Wilderness50

September 2, 2014

Destination: Little Lakes Valley, John Muir Wilderness

Cost: Gas only

It’s hard to imagine that before 1964 the U.S. did not have any designated wilderness areas.  On September 3 of that year, Congress crafted a bill – signed by President Lyndon Johnson - which protected 9.1 million acres of pristine lands across our country. We were the first nation to introduce this kind of legislation, but certainly not the last. In ensuing years, an additional 100 million acres have been protected as wilderness. September 3rd marked the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Wilderness Act and there are myriad celebrations marking this astounding achievement.  

My party was pretty small. It involved me hiking into the John Muir Wilderness (one of the original designated areas) and visiting Little Lakes Valley, one of my favorite spots in the Eastern Sierra, just south of Mammoth Lakes.  The Mosquito Flat trailhead is reached by taking Rock Creek Road west from Highway 395 and following it past Rock Creek Lake to the end of the road. This is a famous fall color corridor on the Eastside, and the aspens were already showing hints of gold after an uncommonly early spring. Since it's a popular hiking spot, finding a parking place can be troublesome in the summertime. Since I went the day after Labor Day, I had no problem – other than delays getting to the trailhead due to road work. 

The trail leads gently, but steadily uphill with Rock Creek on the left.  The path continues through this stunning alpine valley touching upon one lake after another – Mack Lake, Marsh Lake, Heart Lake, Box Lake, Long Lake and Chickenfoot. The main trail continues to Morgan Pass or a side trail leads up to Ruby Lake. There’s astounding scenery in every direction and many more lakes off the main trails. I have hiked this valley at least 10 times and have only scratched the surface.

On this warm and mosquito-free September afternoon, with limited time, I only made it as far as Heart Lake, where I found a spot on the grassy shore and enjoyed an impromptu picnic. I basked in the sunshine for a while, enjoyed the sparkly reflections on the crystal clear water, and in honor of the Wilderness Act, cleaned up a bunch of sunflower seed shells left by an ignorant tourist. 

My time was limited, since I was attending a Sierra Club houseparty celebrating this important anniversary. It featured a Google Hangout with the Club’s Executive Director, Michael Brune, a discussion of ways to encourage our youth to care about these special places, and an advance showing of the Smithsonian Channel’s Aerial America – highlighting wilderness. A fitting day spent marking an important occasion.