The Ottoway Lakes Loop

Red Peak above a true tarn. Note the two streaks of white granite rock-fall amid all the red rock.

Many Switchbacks

The Ottoway Lakes Loop, September 2004

After a pleasant rest and refreshments, I was ready to bid a fond farewell to Yosemite's highest trail pass. With luck, I may see it again.

Shouldering my pack, I hit the trail. The first thing I noticed (besides the remains of fresh snow dumped a few days before), was the trail builders had built a reroute. I could not find a thing wrong with the intact and usable old section except maybe to guess that the old section lingered too long in snow early season. Whatever.

This is looking back at Red Peak Pass (a little left of mid-horizon) over one of the small pools seen in previous pictures.

The trail zigzagged moderately downward in gray rock, losing altitude quickly. Once the trail reached mixed red rock, the trail conditions took a turn for the worse. For the next mile to 10,100 feet the trail was a mixed bag of rocky bins, high steps, eroded tread and mainly poor to fair trail conditions. Often it was far better to walk next to the trail on slab pavements rather than remain in the treacherous rock filled ruts. It took a while, but gradually good views revealed themselves and mitigated the tedious and sometimes tricky trail. Despite some reports, the trail was never in question or hard to follow. It was just not in great condition.