Minaret Loop in August 5 days

[Andy Riese]

As always, thank you all for the great information.  Here is our Plan for the end of August.  Just want to double check that I am not missing anything.

We will be flying into Reno Saturday August 20^th and driving to Mammoth Lakes. We do not fly out till the following Monday. We  will spend  Sunday hanging out in Mammoth picking up our permit and acclimating.  We plan on eating breakfast and riding the first shuttle into Devils Post pile.

Day one. Monday  August 21. Devils post pile up Minaret Creek trail to Minaret Lake.  I already have a permit for this trailhead.

Day two. Minaret lake to Nydiver Lakes  going past Cecile lake, Iceberg Lake, and Ediza.

Day three. Nydiver lakes over Whitebark Pass to Garnet then cross country to Thousand Island Lake.

Day Four. Depending on how we feel, we will either leave Thousand Island Lake and head to the bottom of Donahue Pass, camping at the end of Lyell canyon or if we are tired just hang out at Thousand Island lake for a day and take the River trail back to DP the next day.

Day Five. End of Lyell canyon to Tuolumne Meadows.  Eat a big burger and ride the shuttle back to Mammoth.

I have done lots of research but is there anything that I am missing?

Will they have Bear canisters at the Mammoth Visitor Center to rent?

I guess it is OK to park a car at the base of Mammoth Mountain for a few days?

Still trying to decide between the Black Diamond Alpine Bivy or GoLite Shangri La1?

Thanks again!!!

[jscott]

There’s parking at Mammoth for sure, no problem. I don’t actually remember if you need a permit that would be issued when you get your wilderness permit–the kind of parking permit that you place in your window. Are you picking up your trailhead permit or do you have one already? Contact the wilderness permit office for the definitive answer. If you’re picking it up they’ll issue you one–I think that this is how it’s done. As long as you have a trail head permit you’re good. park at Mammoth, walk a few yards and get on the shuttle.

Day hiking out of Thousand Island lake is a possibility. There are a dozen options. Marie Lake is highly recommended. Getting there off-trail is a bit more strenuous than it appears on the map.

Or maybe better: pack up and head to the Marie Lake junction. Maybe two hours of hiking. There’s a very sweet campsite just past this–30 yards. Then day hike up to Marie Lake, making sure that you go all the way to the actual Marie Lake! this leaves you in a good position to hike out to Tuolumne Meadows the next day.

Oh but I see that you need to catch the shuttle. Maybe hard to catch the shuttle on time unless you’re camped at Lyell in the morning.

[Kenneth Keating]

You can park your car alongside both sids of the road just before you get to Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort.  No permit required.

Day 4: Skip the River Trail, take the PCT back.  Beautiful Views along this portion PCT of the Minarets, not so much on the River Trail.

[Alex Wallace]

No permit required for overnight parking, but the designated lots are for day-use only. Like Kenneth described, you’ll park along the side of the road just before the day lot. You actually pull-in rather than parallel to give you an idea of space. Don’t worry there will be tons of cars doing the same thing. I’ve left my car there for 15 days a couple of summers ago with no problems. The shuttle picks you up by the Woolly Mammoth and tickets can be purchased right there at the Action Center ticket booth.

Upper Nydiver’s west shore has a beach!

Whitebark Pass should be snow free by then. The north side can be a bit loose, but nothing bad.

This is a wonderful trip and I recommend continuing all the way to Tuolumne Meadows. Camping at the end of Lyell makes the final day out a breeze. The area below Donahue pass at about 10,200′ is magical. Don’t pass it up for something better because there’s not.

 

Be sure to check the YARTS schedule for TM to Mammoth for your specific exit day.

As for shelter, I vote for the SL1. Conditions will likely be benign and mosquitoes should be gone, but if thunderstorms roll through you’ll really appreciate a roof over your head.

Have fun!

 

 

[Andy Riese]

I really appreciate the information.

[Aaron Sorensen]

You can plug your trip into the website Sierra Mapper and it will show you distance and gain.

Theres the ability to go off trail as well. I did a similar trip with my 10 year old nephew and 3 dogs. Beautiful area up there. Had so much fun.

[jscott]

Day tripping off-trail in this area is spectacular. You can clamber around on the granite at the knees of Banner and Ritter from Iceberg lake, or do a brief climb up to Cecile and wander there (I may have these two lake names reversed; I’m at work.) And again, Marie Lake is stunning as well.

[Author]

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