A Short Trip in the Pioneer Basin Area

Dave walks alongside aspens and other bush as we begin to pull above the entrance to "First Recess".

First Recess

A Pioneer Basin Trip from Edison Lake, June 2003

The trail began to do a bit of steady gaining as we neared the First Recess. Theodore Solomons discovered and named the four "Recesses", or glacier canyons, of Mono Creek canyon. This part of the Sierra is very unique because of the deep canyon and its multitude of attractive hanging valleys and deep "Recesses". It is these features, along with a stunning array of peaks, that makes this trip so worthwhile.

Looking from the trail towards First Recess over the buttress guarding  the entrance to the canyon. Is that Mt. Gabb (13711 feet) back there?

Things were beginning to improve, view-wise, although I had nothing to complain about. I was really enjoying the long straight-ahead walk with its suddenly stunning views along the way.

The view up the First Recess was somewhat limited due to trees and the huge granite lip of the canyon that ate into the view of the "Recess". There was a huge granite piramid on the right side of the "Recess" with a jagged peak just behind it. Very interesting and it invited exploring, although I heard one has to contend with a bit of bush-wacking to get into the Recess proper. I saw no trail going into First Recess.

Another look at the sheer south wall of the canyon of Mono Creek. John Muir would call this canyon a yosemite, with a small "y", to explain what type of canyon this is.

As we began to pass First Recess, the trail began to climb through exposed bushy landscape, and began to be taxing for the first time. Looking back towards the Recess at one point rewarded me with a breath-taking view of "First Recess" and the jagged white granite peaks and walls around it.