Gable Lakes Backpacking

Bobby and Chandler wanted to go backpacking.  Oh boy!  We were in charge of the logistics.  The kids did a 17 mile hike a month or so before, so we decided on a short, but steep trip to Gable Lakes.  At just under four miles, the distance isn't the problem.  The elevation gain, 3000 feet, and extreme lack of trail maintenance are the problems.  We did just fine getting to camp and had time to set up tents and play in the lake before the rain set in.  By play in the lake, I mean I touched the water.  Bobby and Chandler did much better than I and dunked themselves.  Rarely have I laughed so hard as at their reactions.  That water is cold, mighty cold.

Looking at Pine Creek Canyon and the mill.

One of the tram towers.  Every time we go, fewer of them remain upright.

Chandler and Bobby demonstrate how steep the trail is.

One of the best preserved towers.

One of many downed trees to get through or around.

Love those junipers!

One of the best pieces of trail.

Fireweed

Bob is in there too.

Notional trail.

Bobby and Chandler

Our camp and stormy weather.

Chillin' before the rain.

Sunset

Having three days, we went to explore the other lakes on the second day.  Bob had never been, so this was a big draw for him.  I had been, but it had been so long I only had vague recollections that they weren't as scenic as where we camped.  It turns out the middle lake was lovely and had tadpoles.  Lots of tadpoles.  I didn't remember that there were critically endangered Sierra Yellow-legged Frogs there.  

We start the day with a beautiful sunrise.

I also didn't remember all of the mining stuff.  My brain came up with the cabin, which has been squashed by one of the recent bad winters, but further up, there is lots of stuff.  It is the Lakeview Mine and mill.  From Owens Valley History the tungsten deposit was discovered in 1940 and ore was hauled down by mule.  In 1953 George Brown's mules packed in everything for a mill including a jaw crusher, gravity table, and engines to power it all.  Glad I wasn't one of those mules.  The price of tungsten was high as the government was stockpiling it.  When that ended in 1957 so did the mine as it was no longer profitable.  Gable Lakes 1977 is a fun write up of visiting Gable Lakes and the mill in 1977 and has a great picture of what the cabin used to look like.  A good write up of the Pine Creek, Mt Tom and Gable Lakes mines can be found here.  It even shows the buckets on the trams that go to the Tungstar Mine.  The book Mine in the Sky by Joseph M Kurtak is really fascinating if you can find it.  Lots of photos and lots of stories from the miners who worked in the Pine Creek area.

Hey, that is a mill on the hillside.

Chandler and all that remains of the cabin.

Sierra Columbine

We are camped back up in there.

Loads of mine junk.

The mill

What a cool old wheelbarrow.

You don't see this on the shelves today.

I can't remember what these are for.

Our car is down at the bottom somewhere.

Is it a stream or a hiking route?

Wow, what a clear lake!

Sierra Yellow-legged Frog tadpole

Checking out the local flowers.

Inyo Tonestus (Tonestus peirsonii), a highly localized rare flower

Mountain Coyote Mint

We get back again before the rain.

Enjoying the evening.

Our third day was simply coming back down the "trail" to the trailhead.  This isn't trivial as the upper part of the trail is notional, and the middle part is filled with downed trees and completely overgrown.  And the whole way is rocks that twist your ankles that make for slow going.  I think Chandler found this day the toughest of the three.  I am sure Bob and I will be back if our bodies hold out because we like the birds, the history and the flowers, but it might be the only time Bobby and Chandler ever go.  There are plenty of nice spots in the Sierra that are so much easier to access.  

Ebird list