McGee Creek 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: McGee Creek Trailhead Camp: McGee Creek Campground* *No reservations, first come, first serve Permit (Expiration): Use Code: 153, ID# MLD100013T (8/15/2010) Permit Pick-Up: Special Use Permit is provided in Trip Binder. 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): McGee Creek Trail Type of Trail: Out-and-Back Mileage: 19.92 miles Alternate Routes: No information is available. Feedback is great! Alternate Mileage: No information is available. Feedback is great! Trail Location: Inyo National Forest John Muir Wilderness Mammoth Ranger District Maps: BCM provides USGS&Trails Illustrated Maps: T.I. #809 (Mammoth Lakes/Mono Divide) USGS Mount Abbot USGS Convict Lake Flora/Fauna: The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada Sierra Birds: A Hiker’s Guide by John M Laws Weather Trends: Average High 82 °F / Average Low 40 °F 3 Trail Description Hiking in California 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 Hike six miles up to Big McGee Lake and hike eight miles back out, by hiking up to Steelhead Lake to camp. Summit McGee Pass and Red Mountain, if possible. Details The hike up McGee Creek to Big McGee Lake is only six miles, so a simple out-and-back makes for only 12 miles of backpacking. Try to add more mileage and more challenges by camping at Steelhead Lake or Grass Lake, and by doing some fun day hikes should you arrive at camp early. From Big McGee Lake, a hike up to Crocker Lake might be fun and accessible. Campsite-1 to Scheelore Mine: 4.85 miles Campsite-4 to McGee Pass (McGeeP): 1.06 miles McGee Pass to Red Slate Mountain (Red): 0.84 miles Campsite-4 to Red Slate Mountain (Red): 1.79 miles Campsite-3 to Grass Lake: 0.92 miles Trail Elevation Profile* Elevation Gain:7,240 ft. Min. Elevation:8,137 ft. Elevation Loss:7,240 ft. Max. Elevation:13,050 ft. * The elevation details and corresponding graphic pertain to the main route only—not alternate routes. 5 6 7 Camp Site Information Favorites 1- McGee Creek - UTM 339263E 4153082N 2- Grass Lake (GRASS) - UTM 339400E 4152570N 3- Steelhead Lake (STEEL) - UTM 339807E 4152047N 4- Little McGee Lake (LAKE) - UTM 336454E 4151028N Good Alternative No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Not Recommended No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! 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 There is a nice hike up to Horsetail Falls. A pretty canyon at Convict Lake is located between McGee and Mammoth. Shore fish- ing is also something to be enjoyed. Fishing McGee Creek is running pretty high and is not good for fishing. Stream fishing can be very difficult; fishing is best in lakes. Refer to trail map for corresponding hazards. 9 Hazards There is potential rock fall on the road between McGee Campground and McGee pack station. Raining or high winds can push rocks down on the road. Most campsites provide metal lockers. Animals • Upper eastern Sierra the same animals no food or beverage Poisonous • No information is available. Feedback is appreciated! Plants Weather • Raining and high winds run rampant throughout the Hazards area. Falling rocks (see above). Intense high altitude sun. Watch for dehydration and heat exhaustion. Lightning • Afternoon thunderstorms common. Exposures No Water • Black bears, coyotes, rodents, mosquitoes and ticks. 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 McGee Pass - UTM 335636E 4152166N There are great views from the pass (4 miles round-trip). Red Slate Mountain (RED) - UTM 334761E 4152834N This could be another option. Please assess if the route is safe. Try hiking to the peak from McGee Pass. A meadow above Big McGee Lake from McGee Pass Trail. 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 San Joaquin Valley, 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 Mcgee • Pre-trip teen surveys Creek 1 Camp • Duffle Shuffle • Issue BCM Group Gear • Camp at McGee Creek Campground Camp along McGee Creek or at Grass Lake. Day 2 Camp at Big McGee Lake. Day 3 IN THE Summit McGee Pass and Red Mountain if possi- FIELD Day ble, (5 miles roundtrip). 4 Camp at Big McGee Lake. Camp at Steelhead Lake, (4 miles). Day 5 • Hike Out this morning (4 miles) • Clean gear Camp • Laundry Day High • Showers 6 Sierra- Site 28 • Pick Up Breakfast for Day 7 • 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 wel- come, but 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