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Hiking to Chittenden Lake

Fall creates such intense orange and red colors in this area, you probably will think that I doctored the pictures but I didn’t. And those reflections in Chittenden Lake look like a painting, but they are not.

Where: Sierra National Forest, Ansel Adams Wilderness
Distance: 14.18 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Range: 7,507′ – 9,222′
Date: September 20, 2016
Maps: Merced Peak Topographic Quad
Dog Hike? Maybe

We drove up Beasore Road, which turned into a pothole highway after it crossed Chilkoot Creek. Some parts of the road have a little bit of pavement on it in spots but it is more ruts, cracks, and craters than road. A car could negotiate these potholes by slowly and carefully weaving its way and crisscrossing the road. Even then, your car will likely find some of them. I didn’t clock the exact mileage but it was about 40 miles up Beasore Rd. where we saw the marked junction to the dirt road on the left that took us to the Norris Trailhead and another 2 miles or so up that dirt road, which was in good shape. We parked at the end of the road in the Norris Creek Trailhead parking area, stashed our goodies for after the hike in the bear boxes and headed up the trail which crossed Norris Creek, then headed upstream along its path for a while.

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We entered Ansel Adams Wilderness which was originally protected as wilderness by the 1964 Wilderness Act when it was first called the Minarets Wilderness. It was renamed to honor Ansel Adams in 1984. It spreads over 230,258 acres, ranging in altitude from about 7,000 feet to 14,000 feet.

 

 

The trail hugged several meadows. They had previously been small ponds or tarns but were now sporting their autumn colors and trees had cast their long morning shadows across the grass.

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One of the small ponds still had a little water in it, along with a waterfowl of some sort, but it was those beautiful reflections that caught my eye.

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When we cross Madera Creek in the spring, we often need to put our water shoes on, walk across a log or hop on the rocks to get across the fast moving and high water. Not today! It was dry as a bone.

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We took a small detour off of the main trail to check out Vandenburgh Lake. It is said that this lake was probably named by packer Billy Brown in the 1930s for a Fresno physician whom he packed in to this area. Their actual name may have been Chester M. Vanderburgh.

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The light was hitting the red foliage nicely as we headed back to the main trail. These plants are an amazing color in the fall when the light is right. You can look at them from one direction and they look washed out and nothing special, but when that light is just right they are an amazing fluorescent reddish-orange color.

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When we made it to Chittenden Lake, the reflections were out of this world. William A. Dill and Scott M. Soule of the then Department of Fish and Game reported in 1946 that this lake is named after a Fresno family. They said that a galvanized iron sign on a tree near the outlet read: “Chittenden Lake. Doris & Ruby. Mary & Ken. Corynne & Bob. July 5, 1930. El. 9,800.” The lake was named in the 1920s by Billy Brown, a packer. Corynne and Bob are the Chittendens; Mary and Ken are the Stanifords. Mr. Chittenden was a sheriff of Fresno County.

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See this picture? Well, Gail captured me balancing on a rock in the lake to take it. Wanted you to know the risk that I take to try and get a nice picture.

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Photo by Gail Gilbert

It is all about the light and that afternoon light really made the colors pop on the trail into Lady Lake. I did not enhance these pictures in any manner. The color is just as we saw it.

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We arrived at Madera Lake and took a walk along its shore, then up to Lady Lake. The origin of Lady Lake is not known but it does show up on the Merced Peak Quad in 1953.

p1200308rThis was a good workout but not the most pleasant trip for me this time of the year because the trail was thick with dust. With a little rain, the trail will be much nicer to walk on but it could be too late to see that color.

Map and Profile:

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Chittenden Lake Hike Topographic Map

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Chittenden Lake Hike Profile

Dog Friendly?

I have taken my dog Sally on hikes in this area but didn’t bring her along on this hike because water is in short supply. I did not know if fresh drinking water would be available for her on the lower half of the trail and I am too lazy to pack water for her. In the spring, there is usually plenty of good, fresh running water for her though. We did meet a couple backpacking with their dog just below Vandenburgh Lake and they made it just fine. Be aware that there are wildlife such as mountain lions, bear, deer and rattlesnakes in this area.

Ansel Adams Wilderness Pet Rules:

  • Pack goats are not recommended in Big Horn Sheep habitat areas while their impacts are being evaluated. For more information about Big Horn Sheep recovery, check the following links:  Big Horn Recovery
  • Dogs are allowed in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, but are not allowed in wilderness areas in adjacent national parks.
  • Pet food must be stored to the same standard as people food. In areas where use of a bear resistant food storage container is required, pet food must be stored in your container.
  • Leashes protect dogs from becoming lost and from wilderness hazards such as porcupines, mountain lions, and sick, injured or rabid animals.
  • Unleashed dogs may intimidate other hikers and their dogs, depriving them of a peaceful wilderness experience.
  • Unleashed dogs may harass, injure and sometimes kill wildlife.
  • A leashed dog’s keen senses can enhance your awareness of nearby wildlife or other visitors.

Prior Blogs in the Area:

Hiking With Sally Up To Lady Lake May 29, 2014

Lillian Lake Loop Hike October 2, 2012

Sources:

Ansel Adams Wilderness

Browning, Peter, Yosemite Place Names: the Historic Background of Geographic Names in Yosemite National Park, Great West Books, Layfayette, CA, 1988

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