Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
After bidding good-bye to the home-cooked goodness and flushing toilets of
Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR), climb onto the ferry for the 20-minute ride across
Edison Lake and return to the backcountry. Ferries depart regularly during the hiking
season (generally June 1 to October 1; seasonally dependent on snowpack) at 9 a.m.
and 4 p.m., but private departures can be arranged for a fee. If you prefer to walk, it's
4.8 miles to return to the JMT from VVR along the northwestern shore of Edison
Lake.
The ferry landing is changeable depending on weather and water conditions, so
simply look for the trail heading northeastward up the valley. After 1.4 miles, you'll
reach a sign for Selden Pass. Follow this trail across the bridge and continue your
gentle uphill grade. About a half mile after crossing the bridge, traverse a stream
from Mono Creek; a good place to top off water for the hot, dry climb that lies
ahead. If you want to delay the climb, or if you got a late start, there is decent camp-
ing here.
The infamous switchbacks up to Bear Ridge begin here. The introduction is a
gentle 15 switchbacks before the path levels out briefly through aspen groves. When
the switchbacks continue, they are an unrelenting ascent of more than 2,000 feet.
The trail is mostly shaded from the glare of the sun, but this doesn't stop it from be-
ing grueling. It's not that the grade is particularly steep, but most hikers have full
bellies from VVR and packs heavy with newly refreshed food caches. Take it slowly.
Reaching the top, the trail levels out to continue along Bear Ridge with excellent
views south to Mount Hooper.
Descend slightly and ignore the Bear Ridge trailhead (9,835 feet) to the right, as
this would bring you back to VVR in 5.7 miles. Descend through aspen groves, ford-
ing the creek many times, and soak in the gorgeous open views and vibrant wild-
flowers in this section. The scenery changes as the sky opens up between the con-
ifers to views of the mountains. Wildflower buffs will go wild for the brilliant dis-
play of Indian paintbrush, Yosemite aster, shooting stars, and mariposa lilies. There
