A Backpack Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets

Beyond this little fall we found a camp. The fall provided some nice soothing water music to kick back by.

Minaret Creek Basin Camp

A Cross-Country Traverse of the Minarets, August/September 2006

We found a small falls among the trees and headed towards the granite dike next to the meadow, which we followed west into some trees. It was here we found a suitable camp that probably got occasional use. Thank goodness there was no fire-ring, which we and most true backpackers find to be useless and unnecessary most of the time. There was some flat spots that looked like they were used as tent spots, which we gladly occupied.

Looking back up from the west end of the lake meadow, you can see some of the route we came down, starting from the upper right.

We set up camp and filled our water bottles, and then sat down to a slightly late lunch to fill ourselves up. After that it was time to rest after our labors of getting over Nancy Pass. We looked up from our reclining positions back the way we came and marveled that we came down that wall. It looks pretty impressive from a distance.

Near camp we had a handy stream for water. We were careful to stay off the flowers and fragile banks. This also looks towards the low rock ridge we would be crossing some call Dead Horse Pass. This is looking directly towards Dead Horse Lake. The spike on the horizon sits above Minaret Lake.

After a period of relaxation admiring our wild surrounding and listening to the high life around us, I in particular got antsy and wanted to explore the basin. After all, would I ever get a chance to come back to this high altitude Eden (!9320 feet)? I grabbed my water bottle and camera and headed out.