A Backpack to the Remote Lyell Fork of the Merced River

Vogelsang Pass as seen from about halfway up the trail to Bernice Lake. From the pass, the trail traverses to the right over to the green and wooded gully, then plunges downward.

Bernice and Gallison Lakes

A Trail and Cross-Country Route to the Lyell Fork, July 2007

Bernice and Gallison Lakes Detour

On one of my attempts at this trip I had the occasion to stay the night at Bernice Lake after crossing the pass from my Vogelsang camp near Fletcher Lake. If you were to start in the Vogelsang area and hike to Bernice Lake, you could get there well before noon and have plenty of time to explore all of the lakes of the Bernice Lake area, which is exactly what I did one trip. So, let me show you what would be in store for you if you decided to do this trip as well.

This is a very worthwhile stop or trip on its own for anybody. It would be an excellent trip for an advanced beginner or intermediate that really wanted to try out going somewhere really remote on a three-day trip. The rewards of this trip so far I have already outlined, but these lakes would really be a topper.

The trail to Bernice Lake is a true wilderness trail, and when I did it, it looked like it had not been maintained in years. Faint in places, it was not hard to follow despite its rough shape. The steep nature of the trail encourages the hiker to stop and take in the ever-widening views. About half way up you have an excellent view of Vogelsang Pass and the wooded gully the trail marches down (or up). The trail to Bernice Lake is about a 400-foot climb, but not particularly difficult unless you are knockdown tired. At about 10,000 feet, the trail mounts a broad bench, which it traverses a fair ways before hauling up hill to the lake.

Once at Bernice Lake and looking to the right early morning, the lake might be lost in a mirror-like reflection.