Day 7. Aug 5: Purple Lake to Silver Pass Lake via the Tully Hole. 10 miles

Today would start a new adventure.
I am on a portion of the JMT that I have never seen, in person that is.
I have map studied, blog watched, and Google Earthed every mile from Purple to Bishop Pass Trail.
65 miles that starts as soon as I get up and out of this tent.

Wow! Purple lake in the morning light was jaw dropping gorgeous.  This is where my Dad caught his first trout at the age of 9.  I can understand why the trout would create a lasting memory, but for me it is the scenery.

Stunning Purple Lake, looking N.E.

Happy to have just caught a Rainbow Trout like Dad's 71 years ago

On to Virginia Lake.  Legendary for its Rainbow Trout.  I ditched my pack next to the trail and climbed down to the water's edge.  Every cast brought a thick, healthy, and colorful rainbow to arms reach.  To most its just a little fish.  To me its a sign of how healthy this lake and this stretch of forest is.  Rainbows are increasingly hard to find in the eastern sierra.  Either squeezed out by Brookies or killed off by forest managers on behalf of the Yellow-Legged frogs and their lawyers from Tuscon, AZ.  I digress.

Virginia Rainbow (oncorhynchus MyKiss)

Virginia Lake

There is this thing on the map called the Tully Hole.  Switchback scribbles on the map that lead down to Fish Creek.  Not sure what to expect.
Wow! my second wow moment this morning.  This valley is huge!  It fills the horizon with every iconic element of the Sierras. Granite, Sky, Water, Forest; Beauty.

After enjoying the walk down to Fish Creek, it was time to climb.  1700' back up to Silver Pass.  Along the way was Squaw and Chief Lakes and life above the timberline.  Atop Silver Pass I could see its namesake Lake below.  The trail stays clear of the lake so I headed about 400 yards off trail to set up my camp near Silver Pass lake and call it a day.

Excellent metal bridge across Fish Creek

Near Squaw Lake

Silver Pass looking south with its Lake in the distance

Daily SPOT Message

Latitude:37.45603
Longitude:-118.92162
GPS location Date/Time:08/05/2013 16:47:39 PDT

Message:Hello, I have reached my campsite for the day. All is well. I will report tomorrow morning.

Click the link below to see where I am located.


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=37.45603,-118.92162&ll=37.45603,-118.92162&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1






Daily SPOT