This is such a serene place; it’s been a trail that I’ve been wanting to hike for a long time. After you reach Sam Mack Meadow, follow the good trail for about 8 miles past 3rd, 2nd and 1st lakes down to Glacier Lodge where your car will be waiting. I checked it out on Google map and I could trace it well. It came to pass that he visited us every day we were there. I realize now I did not take many photos. It was about 2 pm when we started back—later than I had wanted it to be. I hadn’t noticed before that the stream running through the middle contained the same turquoise-colored water as the first three lakes. We set up camp and had an afternoon of unmitigated relaxation: we soaked our feet in the frigid waters of the creek, read, napped, and explored the perimeter of the meadow. Sam Mack Meadow: The meadow: The meadow: The meadow (inverted reality) The meadow (inverted reality) There are two ways to reach Mt Winchell from Sam Mack Meadow: the classical (longer) route to the east and the direct (shorter) route. Sam Mack Meadow, CA Latitude: 37.118544 Longitude: -118.5059395 County: Inyo Area: North Palisade Elevation: 3366 meters - 11043 feet. As you … Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Long regarded as one of the premier alpine meadows in California, Sam Mack Meadow is a beautiful spot, with a wide stream, and ample expanses to admire the high peaks of the region from. This is a nice spot to stop and relax a bit, which ended up being exactly what we did once we saw what the remainder of the Glacier Trail was like. Pictures of the Big Pine Lakes, California: Stream and melting snow in Sam Mack Meadow, along the trail to Palisade Glacier I found it fairly quickly, although there have been folks who have been unsuccessful. Sam Mack Meadow, 8.13.07. We had calm and clear weather overnight. I’d guess low 50’s overnight. We could not see it from the meadow. It was incredibly windy once I reached the meadow, but the views were spectacular. The incredibly gorgeous Sam Mack Meadow. Our water source in Sam Mack Meadow, 8.13.07. We were about 20 minutes from our turnaround time when we arrived at the meadow, so we dropped our packs to see how much further we could make it. On trips where I’m not carrying a pump filter for the group, this will be my go-to filtering system. The area is in the shadow of the Palisades, a series of 14K ft peaks, and just below the Palisades Glacier, the largest glacier in the Sierras. See more. With the busy schedules of everyone in the group, this wasn’t possible: The hike was reminiscent of a cool New England morning in many ways – cold, crisp air, ice on the trail and aspens showing their fall colors. On Friday July 22, 2011, I headed up the N. Fork Big Pine Creek starting in the overnight parking area and went as far as Sam Mack Meadow. The hike to Sam Mack Meadow — a great spot to shoot for and use as a turnaround point — can be done in six or seven hours and has an elevation gain of 3,438 feet from the trailhead at 7,120 feet. Hiking on the glacier was fairly good; hard in the early morning; soft later with some postholing. Outhouse and foundation near Lon Chaney cabin. Only the most adventurous and experienced may continue on to climb steeply over talus, boulders, and slabs to reach an overlook of the Palisade Glacier. July 14-18, 2016 The Palisades: Sam Mack Meadow to Dusy Basin via Agassiz Col (NOT Apline!) We arrived at Sam Mack Meadow around 3:30PM and found several relatively protected campsites in the pines on the north side of Sam Mack Meadow, near where the trail crosses the stream. Wow, that lake is beautiful! There were mosquitos, mostly at dusk, and not as many as I thought there would be. Sam Mack Meadow is a plain in Inyo County and has an elevation of 11,043 feet. The last part of the trail takes you up past rushing water spilling over the meadow’s lip. It reminded me to … I just want you to know how jealous I am! I think it’s one of the most beautiful areas I’ve ever hiked. Protection A few nuts and cams to build anchors at Thunderbolt and Starlight. Then on Sunday I backpacked out from Sam Mack Meadow. Pretty good, although pricier than we usually do. Temple Crag. We hiked until we had a nice view of Lakes 1-3, took some photos, then started our descent. The trail crosses the North Fork here in the middle of a meadow with a fantastic view of Temple Crag. From the meadow, the tips of the Palisade peaks are visible. Sorry about the many questions – thought I’d get the right answers from someone who’s been there I read that you don’t need permit for a dayhike. Anyone who is interested in visiting Sam Mack Meadow can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. The SCREWPOP® – TETHER™ piqued my interest in their company. An eclectic blend of family, technology, and outdoor activities. Sam Mack Meadow is also the last place where climbers can … I have been looking at key organizers... I’ve been using a front pocket/minimalist wallet since 2015 . From Third Lake, the trail climbed steeply to the meadow. Sam Mack Meadow itself was largely snow-covered, but there was a large snow-free patch in the middle that was bare ground. Sam Mack Meadow is covered by the North Palisade, CA US Topo Map quadrant The grass wasn’t quite as green as I expected, but the abundance of wildflowers made up for that. The ‘new style’ of minimalist wallets made out of metal, carbon fiber and other materials... Several times per week, I need something to open a box or package. Stream in Sam Mack Meadow, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA by Russ Bishop canvas art print arrives ready to hang, with hanging accessories included and no … Sam Mack Meadow is one of the prettiest little meadows I've seen in the Sierras, made even more beautiful by the glacial stream running through the middle This picture is taken right when you crest the ridge into the meadow. Going up the longer route from the meadow. It is a tad steep but not as much if you continue on to the glacier. Sam Mack Meadow (elevation 11,100 feet) is the usual camping area for the Palisades. This was where we pitched our tent. Sam Mack Meadow is close to Sam Mack Lake. And how many times has a cache been “just half a mile” or “just 500 feet” away…. North Palisade Approach through Sam Mack Meadow and across the Palisade Glacier The Approach to North Palisade - starts with the North Fork of Big Pine Creek trailhead, and works up dry slopes and a long traverse above the north fork canyon, until it reaches a pine forest at … Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. A light rope. I was just too occupied with getting us up the trail to the meadow. Temps 70s during the day and 41-deg at night. Note that the lighter color layers on top of the V are not tilted, … We climbed moderate snow slopes to what appeared to the snow-clad terminal moraine of the Palisade Glacier. Sam Mack Meadow: Land: 0.4 mi: Aperture Peak: Land: 1.0 mi: Mount Winchell: Land: 1.1 mi: Palisade Glacier: Water: 1.1 mi: Historical Weather. We got back into Bishop around 7 pm, and were starving. The temps were warmer than I expected. But that altitude can be brutal. We were about 20 minutes from our turnaround time when we arrived at the meadow, so we dropped our packs to see how much further we could make it. Taken along the hike to the Palisade Glacier. The trail turns left 50 meters into the meadow, crosses the creek and ascends the ridge. Very warm and comfortable shirt. Whitney trip. I’d like to go back and climb just a bit farther to get a good view of the glacier. Once we reached the glacier trail, we headed down it towards the Sam Mack meadow. On the edge of the meadow is a geocache with a particular difficulty and terrain rating that I need for a geocaching challenge I am working on. Sam Mack Meadow is in the Flats category for Inyo County in the state of California. When we started our hike, it was below freezing and I was comfortable wearing this shirt along with shorts, a tank top, lights gloves and a beanie. Ice axe and/or crampons for the L-shaped Couloir. Current conditions at Bishop, Bishop Airport (KBIH) Lat: 37.37111°NLon: 118.35806°WElev: 4121ft. It’s not a particularly easy hike, and I had originally planned on going alone. The trail climbs up a canyon and reaches an enchanting place, Sam Mack Meadow (3280m), completely surrounded by mountains and waterfalls (3.5 hours into the hike). Owner Log In. Camped at Sam Mack Meadow for the 1st and 2nd nights, and between 4th and 5th lake on the 3rd night. Would you also have any idea whether it’ll be too hot out there for a day hike of the loop in July? Sam Mack Meadow from above.. Buy Photo. Sam Mack Meadow is displayed on the North Palisade USGS quad topo map. #ThrowbackThursday – It has been too long since my last Mt. Whitney to Whitney Portal, 3:00 AM – Tear down camp, drive to the trailhead, 10:15 AM – Time to turn around (made it to ~11,200), 2:15 PM – Back @ car, start the drive home. After we arrived at the junction for the glacier trail, we decided to hike towards Sam Mack Meadow. We went right to Whiskey Creek for a meat and potatoes dinner. With the photo ops along the way, the descent took longer than I had expected and we started our drive home about 45 minutes later than planned. Buy Photos.
. Reference Location: Sam Mack Meadow, CA. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Beautiful high country back there Today our hiking led us up the north fork of Big Pine Creek to Sam Mack Meadow. Sierra Nevada mtns. Here the water has a turquoise tint that shows up in lakes downstream due to glacial grinding of the rocks. Besides, climbing out of that hole every morning to reach the glacier is a real P.I.T.A. Third Lake (I think) with glacial melt water. However, I don’t care for that spot. On Sunday July 23, 2011, I climbed Mount Sill via the North Couloir (L-Shaped Snowfield). The hike to Lakes 1-3 went quickly. A little over 22 miles with about 7000' elevation gain/loss counting all the ups and downs. Summit . North Fork of Big Pine Creek (Lakes 1-3, Sam Mack Meadow and Beyond) || Distance: 15.5 mi || Duration: ~9 hours || Gain/Loss: ±4,300′ || Net Elevation Gain (at Max Elevation): +3,400′ || Max Elevation: 11,200′ || Difficulty: Moderate. If planning this trip under ideal circumstances, I’d want a block of time that was at least 36 hours long. These will get a ton of use once snow starts to fly. Read More. A syncline is where tilted layers of rock meet in a V (the reverse of this is an anticline). The latitude and longitude coordinates of Sam Mack Meadow are 37.118544, -118.5059395 and the approximate … I know I’ve had it suck the energy right out of me a few times in the past, sometimes more than others. Below are weather averages from 1971 to 2000 according to data gathered from the nearest official weather station. After we arrived at the junction for the glacier trail, we decided to hike towards Sam Mack Meadow. Sam Mack Meadow. It’s all incredibly scenic, and I was surprised by the turquoise lakes fed by glacial melt water—very pretty. Camped at Sam Mack Meadow for the 1st and 2nd nights, and between 4th and 5th lake on the 3rd night. It looks so beautiful!!! Sam Mack Meadow was covered with snow; we camped at a good protected spot in the small saddle about 500 feet above and SE of the meadow. With a busy schedule, I’ve had to do some crazy things to see all that I have over the last few weeks. However, the park service said the body is believed to be that of Thomas Fennessy, who was last seen Wednesday at Sam Mack Meadow in Inyo National Forest. Temperature on the glacier near sunrise probably in 20's., but warm in the afternoon. This trip to the North Fork of Big Pine Creek was no exception. Bravo for Karen. We discussed her waiting for me at the bottom of the climb, but that was more disagreeable than the effort of hiking on. Along the way you get the most spectacular view of the Lakes 1-3. That’s another reason to return—to capture the beauty in photographs. For three miles of hiking!? Did you have any trouble following the trail? Even on our hikes along Rock Creek (over 10,000 ft elevation), she usually walks ahead of me. Sam Mack Meadow is too small and too fragile to handle the load, in my opinion. After the meadow, the trail climbs steeply in switchbacks, partially rocky, and then into Sam Mack Meadow above 11,000'. Even though I told her the GPS said the cache was less than 0.5 miles away, I’m sure she felt the climb was never going to end. Sam Mack Meadow reminds me of "Shangri-La" in James … With the pressurized bladder, pulling water through the filter was easy. On regular walks, Karen’s natural pace is faster than mine. High Sierra: North Fork Big Pine Creek: Sam Mack Meadows: High Glacier Camp: Palisade Glacier: Palisades: Mount Sill: Swiss Arete With this in mind, I mapped out several potential routes and planned to make a final decision while we were on the trail. Since this was my first long hike with this group, as well as the first time that many of them would hike above 9,000 feet, I didn’t know what to expect in terms of how much territory we would be able to cover. Cooking dinner on the granite picnic table. I’m sure Karen was hurting, but we made it back to the trailhead by 6 pm. Approach shoes, and rock shoes for whoever gets to lead the summit block of Thunderbolt. While Karen cooled her feet in the stream (right off the glacier), I hunted for the cache. Thanks! Could you please tell me if the trail signs are up and if the trail is easy to spot. Me snoozing at right. Trip extensions include a side trip to Sam Mack Meadow and the Palisade Glacier via the Glacier Trail. Overview: Map: Photo Map: Satellite: Directions: Overview: Map: Photo Map: Satellite: Directions: Overview: Map: Photo Map: Satellite: Directions: Notable Places in the Area. She says she will never do another hike like that, but she really had a lot of perseverance to push through her tiredness and discomfort. By the time we got to First, Second, and Third Lake, she was tired. We are not sure if she was just having a bad day, or if the steeper climbing was a factor. © 2020 Hiking Photos, Trip Reports, Trail Info and Gear Reviews, Alpenglow Design LLC, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Darn Tough Merino Wool Mountaineering Extra Cushion Sock, HST, Day 1 – Crescent Meadow to Bearpaw Meadow Camp, HST, Day 2 – Bearpaw Meadow to Precipice Lake, HST, Day 3 – Precipice Lake to Kern Hot Springs, HST, Day 4 – Kern Hot Springs to Hidden Packer Camp, HST, Day 5 – Hidden Packer Camp to (just above) Guitar Lake, HST, Day 6 – Guitar Lake to Mt. Area: 18.1 mile - 29.1 km radius. Fennessy's goal … Today, however, she was slower. 2006 Hiking Adventures; Big Pines / 7-lakes area, Aug 4-7, 2006. Thank you for the beautiful photos and the description. As seen from the trail to the Palisade Glacier up the North Fork of Big Pine Creek, CA. We hiked until we had a nice view of Lakes 1-3, took some photos, then started our descent. The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) publishes a set of the most commonly used topographic maps of the U.S. called US Topo that are separated into rectangular quadrants that are printed at 22.75"x29" or larger. Sam Mack Meadow looking towards the Palisade Crest. Ideally used in cold weather, but since my backpacking boots are sized for heavy socks, I used them on this hike. Buy Photo. The next morning, we got a slightly late start (7:15 am). Earlier this year, I made a mental list of the alpine lakes, mountain passes and peaks that I wanted to visit before leaving California. Even when I carry a pump filter, I plan to carry the Geigerrig filter as a backup. Sam Mack Meadow is beautiful with a wide stream running through it and wildflowers are blooming. Mack the Marmot also introduced himself to us. 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