Monique and I spent 5 amazing days in the remote Bear Lakes Basin of the California High Sierra starting at the Pine Creek trailhead. We did this just before I rushed out to Great Basin National Park to photograph Comet NEOWISE the next day.
Pine Creek trailhead to either Pine Creek Pass or Italy Pass is one of the longest, toughest uphill slogs around. We wanted our first night to be in the spectacular Granite Park area so we hauled our heavy first-day packs up 7.5 miles and nearly 4000 feet of elevation gain to get there. It was worth it. There were the normal crowds at Pine Lake and Honeymoon lake, but we had the entire Granite Park area to ourselves as far as we could see. After a swim and a soak to calm the tired muscles we pretty much collapsed in the tent. I did not take many landscape pictures that first day as I was so exhausted. This area is a true basin, surrounded by high granite peaks on all sides, so we never saw the comet while we were out unfortunately.
After exploring the Granite Park area for a day, including an easy off-trail climb over a pass to have a look into the Chalafant Lake area we decided to continue on over Italy Pass. Our initial intent had been to take Granite Bear Pass directly over to Black Bear Lake, but from where we were it looked snow covered and unsafe with the gear we had. After crossing over Italy Pass, we turned left and headed cross-country to what is known as Dancing Bear Pass which is an easy walk over some uneven boulders and scree fields leading to White Bear Lake, then down to Black Bear lake where we camped. We loved the area and the color of the water in Black Bear Lake. Also, there was a small lakelet next to it that was significantly warmer and we did lots of swimming there, only seeing a few fishermen pass by at a distance. The next night we headed down an easy drainage to Ursa Lake. The area of these three lakes is my favorite. We camped near the stream between Ursa and Big Bear lake because it seemed like it would make the best photos. We found some great cliff jumping spots on the west side of Big Bear Lake and also hiked over another short pass to check out Vee lake. I think the area where we were was by far the most scenic. We enjoyed a full day and night here without seeing another person.
The next day we did an early climb up Granite Bear Pass from Black Bear Lake just to see if it was doable. The walk from the Black Bear lake side is easy sand. Once at the top, we decided we could pick our way down the class 3 scree field on the right side as you are looking down the col from the top. The snow on the left side continued right up to a cliff face that we deemed impassible, but once it recedes a little more, I think the left side would be the easy way if you can safely get around the cliff band, because it is mostly sand and decomposing granite on that side. The skier’s right (climber’s left) descent was a little challenging for my wife. Lots of very large, very loose talus chunks. If we had brought an ice-axe or crampons the decent down the snow would have been simple, but being a glacier, there were patches that were soft and other patches that were literally hard as ice. One step on those without the right gear and your slide could be ugly. Once we managed to make it down the pass, we followed the glacier out to an amazing and scenic high meadow, which eventually meandered back to the main trail where we camped for our final night.
I mostly do these trip reports so I can remember what I have done in the past. However, I expend a lot of energy hauling high-end cameras and a tripod around so I can take landscape photographs during my trips. If you are interested in any high-resolution, fine art landscape photography, check out my main website.
.jpg)
Map of our route up and over Italy pass, then cross country to Dancing Bear Pass into the Bear Lakes Basin, returning to Granite Park via Granite Bear Pass above Black Bear Lake.
.jpg)
Single cloud at sunset over Mt. Morrison near Mammoth Lakes, CA, USA along highway 395 in the eastern sierra.
.jpg)
Comet NEOWISE as seen from long valley over the mountain near Mammoth Lakes, CA,USA
.jpg)
Sunrise from the Granite Park area during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Sunrise on Treasure Mountain from the Granite Park area.
.jpg)
Panoramic image from the Granite Park area during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Chalafant Lakes from the Granite Park area.
.jpg)
The trail to Italy pass as seen from the Granite Park area.
.jpg)
A backpacker hikes up above the Granite Park area during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
A backpacker crosses a snow field above the Italy Pass area during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Panoramic image of Big Bear and Ursa and Bear Paw lake with the seven gables in the background at sunset during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Sunrise over Big Bear Lake with the seven gables in the background during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Reflections of the seven gables and Gemini on a small lake during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Sierra sunflower and sky pilot on the route over Granite-Bear pass above Bear Paw Lake during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Western Roseroot or Rhodiola Integrifolia at bottom and Phlox on top, both high altitude plants during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
the amazing colors of Bear Paw Lake during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Hiking past Sky Pilot and Sierra Sunflowers on the route over Granite-Bear pass above Bear Paw Lake during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
A woman jumps across a creek on the way to big bear lake during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
A Hiker stand above Vee lake with the seven gables in the background during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Sunset over Ursa Lake during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
A backpacker watches sunset over Ursa Lake during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Sunset over a stream between Big Bear and Ursa Lakes during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Sunset over Ursa Lake during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Sunset over a stream between Big Bear and Ursa Lakes during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
A glowing tent at night above Big Bear Lake during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Big Bear Lake with the seven gables in the background during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Hiking through snow on the west side of the route over Granite-Bear pass above Bear Paw Lake during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
The west side meadows in Granite Park during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Granite-Bear pass visible with snow field from the west side meadows in Granite Park during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
The west side meadows in Granite Park during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
The milky way over Granite Park during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin
.jpg)
Sunrise on the mountains as seen from the Granite Park area during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass
.jpg)
Sunrise over a flowing stream in the Granite Park area during a 5-day backpacking trip in Bear Lakes Basin in the High Sierra via the Pine Creek Trailhead and Italy Pass