Sierra Nevada - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Devil's Postpile-Twin Island Lakes

On August 19-27, 1993 myself and Gil Bilke did a round trip backpack from Devil's Postpile National Monument to Twin Island Lakes in the Ansel Adams Wilderness.

I had hiked the section from Devil's Postpile to Cargyle Creek on several previous trips so don't have any pictures here for that part of the route. In 1992, while camped at Cargyle Creek, I did a day hike to Iron Lake near Iron Mountain.

The following describes the original trip plan which we modified during the trip. The actual trip information has been added in brackets [].

This trip is similar to but different from our 1991 trip. This trip will be a loop from and returning to Devil's Postpile National Monument. Hopefully we'll pick up the permit at Mammoth on the drive in and sleep in a parking area.

First day, same as 1991, from the postpile via King Creek to East Fork Cargyle Creek. The first part will be through an area burned by the Rainbow Fire in 1992. The fire burned across the trail between Devil's Postpile and the King Creek crossing. This year we should have plenty of water in the creeks.

Second day, at first I was going to go up to Alstot Lake - to Iron Lake - on the second day. Then it occurred to me, why not do it on the way out when our packs are lighter. So this second day is the same as 1991, to Iron Creek via the main trail. [We actually continued on to Hemlock Crossing. Campsites right at the bridge were occupied but we found a nice campsite downstream on the bench where the main campsites are with it's own small stream - might be dry in some years. Great views of cascades/falls in the river canyon below the bench.]

Mushroom on high trail from Cargyle Creek - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Flowers along trail to Iron Creek - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Flower along trail to Iron Creek - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

North Fork San Joaquin River - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Dike Creek - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

North Fork San Joaquin River at Dike Creek - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Hemlock Crossing - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Hemlock Crossing falls below bridge - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Hemlock Crossing falls above bridge - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

North Fork San Joaquin River at camp - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Third day, with lots of snow the San Joaquin River ought to be really wild this year. Instead of stopping at Bench Canyon like in 1991, we go on to camp just below Twin Island Lakes where we camped in 1991. [There was lots of water and great cascades/falls. Some snow across the trail in one place just below camp.]

Falls at Bench Canyon - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Flowers at Bench Canyon - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

North Fork San Joaquin River - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

North Fork San Joaquin River, Gil Beilke - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Fourth and Fifth days, layover days. This will give me a chance to explore the lake basins I missed with my sprained ankle in 1991. You might want to check out the Ritter Lakes or climb Mt. Davis or something else you didn't get to do in 1991. [Gil made an attempt on Mt. Rogers but ran out of time at about 11,200 feet on first layover day. Don hiked to the upper Twin Island Lake and around into the Bench Canyon drainage and then up onto the ridge overlooking the Twin Island Lakes at about 10500. On the second day Gil climbed Mt. Davis.]

Flower garden enroute to Twin Island Lakes - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Lower Twin Island Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Lower Twin Island Lake from upper lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Upper Twin Island Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Route to Lake Catherine and falls from Upper Twin Island Lake
Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Upper Twin Island Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Route to Lake Catherine (left edge), Mt. Ritter from ridge above Upper Twin Island Lake (bottom) - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Lower Twin Island Lake from ridge above Upper Twin Island Lake
Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Basin above Lower Twin Island Lake from ridge above Upper Twin Island Lake
Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Route to Lake Catherine from ridge above Upper Twin Island Lake
Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Looking across Bench Canyon from ridge above Upper Twin Island Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Foerster Peak, Electra Peak from ridge above Upper Twin Island Lake - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Mt. Davis over Lower Twin Island Lake from ridge above Upper Twin Island Lake
Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Below camp, looking back over North Fork San Joaquin River at Mt. Davis
Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Sixth day, back to Iron Creek, the way we came in. BUT, instead of camping just off the trail, go up Iron Creek to where the creek splits. Looks like there should be places to camp in that area. [Decided not to go up Iron Creek so camped at the trail crossing. Gil found an old little used trail that went up the slope north of Iron Creek and more or less followed the edge of the tree line to a "lily pond" lake (on the map). This would be an easier route to take up the creek rather than following alongside the creek. This trail may have been related to early mining operations at Iron Lake or just a hunter/packer route.]

Early morning North Fork San Joaquin River - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Stevenson Meadow - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Camp at Iron Creek - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1963

Seventh day, proceed up toward Iron Lake. There will probably be snow in the gully leading up to the saddle we cross. When I looked at it in 1992, with no snow, didn't look like it should be any problem other than a bit of work. At the saddle, it's a short side trip on a trail to Iron "puddle" and Iron Lake. We then follow the trail down to Alstot Lake (an alternate campsite). Then on down to pickup our incoming trail and camp at East Fork Cargyle Creek, same as first night's camp. [Instead of following this plan we went from Iron Creek via the regular trail to the East Fork Cargyle Creek and then up the east side of the creek about a half mile (following old trail) to an old packer campsite (or may have been related to early mining operation at Iron Creek). At one time this campsite had been heavily improved with lumber table, etc.]

I took a lot of pictures of flowers near our camp on Cargyle Creek.

Mushrooms at Carlyle Creek camp - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Bee on flower at Carlyle Creek camp - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Flower at Carlyle Creek camp - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Snow plant at Carlyle Creek camp - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Bee on flower at Carlyle Creek camp - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Flower at Carlyle Creek camp - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Tree sap at Carlyle Creek camp - Ansel Adams Wilderness - Aug 1993

Eighth day, back up the Granite Stairway to Summit Meadow and down to the King Creek Trail. Instead of turning right back to the Postpiles, turn left up King Creek. We pass the Fern Lake trail - an alternate campsite is up to Fern Lake and then cross-country to Anona Lake. We soon are climbing up and cross King Creek which should be very pretty with lots of water. At the Holcomb Lake trail we turn and after a short distance leave the Holcomb Lake trail to go to Ashley Lake. This area is all pretty heavily used. Hopefully going to this lake will get us away from the "crowds". [Instead of following the above plan, we had a layover day at the campsite on East Fork Cargyle Creek. Gil climbed Iron Mountain and Don took a short hike up onto the ridge to the east. On return route Gil hiked over to the saddle on the Iron Lake trail which drops into Iron Creek and which we originally planned to come up. Gil reported that the snow field was not that steep and could be walked up when soft. Alternatively you could bypass the snow by climbing up the rocks along it's edge with only the very upper part being a little rough.]

Ninth day, return to the trail and continue the loop toward Beck Lakes and on to the Minaret Creek drainage and the John Muir Trail, then back to the Postpiles. [Since we were camped on the East Fork Cargyle Creek, we returned to the main trail and hiked back over the Granite Stairway/Summit Meadow route to King Creek and back to the Devil's Postpile.]

Devil's Postpile - Twin Island Lakes roundtrip map

Devil's Postpile - Twin Island Lakes roundtrip itinerary 1

Devil's Postpile - Twin Island Lakes roundtrip itinerary 2

Devil's Postpile - Twin Island Lakes roundtrip itinerary 3