This area of the Eastern Sierra has some of the most spectacular lakes in the lower 48. 13,000 ft. Mt. Ritter shares the skyline with Banner Peak and the jagged Minarets sub-range. Access via the ski resort town of Mammoth Lakes is easy, but at 8 miles up a big mountain, you’ll get away from the crowds. I first fell for this area hiking through on the John Muir Trail and knew I had to come back for more.
This was a 3 day loop trek of about 23 miles, not including dayhikes to some other lakes. There’s a cross-country section that weeds out the beginners, and leads to a pair of amazing lakes – Iceberg and Cecile – that will take your breath away. I’ve just finished a new page of this hike on my site, but the hike was in Aug. ’13 – hope you don’t mind. I know some of you have been up here, maybe this will inspire you still…
All the photos full size at my site PlanetRambler.com
First view of Ediza Lake, with the Minarets to the south
After a dayhiking to Nydiver Lakes a mile north, the return trip offered this view south to Ediza and Iceberg Lake in the distance
Cabin Lake is hidden on the eastern mountain above Ediza
Iceberg Lake and the Minarets. Here the trail ends and the boulder-hopping begins. Access to Cecile Lake is up the scree slope at left
An unusual red rock at Cecile Lake, the highest on the route, with pointy Clyde Minaret
Clyde Minaret pokes the sky above Minaret Lake. The Rim Fire was burning in Yosemite at the time and the smoke drift was mostly north, but on the 3rd day, the wind shifted south, adding moody drama to the light.
Here’s a map I made of the route.
