Sierra Nevada - Kennedy Meadow/Emigrant Lake

On July 1-7, 1993, myself and Gil Beilke backpacked to Kennedy Meadow and Emigrant Lake. We took highway 108 across Sonora Pass to the Kennedy Meadows Resort road.

The hike starts out alongside the Stanislaus River, and proceeds to Relief Reservoir. Interesting historical remnants along the way. Climbing above the Reservoir this fairly heavily used trail heads into the Emigrant Wilderness back country. The first night's camp is along Summit Creek near the Lewis Lake trail junction. Map at end of page.

tanislaus River at Kennedy Meadow Resort - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Meadow leaving Kennedy Meadow Resort - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke at first bridge over Stanislaus River - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Kennedy Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Stanislaus River at second bridge - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Donkey engine used to build Relief Reservoir - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Donkey engine boiler near Relief Reservoir - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke looking over the Relief Reservoir Dam - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Looking toward Relief Creek/Valley over Relief Reservoir - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke takes a breather next to Relief Reservoir - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Grouse Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Summit Creek near camp - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Summit Creek and cliffs at camp - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

First night's camp on Summit Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Looking toward Black Hawk Mountain from near camp on Summit Creek
Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Granite Dome from near camp on Summit Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Summit Creek near camp - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

The second day we layed over and explored up the Lewis Lake branch of Summit Creek to the lower Lewis Lake. Runoff in Summit Creek was high which made wading across the creek in the morning a bit iffy. When we returned the runoff had increased to the point where wading was out of the question. Fortunately we found a log crossing we could use.

Granite Dome from Summit Creek camp - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Summit Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Granite Dome from Summit Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Summit Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Flowers at Summit Creek camp - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Looking toward Lewis Lake area on 'accross creek' hike - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke looking toward Lewis Lake area on 'accross creek' hike
Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Looking back toward Relief Reservoir on the 'accross creek' hike
Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Looking north on the 'accross creek' hike - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Relief Peak from the 'accross creek' hike - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Pond on the 'accross creek' hike - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke at rivelet on 'accross creek' hike - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Moon over camp - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Don up the gully to camp two - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

On the third day of this trip we backpacked toward the Emigrant Lakes area. Uppon reaching the Brown Bear Pass trail junction it became clear that there was too much snow so we backtracked about a mile and a half to camp below snow covered Lunch Meadow. The next day we had a layover day and explored the nearby areas.

Gil Beilke near camp two - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Camp two on Summit Creek, lots of snow - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Looking toward Granite Dome near camp two on Summit Creek
Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Logs across Summit Creek at camp two - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke on logs across Summit Creek at camp two - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke on log across Summit Creek at camp two - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke on log across Summit Creek at second camp - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Looking down Summit Creek at camp two - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Looking toward Brown Bear Pass - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Volcanic rock on Relief Peak slopes near Lunch Meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Summit Creek below Lunch Meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Lichen in volcanic rock near Lunch Meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Slopes of Relief Peak near Lunch Meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Summit Creek at snow covered Lunch Meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

"Snoopy" (top center) and other odd rock formations at Lunch Meadow
Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke examines geology at Lunch Meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Interesting geology at Lunch Meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Flower at Lunch Meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke and slopes of Relief Peak near Lunch Meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Slopes of Relief Peak near Lunch Meadow - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Lunch Meadow on Summit Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Relief Peak from route to Mosquito Pass - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

The next day we day hiked to Mosquito Pass then on to Emigrant Lake, then back to camp.

Gil Beilke and the view from route to Mosquito Pass - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Molo Mountain from route to Mosquito Pass - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke on the way to Mosquito Pass with a little "watermelon" algae in the snow
Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Emigrant Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke and the view near Mosquito Pass - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Emigrant Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

The next day we backpacked down to Relief Creek to camp for the night.

Inlet creek to Emigrant Lake - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Summit Creek cascade below camp two - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Gil Beilke and Summit Creek below the cascade - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Relief Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

The final day we backpacked out to the Kennedy Meadows Trailhead.

Second bridge across Stanislaus River - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Kennedy Creek - Emigrant Wilderness 1993

Route map for backpack trip over July 4, 1993 extended weekend

Route descriiption for backpack trip over July 4, 1993 extended weekend

NOTE: The route on the map and the mileage chart reflect the actual trip which was a modification of a planned longer trip which was adjusted due to a lot of remaining snow.