Agnew Meadows BCM Course Area Guide Backcountry

Trip Code ______Team Leader ______

Table of Contents

Trail Summary ...... 3

Trail Information ...... 3

Trail Description ...... 4

Route Description...... 5

Trail Distances ...... 5

Trail Elevation Profile ...... 5 Map ...... 6 Key to Trail Map...... 8

Camp Site Information ...... 8

Map Legend ...... 9

Hazards ...... 9

Recommended Destinations ...... 10

Fishing ...... 10

Summits ...... 11 Daily Outline ...... 12 Curriculum Checklist ...... 13 Team Leader Recommendations ...... 14

Team Leader Comments ...... 14

Team Leader Feedback Form ...... 15 Emergency Information ...... 16 BCM Phone Numbers ...... 16

2

Trail Information

Trailhead Name: Agnew Meadows Trailhead Camp: Agnew Meadows Campground* Minerat Falls Campground *No reservations, first come, first serve

Permit (Expiration): Use Code: 153, ID# MLD100013T (8/15/2010) Special Use Permit is provided in Trip Binder. Permit Pick-Up: Mammoth Ranger Station

Wilderness Permit: Please see the ‘Permits-Inyo’ page in your Team Leader Binder for wilderness permit and pick-up information. Permit Pick-Up: Please see above.

Trail Name(s): National Scenic Trail Trail

Type of Trail: Loop Mileage: 18.88 miles

Alternate Routes: Yes; Thousand Island Lake Summit Alternate Mileage: 15.54 miles

Trail Location: Mammoth Ranger District

Maps: BCM provides USGS Maps: USGS Mammoth Mtn USGS Mt Ritter

Flora/Fauna: The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Birds: A Hiker’s Guide by John M Laws

Weather Trends: Average High 80 °F / Average Low 40 °F

3

Trail Description Hiking in is dry and fast. Beautiful granite slabs make for an easier terrain, great picnic areas and flat, smooth campsites. Expect to hike through pine forests and fields of Manzanita brush. Manzanita, which literally means "little apple" in Spanish, is charac- terized by orange or red bark and twisting branches. Sometimes Manzanita grow to the height of small trees.

The mountain ranges of California are known for their excellent light quality, referred to as alpenglow. When the sun is just below the horizon, a red glow can sometimes be seen on the opposite horizon. Look for alpenglow after sunset or before sunrise, when there is no direct sunlight. Instead, light reflects off airborne snow, water, or ice particles low in the atmosphere. At any time of day, the views above tree line are stunning.

During wildflower season, late spring through early summer, expect lots of lupins, paintbrush, columbine, and California poppies. Watch for marmots and pikas--they are everywhere.

4

Route Description Overview Start at Agnew Meadows and make your northwestern loop journey up to Carson Peak or Emerald Lake.

Details Agnew Meadows is the start of this loop. Go NW to Shadow Lake. Head up north to Altha Lake. Most groups will continue to Badger Lake and summit at Carson Peak. Go NE and at Middle Fork, NW to Badger Lakes. Summit at Carson Peak for stronger groups.

Other groups can summit at Thousand Island Lake. Stay two nights at Altha Lake. From Altha Lake go west on the , then NW past Ruby and Emerald Lakes. Beyond Emerald Lake is the summit.

Altha Lake (ALTHA)-Campsite 2 to Thousand Lakes: 2.14 miles Badger Lakes (BAD)-Campsite 3 to Carson's Peak: 2.81 miles

Trail Elevation Profile* Elevation Gain:4,996 ft. Min. Elevation:8,352 ft. Elevation Loss:4,961 ft. Max. Elevation:11,800 ft.

* The elevation details and corresponding graphic pertain to the main route only—not alternate routes. 5

6

7

Camp Site Information Favorites 1- Shadow Lake (SHADOW) - UTM 311637E 4174007N Camping is prohibited within 300 ft. of Shadow Lake & between Shadow Creek and the trail from Shadow Lake inlet to the creek crossing below Lake Ediza.

2- Altha Lake (ALTHA) - UTM 310833E 4176275N No camping within 1/4 mile of the outlet of either Garnet Lake or Thousand Island Lake.

3- Badger Lakes (BAD) - UTM 310512E 4177881N Camp at Badger Lakes for two nights if you plan to summit Carson Peak.

4- (SAN) - UTM 312408E 4175740N Camp along San Joaquin River.

Good Alternative No information available. Feedback welcome!

Not Recommended No information available. Feedback welcome!

Refer to trail map for corresponding numbered campsites. 8

Map Legend

Campsites (Not all sites are recommended.) Kitchen area Reported Water Source (River, Pond, Creek, Spring) Portages Point of Interest Hazards Fishing Main Route --- Alternate Routes

Points of Interest No information available. Feedback welcome!

Fishing San Joaquin River is a good place to go fishing. Please provide feedback for better places if you encounter any!

Refer to trail map for corresponding hazards. 9

Hazards

No information available. Feedback would be super! Animals • Black Bears, coyotes, rodents, mosquitoes and ticks. Poisonous • No Poison Oak or Ivy. Plants Weather • Intense high altitude sun. Watch for dehydration and Hazards heat exhaustion. Afternoon thunderstorms common. Lightning • In July, there are frequently afternoon thunderstorms. Exposures No Water • No information available. Feedback would be great! Between

Scree • Loose talus. Watch for rock fall and shifting rocks. Slopes Early season creeks may not be crossable.

Refer to trail map for corresponding locations. 10

Summit Carson Peak (CARSON) UTM-312876E 4179893N Carson Peak is the suggested summit for stronger groups from Badger Lakes - Camp 3 on Day 4 or 5.

Thousand Island Lake (THLAKE) UTM- 308739E 4177825N Thousand Island Lake is the suggested summit day for other groups on Day 4 from Altha Lake -Camp 2. Mt. Banner is seen in the image behind Thousand Island Lake. From Altha Lake go west on the John Muir Trail, then NW past Ruby and Emerald Lakes. Beyond Emerald Lake is the suggested summit.

Stronger groups can go NE and at Middle Fork, NW to Badger Lakes for camp.

This is a taste of what you will see while traveling around Thousand Island Lake.

Refer to trail map for corresponding locations. 11

Area History These trails travel through national forest and a wilderness area, both public lands, owned by the federal U.S. government and pro- tected from private commerical development, but for different pur- poses. The initial and continued mission of the National Forest Ser- vice, established in 1905 (within the Department of Agriculture), is: "...the greatest good of the greatest number of people in the long run.” Focused on conservation, timber and mineral deposits are managed in a manner similar to agriculture or farmed crops.

Wilderness Areas were established with preservation in mind. The Congressional Wilderness Act of 1964 was approved to “secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness.” As such, Wilderness desig- nation protects the area from roads, logging, oil and gas drilling, and any commercial enterprises. In part, to retain the quiet, motorized and mechanical vehicles and motorized equipment are not allowed.

Local Environment The Sierra Nevada Mountains are an uplifted, tilted block of granite 400 miles long by 100 miles wide; the result of fault-line tectonic plate activity. Subsequent erosion, due to streams and glaciers, carved out U-shaped valleys, lakes, rugged peaks and cliffs. Sedi- ment fills lakes creating meadows. There are several threats to the natural condition of the Sierras: air pollution, light pollution, and global warming, evident in the thinning snowpacks. Stray light, particularly from , bright- ens the night sky. Darkness allows vistors views of the stars, while nocturnal animals depend on darkness to hunt, conceal their loca- tion, navigate, and reproduce. Artificial light can disrupt plant cycles.

12

Daily Outline Recommendations • Expedition Preparation and Planning

• Meet at BCM Office • Issue Individual Gear Day Agnew • Pre-trip teen surveys Meado 1 Camp • Duffle Shuffle • Issue BCM Group Gear • Camp at Agnew Meadows Campground Camp at Shadow Lake: 3.34 miles Day 2 Head west following the John Muir Trail. This trail dips south and then heads north. Keep going until Day you reach Garnet Lake. Camp east of the lake at 3 Altha Lake: 3.14 miles. Stonger groups may choose to continue (another 3 miles) to Badger Lakes. Other groups: summit at Thousand Island Lake IN from Altha Lake. Day THE

4 FIELD Stronger groups: go NE and at Middle Fork, NW to Badger Lakes for camp. Other groups: go NE to Middle Fork and traverse the land eastward over the San Joaquin River (SJR). Hike southeast to reach the final campsite Day along the SJR: 2.11 miles. 5 Stonger groups: From Badger Lake, summit at Carson Peak: 18.88 miles. If group summited yes- terday, go on to the final site at SJR for camp. • Hike out this morning (SE - 3.26 miles from SJR Camp Camp or 5.57 miles from Badger Lakes) Day High • Clean gear / Laundry / Showers 6 Sierra- • Pick Up Breakfast for Day 7 Site 28 • Evaluations & Surveys (D/A Profile) • Celebration Dinner • Call office with ETA • Coordinate with Youth Leader for how to get Day HOME teens home. 7 • Team Leader debrief with RPM (volunteers not required to join.)

13

Curriculum Checklist

Day 1 Lessons Welcome Lost & Alone Introductions & Ice Breaker Camp Craft 101 Expectations LNT Policies Group Travel 7-Day Overview Food Waste Disposal Campsite Selection Day 2 Health & Hygiene 201 Trust Activity Cat-Holes Policies Review Pack Packing Food Protection Daily Activities Water Treatment Quote of the Day Lightning Safety Reflection Roundtable Journaling

Outcomes Set expectations, roles & responsibilities. Establish structure & daily routine. Build Trust. Establish common understanding of trip purpose. Reflect on physical and emotional stresses. Understand one is capable of overcoming & learning from chal- lenges. Work as a team to overcome challenges. Support and encourage each other to overcome challenges. Peak hike: overcome challenges, reflect, and learn from experi- ences. Celebrate achievement. Create Meaning: How did we overcome challenges? Create Meaning: What are our strengths and weaknesses? Create Meaning: How do we transfer what we have learned home? Setting individual goals for the future. Record learning and achievement in something tactile that teens can take home with them as a reminder of their experience.

14

Team Leader Comments

This area will be used for free form comments from Team Leaders to future Team Leaders. Please use the Field Journal for feed- back and comments.

15

Emergency Information

Location Base Camp Backcountry (On-Trail)

Mammoth Hospital 85 Sierra Park Rd Hospital Mammoth Lakes, CA 760-934-3311

911 Services? Yes Mammoth Ranger Station 2500 Main St Local Contact Mammoth Lakes, CA 760.924.5500 Cell Phone Cov- No erage? BCM Phone Numbers

Emergency Phone Number 800.208.2483 If an emergency arises on trip that needs immediate assistance, call the emergency number first to reach a BCM staff member. If you do not receive a return call within 20 minutes, refer to the emergency contact sheet you received at the beginning of your trip or directly reach out to BCM staff. Regional BCM office numbers are listed below.

Denver Office 303.271.9200

Chicago Office 847.636.0422 (cell)

Pacific NW Office 310.871.7557 (cell)

San Francisco Office 510.457.5743 (cell)

Additional Emergency Information: Inyo National Forest, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200, Bishop, CA, 760.873.2400

Cell Phone Coverage: No information available. Feedback welcome!

16