb, not difficult until the last hour and a half climb up to  Freemont.

6 hour drive, with a lunch stop in Twain Hart; two hours on the trail, stop at Roosevelt for the night, hike in another four hours the second day, to Freemont.

The meadow is breathtaking, the river snaking through it, the whole thing trimmed with aspen, cottonwood, willow and huge, plentiful juniper pine, sage and mahogany.

Everything is vibrant and running, streams and the river, clear and fast. Sage still in bloom.

The first night it’s dark by 7:30, we’re in the bags an hour later, sleep well and awake at 6:30.  Leisurely breakfast and four hours on the trail. More wonderful riparian terrain, through conifer forests, cottonwood and aspen. The meadow lifts up into canyons and domes of granite and “megavolcanic” formations, quite beautiful.

At Freemont we nap, have soup, Jerry fishes and I write. This is a big lake, runs generally N to S, surrounded by high outcrops, boulders and distant domes of volcanic formations. The N end drops off into a huge valley. It’s clear, but it’s cold, windy.

Along the perimeter, Tea Leaf Willow, Quaking Aspen and Bracken Fern, Bunch grass, Lodgepole pine, low growing flowers. In the hills, Juniper Pine and ample berries. Vocanic rock strewn all over, the lake deep and clear.

The second day we go cross country to the bluffs above the lake, 1,000ft, see out over the valley and even back to Leavitt Meadow. Wonderful view. We descend to the lake, circumambulate clock wise, fish and explore.

Jerry gets a 12” that’s thrown back, then he gets two more Rainbow.

 Four and a half hours out on the last day. Flox, blooms and Curl Leaf Mountain Mahagony.