Virginia Lakes

Six miles west of Hwy 395, north of Lee Vining, at about 9000′ above sea level, where the road ends, there is the Virginia Lakes trailhead. Within a mile of the trailhead, there are about a dozen alpine lakes nestled in the canyon, with ridges rising 2000′ on both sides. The trailhead provides access to trout fishing and to trails which cross deep into the Sierra Nevada. On this early November weekend, the area was fairly isolated and most of the lakes and creeks were frozen over.

The original plan had been to backpack to Lewis Lakes in Emigrant Wilderness. However, due to a forest fire, visibility in the area was limited to 100′ or so. The sun was obscured by smoke in the air, thick gray clouds, like soup. Hiking in such conditions would not be healthy. It seemed like the air was clean on the east side of the Sierra, so we continued on to Twin Lakes. We were hoping to backpack into Hoover Wilderness, but once we got there, we found out that the resort was closed for the season. The resort provides overnight parking for those wanting to adventure into Hoover Wilderness. Otherwise, parking is restricted on the road.

And so, we decided to go visit Virginia Lakes. I had been here a couple of times before on day hiking trips, but never backpacking. I like to explore new areas when I’m in the eastern Sierra, there is just so much to see! But, given our limited time due to backup plans failing, and the immediate need to get out into nature, it would do. I thought we could hike 6 miles over to Summit Lake, enjoy a lazy afternoon, and explore Hoover Lakes, Gilman Lake, and East Lake. However, none of us had the energy to go more than a couple of miles.

We camped above a lake which was frozen over, had lunch and readied our gear for a day hike. With less weight now, we continued on up the trail to the pass at 11,100′. The views from here are extensive in all directions, even into Owens Valley. The next morning, we woke up to the sounds of *crack* and *whoomp*, sounds emanating from the lake as the sun was melting and cracking the ice. The sounds echoed through the canyon. It was eerie.

Our view from camp

Skipping rocks

Frozen creeks

There are mostly barren ridges on both sides of the drainage composed of scree and loose soil. The views from the ridges across valleys, over lakes, and over ridges, the contrast of colors, it’s a fascinating canvas provided by nature for the eye’s delight. After months of working long hours and not being able to visit the mountains, this was the perfect medicine for an exhausted mind. Though just a short jaunt from the trailhead, it worked out fine. The peace and solitude found this time of year made it seem like we were days away from the cars.