Snow Creek/Mt. Watkins Trip

I hiked from the Valley to Snow Creek Point over the weekend (note: hiking up 2700 ft. the day after Thanksgiving dinner is a problem), then day-hiked to the Snow Creek Cabin and Mt. Watkins. Conditions note: I carried my snow shoes and regretted it, there's obviously very little snow even up high, I didn't bother carrying them up Watkins and the snow was never more than ankle high.

Anyway, I had seen this trip mentioned by Calipidder and figured it'd be really nice during winter, in the other direction (from the Valley) and without the crowds. Friday there was one other party there, Saturday I had it to myself.

Here's a link to some pictures.

A frozen mirror lake on the way:



My campsite:



Sunset on Quarter Domes and Clouds Rest:



And two views from Mt. Watkins, first towards the valley:



then towards Mt. Conness:



A weather note...its warmer up there than in the Valley during the day, but the winter downsloping winds definitely seemed to like that point. I can see why Curry Village is so cold, its in the direct path of that cold air. Both days I started breakfast with a brisk cold wind and ended it with generally calming conditions.

Great photos. Thanks for the trip report. Wish I was there....

Ditto!

(Curry Village is also very cold in the winter because it gets very little (if any) direct sunlight in the early winter months.)

Watkins is such a magical place. Fortunately it's still relatively unknown, and that's a positive thing. Did go to the right and see the series of Snow Creek cascades? Thanks for sharing the photos.

You mean from Watkins? No. Crap. Fortunately, I found myself thinking that the trip really required a near-full-moon (the white granite sand at Snow Creek Point easily reflects starlight, moonight would be amazing at that place). So the trip can be re-done w/ the right combination of events.

The trek from Olmsted to Watkins is a pleasant one, a good half-day hike. I could spend all day on that mountain. Next time I go back, I need to bring a bottle of wine, sit back and enjoy. It's a place I'd like to go back to at least once every other year. The views of Pywiack Cascade and Tenaya Canyon, especially from the NE buttress, never get old.

You picked a great place to camp.