Lower Boy Scout Lake Attempt - 02.16.2024
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Based on what "Eastern Canada" said the other day, I headed back up past the Portal to the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek (MR)...
The tracks were a little bit high approaching 9k, but I followed them anyway...I could see "Split Rock" maybe 75' downslope...Beyond this, I knew I probably would be wasting time staying high...way too much snow to use the North Side Shortcut...I followed the tracks to their highpoint a bit above 9100'...Like I thought, they ran out...I tried crossing over the creek to the south side, but was "playing Tarzan" when the snow dropped out from under me...! I retreated and did not feel like crossing over at the proper spot, but instead, headed down...
When I exited the NF, I headed across the stream (still no tracks) and put in a track down the Old Trail...
Crossed paths with a group of 3 heading for the MR...spent about 5 minutes warning them about the bogus track and advised them that they probably would have to break trail across the stream and then all to way up to LBSL...
Crossed paths with a Lone Pine Resident who stated he hikes the road every day for exercise...surprised I've never run into him before...
A group of 3 women stopped to ask about the conditions up higher...when I said they were still about 2 miles from the Portal, 2 had cringes on the faces...their Leader had lied about the distance from the Turnout...I told them that if they wanted it that short, they'd need to take Doug's Shortcut (they know Doug) straight up from the Turnout...
After getting back to the car, I went for an e-bike ride down Hogback Road (about a mile of snow) and through the Alabama Hills...
What's the Alabama Trail? Kept seeing signs, but somehow managed to lose the trail, so I headed for pavement back to my car...
Here are some photos:
Plenty more pavement showing...
Tracks headed up towards the North Side Wall...
Dead End...I tried to cross over, but almost went into the creek...
Looking back at the North Fork crossing...
The JM Wilderness Boundary...
You could head past the gate to the first wide section of dirt on the right, but I'd only save you about 5 minutes of walking...
I expected to see quite a few more cars...this being a 4-day weekend for a lot of people...
HS (Weatherman out of Bishop/Mammoth) said there might be 2' of snow down to 6500' by Tuesday...