Big Pine Lakes 2021
Contact Pass pond to Brainerd Lake
Monday, August 30, 2021
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A
challenging hike down valley, with sections of talus, and a section
through forest. Once on the trail things got easier. We had
originally planned to camp at Finger Lake, but decided instead to leave
our packs at Brainerd Lake and day hike up to see Finger Lake.
Back at Brainerd Lake, we enjoyed pikas running around in rocks below
our campsite.
Journal Entry: Nice camp, not too cold, mostly above 50F all night. Started walking at 8:30. First section down talus, then some easier terrain mixed with talus sections. Switched to the south side of the creek after the meadow and found a ducked use trail through thick forest, up and down a lot. Finally came to wider area with sparser trees. Continued to find the trail to Brainerd Lake, and followed it up to the lake. Decided not to camp at Finger Lake but just do a day hike there instead. Picked a campsite at Brainerd and left our packs there, headed up to Finger Lake around 2:30. Easier than expected as there is a good use trail avoiding most of the talus. Beautiful turquoise lake, lots of campsites there, but empty. Got back to camp at Brainerd around 4:15. Beautiful weather and no smoke! Saw only one person all day.
 Mt. Sill and Mt. Gayley in morning light |
 Mt. Sill over the pond |
 Temple Crag and Contact Pass |  view back up toward last night's campsite |
 view down valley |  creek and view down valley |
 Mt. Gayley and Temple Crag up valley |  Mt. Jepson, Sill, Gayley in the distance |
 Brainerd Lake outlet creek |  Willow Lake |
 terrain near Brainerd Lake, The Thumb and Middle Palisade |  Brainerd Lake |
 talus field to Finger Lake |  Brainerd Lake from talus field |
 Brainerd Lake from above |  turquoise Finger Lake |
 Finger Lake and Sierra Crest |  zoom on Finger Lake |
 Finger Lake view north |  Finger Lake outlet creek canyon |
 pika at our Brainerd Lake campsite | |