Mosquito Flat to Mono Creek

The first sound of the first day of our backpack trip was the trilling of our travel alarm. Little light was trickling in through our bedroom's western window, though a clear day was dawning outside, and it was a little difficult to roll out of our warm bed, fully aware this was the last time we'd be enjoy such a luxury for the next five nights. Nevertheless, we wrenched ourselves up and hurriedly got dressed and ready. Soon we were out the door with Grandpa (who generously provided us a lift) to pick up my Dad's old backpacking friend Joe Profita at the McGee Creek trailhead. Joe was going to have to leave the back country earlier than us, so he was going to leave his truck at McGee and hike to it on his last day. We'd keep going for two more days than him and end up at the cabin, again.

Libby at the McGee Creek parking lot. McGee Pass is about 8 miles from here, and around 12,000'.
http://flickr.com/photos/rowleypics/2712139821/in/set-72157606436811560/

We picked him up without any trouble, and the sticky breakfast he provided from a Bishop bakery, and headed off to Rock Creek's canyon. We arrived at Mosquito Flat Campground - Mono Pass's trailhead - around 8:00, used the bathroom and tightened our hip belts. Snap! My belt's clip went flying through the air onto the parking lot's pavement.

OK, we wondered, what do we do, now? Joe had an extra clip in his truck, but that was an hour's round trip. None of us were carrying any extra hip belt clips, either. We spent half-an-hour trying different solutions until we set on a strap of Joe's that I could use to strap shut my clip. It took a lot longer to get my pack on and off every stop, but it worked perfectly in keeping my hip belt tight - which is the most important part of your backpack.

Grandpa took an obligatory pre-trip happy photo at Mosquito Flat.
http://flickr.com/photos/rowleypics/2712140831/in/set-72157606436811560/

Finally, after the fuss, we set off for Mono Pass. We climbed up and out of the trees, through a few last tall Lodgepoles before entering the world of stunted Whitebark Pines. Amazing vistas opened up before us as we climbed slowly but steadily higher, providing needed consolation for our already sore shoulders, hips, and lungs. It took us about 3 hours to do 3 miles and more than 2,000' of elevation gain. About two miles in, we figured out Libby was carrying too much weight, so Dad graciously took her bear can for the rest of the trip, and we spread out a few of her other things to get her up the pass more comfortably. As we climbed, Clark's Nutcrackers became more common, and as we climbed into the pass's lower opening we saw the first of the many, many Gray-crowned Rosy Finches that populate the higher elevation areas of the Sierras.

One of the amazing vistas from above Ruby Lake, below Mono Pass.
http://flickr.com/photos/rowleypics/2712146339/in/set-72157606436811560/

Mono Pass is basically a desert, a flat low point on the crest filled with crushed granite gravel (the result of many harsh freezes and thaws over the years) and scarce scattered grasses and flowers - none of which reach higher than a few inches. We had lunch overlooking Summit Lake, and then began the long descent - equal in length and elevation to our morning's ascent - to Mono Creek. The long downward slog is hard on your feet, but easy on your lungs, and we eventually found a campsite down under the shadow of Mono Rock.

Mono Rock
http://flickr.com/photos/rowleypics/2712161803/in/set-72157606436811560/

It was the only night we spent under 10,000', which meant that we could have a fire. It was relaxing to soak our feet in the creek and sit next to the fire, watching the light dim on Mono Rock while bats flicked around the sky. That night, Libby and I slept well. We knew we had a long way to go the next day.

I've put all the pictures from the first day up onto Flickr, and you can access them by clicking here: Backpack Day 1.