2 tenths of a mile South of the Wet Meadows Lake trail junction we yet again cross into the Mokelumne Wilderness. The boundary of the Mokelumne Wilderness between Carson Pass and Ebbetts Pass is crazily convoluted.

The USGS maps linked to above do not depict the crazy boundary as does the National Forest topo map of the Mokelumne Wilderness. I count six times in and out of the Wilderness between Forestdale Divide and Ebbetts Pass.

Heading South from this Wilderness boundary begins our climb up the Northern flank of Raymond Peak. South of this boundary forest cover thins, then fades away for the next 12 miles until we enter the forests South of Reynolds Peak and North of Upper Kinney Lake. Except for the thin tongues of forest climbing up mountainside drainages we are hiking over and through exposed terrain passing over Raymond and around Reynolds Peaks.

The Raymond Lake junction is 3.38 miles South of the Wilderness Boundary, on the Eastern Flank of Raymond Peak.

Mokelumne Wilderness Boundary

Elevation: 7520

Mileage

This Wilderness Boundary is 13.62 miles South of Carson Pass.

This Wilderness Boundary is 13.16 miles North of Ebbetts Pass.

Forum Page

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Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass Forum

.38 of a mile South of the Mokelumne Wilderness Boundary you will cross the creek running off of the Northwestern flank of Raymond Peak. I have seen this creek flowing in mid-September even during dry years.

This creek is one of the tributary branches of the Pleasant Valley Creek.

Spring Fed Creek on the North Side of Raymond Peak

Elevation: 7880

Mileage

14 miles South of Carson Pass

12.78 miles North of Ebbetts Pass

comments and questions?

Things really begin to dry out after crossing the creek on the North side of Raymond Peak. There's a fine campsite on the South side of this creek.

I find this spot a fine place to snack, replenish water, and take a break prior to traversing the dry and exposed trails across Raymond and Reynolds Peaks on the way down to Ebbetts Pass.

The Northern Flank of Raymond Peak

Elevation: 8200 feet

Mileage: 15 miles South of Carson Pass.

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Trail Views

Views from the Pacific Crest Trail along the Eastern side of Raymond Peak North of the trail junction with Raymond Lake.

Eastern Flank of Raymond Peak

Elevation: 8400 feet

Mileage:

Ranging from 15 to 17 miles South of Carson Pass.

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Raymond Lake trail junction

Elevation: 8640 feet

Mileage

17 miles South of Carson Pass.

9.78 miles North of Ebbetts Pass

.97 of a mile to the end of the Raymond Lake Trail at Raymond Lake.

I've never hiked up to Raymond Lake. Anyone have any pictures? I will get some next time through...

comments and questions?

Mokelumne Wilderness Boundary to the Raymond Lake Trail Junction

Notes on the Trail Conditions

A significant part of the trail along the Eastern flank of Raymond Peak is cut through unconsolidated volcanic debris that have eroded off the hard lava formations of Raymond Peak over thousands of years.

As you have seen on your way down the Pacific Crest and Tahoe to Yosemite Trail routes South from Echo Summit, there are amazing interface zones (Christmas Valley, Brown Bear Pass)between volcanic hard lava formations, lahars, and Sierra Granite.

The volcanic terrain was produced by the massive eruption of ancient volcanoes, about 10,000 years ago, that coincided with the end of the ice age that cut the granites into their present forms. I can only imagine the spectacle of volcanoes erupting from under and around the Eastern Sierra Glaciers. It must have been a titanic mess.

For the contemporary backpacker this type of volcanic terrain translates into sections of terrain that move every year. As with any unconsolidated eroded material, rain, snow, and Spring runoff cut right through it every year. When fully saturated this type of material can actually flow down the mountain.

This type of unconsolidated volcanic material is not uncommon on the flanks of volcanic peaks along the Northern Sierra Trails. The Southern flank of Sonora Peak is much the same as the Eastern flank of Raymond Peak.

The annual movement of this unconsolidated volcanic material is a real challenge for trail crews. I figure that a trail freshly cut across this type of material on a steep mountainside should last about three years, before the trail is again almost tilted off to the angle of repose.

How long these trails last also depends on the intensity of the Spring runoff, how much rain falls before the snows begin, and the intensity of Winter avalanche activity. Some sections of trail are in exposed locations that are hard to maintain, while other sections are more stable.

The Trail Crews are generally up to date on trail maintenance, but it is not uncommon to have to cross sections of deteriorated trail across the flanks of unconsolidated volcanic peaks. Be very careful!

Contribute!

If you have hiked through this section recently, you should Register and post a Trail Report update about trail conditions in the Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass section of the Backpacker's Forum. This post will also appear on the home page of the Forum Site.

If you have hiked short trips around this position on the Pacific Crest Trail midway between Carson Pass and Ebbetts Pass, sharing your experiences will give us all more information about interesting piece of terrain.

I am generally running fast when I pass through this section of the Pacific Crest Trail. So I'm especially curious to hear from people who have made one of these lakes a destination, and have kicked it for a few days exploring the area more thoroughly than I.

Unregistered hikers can only post up their own pages on the home page (not in the forums), and are limited to only posting comments on existing posts in the trail forums, nor can their posts include images or videos as can those posts by Registered Hikers.

comments and questions?

Topo Maps

7.5 min topo hiking Map: Upper Sunset Lakes to Ebbetts Pass

30 min topo hiking Map: Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass

Note: Click the Colored Dots on the Maps!

Miles and Elevations

South: Raymond Lake trail junction to Ebbetts Pass

Backpacker Forums

Have you hiked these mountains before? Do you have a great Sierra Nevada route or trip to relate?

Post it on: TahoetoWhitney.Org

Your Comments and Questions will be posted on the corresponding page in the Forum, or Register to post your own stand-alone pages describing your trips and the trails around here, in the Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass Trail Forum:

Section: Carson Pass to Ebbetts Pass

Segment: The Eastern Flank of Raymond Peak