Camping Peanut Style LbNA #75733
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | Baby Bear  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Aug 23, 2021 |
| Location: | Barney Lake |
| City: | Mammoth Lakes |
| County: | Mono |
| State: | California |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Not yet found! |
|---|---|
| Last found: | N/A |
| Last edited: | Sep 1, 2021 |
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: About 5 miles round trip
Nice hike to multiple lakes. Barney Lake is just before climb to Duck Pass.
Directions:
Head west on Highway 203 (Main Street). Main Street changes its name to Lake Mary Road at the intersection with Minaret Road. Follow the Lake Mary Road for 3.6 miles to a fork just before Lake Mary. Bear left at the fork, following the signs for the Coldwater Campground. (The road travels around the east side of the lake.) Turn left at the Campground, 0.6 miles after the fork, and follow the road through the campground for 0.7 miles to the trailhead parking area, located at the end of the road. The Duck Pass trailhead is located at the south end of the parking area.
To the Letterbox:
The trail to Duck Pass starts at the south end of the trailhead parking area. Follow the trail as it heads southeast, climbing a forested hillside on moderately steep switchbacks. Pass the boundary of the John Muir Wilderness at 0.2 miles and reach the junction with the Arrowhead Lake trail, branching left, at 0.9 miles. The trail to Duck Pass continues straight ahead.
Just beyond the junction the grade abates a bit as the trail continues its ascending traverse up the valley across granite outcroppings. Openings in the trees provide nice views of the ridge rising along the east side of the valley.
A short distance before Skelton Lake the grade eases as the trail travels along the southwest side of a pretty meadow and the stream linking Skelton and Arrowhead Lake. At 1.6 miles pass the spur trail leading the western shore of Skelton Lake (9,924-ft.). Pines grow amid small meadows and on granite outcroppings around the lake shore. A craggy ridge dominates the skyline to the east. From the shore views extend southeast to the peaks and ridges rising at the head of the valley.
As you reach the head of Skelton Lake the climb resumes through forested hillsides and meadows cleared by avalanches tumbling down the steep slopes to the west of the trail. Along the way the path rock hops across a small stream and enjoys some nice views of the rugged ridge towering over the valley to the east.
At 2.4 miles the trail crests the rim of the upper lakes basin and reaches a viewpoint above the Barney Lake’s (10,210-ft.) north shore, 2.5 miles from the trailhead.
BOX: As you arrive and have an overlook view of the lake (just before it drops to outlet stream crossing). Go right off trail to large double pine tree 20 yards away. Box is at left base under rock.
Hike length: 3-5 miles
Distance: About 5 miles round trip
Nice hike to multiple lakes. Barney Lake is just before climb to Duck Pass.
Directions:
Head west on Highway 203 (Main Street). Main Street changes its name to Lake Mary Road at the intersection with Minaret Road. Follow the Lake Mary Road for 3.6 miles to a fork just before Lake Mary. Bear left at the fork, following the signs for the Coldwater Campground. (The road travels around the east side of the lake.) Turn left at the Campground, 0.6 miles after the fork, and follow the road through the campground for 0.7 miles to the trailhead parking area, located at the end of the road. The Duck Pass trailhead is located at the south end of the parking area.
To the Letterbox:
The trail to Duck Pass starts at the south end of the trailhead parking area. Follow the trail as it heads southeast, climbing a forested hillside on moderately steep switchbacks. Pass the boundary of the John Muir Wilderness at 0.2 miles and reach the junction with the Arrowhead Lake trail, branching left, at 0.9 miles. The trail to Duck Pass continues straight ahead.
Just beyond the junction the grade abates a bit as the trail continues its ascending traverse up the valley across granite outcroppings. Openings in the trees provide nice views of the ridge rising along the east side of the valley.
A short distance before Skelton Lake the grade eases as the trail travels along the southwest side of a pretty meadow and the stream linking Skelton and Arrowhead Lake. At 1.6 miles pass the spur trail leading the western shore of Skelton Lake (9,924-ft.). Pines grow amid small meadows and on granite outcroppings around the lake shore. A craggy ridge dominates the skyline to the east. From the shore views extend southeast to the peaks and ridges rising at the head of the valley.
As you reach the head of Skelton Lake the climb resumes through forested hillsides and meadows cleared by avalanches tumbling down the steep slopes to the west of the trail. Along the way the path rock hops across a small stream and enjoys some nice views of the rugged ridge towering over the valley to the east.
At 2.4 miles the trail crests the rim of the upper lakes basin and reaches a viewpoint above the Barney Lake’s (10,210-ft.) north shore, 2.5 miles from the trailhead.
BOX: As you arrive and have an overlook view of the lake (just before it drops to outlet stream crossing). Go right off trail to large double pine tree 20 yards away. Box is at left base under rock.
Hike length: 3-5 miles