Ted's Hiking World Oneida Lake
Hoover Wilderness

September 30, 2013

This year, my standard mid-summer pilgrimage to the eastern Sierra was stymied by the Aspen Fire west of Mammoth Lakes; so I am going there now instead, and I want to find a new hike along the way.  Lundy Canyon itself is a deservedly popular hiking destination, but I've been there and done that.  Today I will head up a side canyon on a much lesser-used trail.

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The trail angles up the hillside behind the lake

There is no other car in the parking lot at the moment, which doesn't surprise me.  It is cool and a bit blustery, so I don a sweatshirt and windbreaker and head out.

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Getting started

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class="cap">Because the trail is a former road, the gradient is mild and constant

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Gradually rising above Lundy Lake

After a climb of 700 feet over two miles, the trail turns southward up the side canyon.  Immediately I spot a moraine directly above me, looking as if it is just hanging there.

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The first obstacle

A wide swath of forest was cut away here to accommodate the old mining road.

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This section is boring, but easy to negotiate

Mill Creek proper, being fed by a glacier, never dries up.  Not knowing what would be the status of this little stream, I am pleased to see that it still is flowing.

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South Fork Mill Creek

The gray sky is not enhancing my photographs, but I must shoot them anyway.

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Ever-upward

Above the moraine is the anticipated meadow.  The first attraction is a diminutive lake.

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Blue Lake isn't very blue today

A nice trailside signpost details the historical activities here.

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The most important messages there are not to fish in Crystal Lake and not to drink the water in this creek.

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Over the Tioga Crest is my beloved 20 Lakes Basin

Fully three miles into the hike lies the wilderness border.

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My eleventh new trail into this area

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Blue Lake

It looks as if there is another moraine to climb.  Wait a minute; that's not a moraine, but a big pile of mine tailings.

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Approaching the old mine

The area is littered with old mining equipment:

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A nifty log dam was built here to provide water for the operation; its modern concrete replacement is farther upstream.

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The original dam

From the map, I know that the lake's eastern shore is forested and the west side is bare talus.  Opting to stick with the trees, I head toward the left.  Soon the lake comes into view.

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Oneida Lake

Nearby is a really nice campsite:

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Spic and span

Attempting to walk along the lakeshore proves a bit problematical.  A fisher's trail winds around trees, bushes, and rocks as best it can; but the going is tedious.  Finally, I lose patience and scramble fifty feet straight up the hillside, running right into the nice trail that I should have been on all along.

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This route is much better

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Halfway around the lake

Things are going better now on this nice trail, but the sky is becoming ever darker as I proceed southward.  At a point where it will be necessary to cross a big talus jumble, I decide to call it quits.  On a nicer day I would not think of stopping; but today, viewing one more little lake just doesn't seem that important.

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Upper Lake Canyon is uninviting at the moment

I flop down right on the skinny little path to munch some gorp, then turn around.

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Starting back

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The Hoover Wilderness is so colorful

This time, I remain farther from the lake shore on the better trail.  I manage to overly correct the route though, ending up on the other side of the old dam.

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The defunct wooden dam

From here there is an option to loop over by the lakes, but I am content to retrace my steps on the trail.

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There's a fallen-down cabin by Crystal Lake

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This gives a new meaning to "rail trail"

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Down the tailings
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Down the road

This route provides spectacular views of the red cliff forming the north side of Lundy Canyon.

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Black Mountain is hiding on the left

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Fall color enhances the South Fork cascade

Back at the edge of the canyon:

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Lundy Lake reappears
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The spring-fed stream is the trail

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Beside the pond is the road to the major trailhead

From here I can see a good way up Lundy Canyon, but the real show is much closer:

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This is why I go hiking

For the final slog, I put my Walkman over my ears to help pass the time.

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Lundy Lake

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Lundy Resort is closed for the season

My musical reverie is interrupted briefly by a woman hiker who is delighted to be walking among the golden aspens.  The fisherman at the lake might not care.

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Solo hiker
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Solo fisher

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A nostalgic look back


§: This outing was a pleasant diversion from the better-known local trails.  Sunnier skies would have made it even nicer.

Scenery *
Difficulty *
Personality *
Solitude *

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