Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
should you arrive in the late afternoon and wish to conquer Donahue Pass (11,056
feet) in the morning.
From the lakelet, cross the southern stream outlet to resume climbing. Often this
crossing requires knee-deep wading in the early months of the hiking season (June
and July, particularly). Continue up a series of granite switchbacks until reaching a
second tarn. This is desolate country, beautiful in its barren shale and scrub. Traverse
this plateau and cross the next small lake's outlet. In early spring, it's likely you will
encounter a snowfield crossing before beginning the final shale and rock ascent to-
ward the pass. Remember to keep looking back for epic views of Yosemite Valley.
The pass itself is a little undefined, and often the sign marking it has been
trampled by the winter's snow. Arrival is assured, however, by the stunning view of
the alpine wilderness, including the Mount Ritter range, which stretches out ahead.
This is where you must say good-bye to Yosemite, as you amble into the Inyo Na-
tional Forest and Ansel Adams Wilderness. Formerly called the Minarets Wilder-
ness, the area was renamed in 1984 to honor the famous photographer and environ-
mentalist.
Descend 3.5 miles eastward through a barren landscape of granite rocks and
stark tarns with stately Banner Peak luring you closer. Descending to 9,600 feet, the
granite slabs give way to an idyllic landscape of forests, alpine lakes, and rampant
wildflowers. Many times you'll ford Rush Creek, which, depending on the season,
can be a shoes-off affair. The most difficult crossing comes just before the junction
(10,030 feet) with the Marie Lakes Trail, 3 miles from the crest of Donahue Pass. En
route, enjoy wonderful views of the Ritter range and the jagged spires of the Min-
arets. Legend has it that the spires served as the backdrop for the Wicked Witch of
the West's home in the original film version of
The Wizard of Oz.
Continuing down, enter the Rush Creek Forks area, and the junction for the
Rush Creek Trail. Follow and ford the creek before beginning a gradual 1.5-mile as-
cent toward Island Pass (10,205 feet), with its incredibly picturesque high alpine
lakes and meadows. It's a bit difficult to determine exactly where the pass's highest
point is, as the climb plateaus out among many gorgeous lakelets.
Tear yourself away from the splendid pass and descend toward Thousand Island
Lake (9,833 feet), named for the myriad islets floating within its boundaries. If the
stunning view of Banner Peak reflected in the water feels familiar, that's because it
has graced many of Ansel Adams's visually arresting black-and-white photos. A San
Francisco native and renowned photographer and environmentalist, Adams joined
the Sierra Club at the age of 17 and began climbing these same mountains shortly
thereafter. Within this section of the wilderness named for him, it's nearly impossible
