Just got back from a short trip that included Skelton Lakes, White Mountain, Roosevelt Lake, McCabe Lakes, Cold Canyon and McGee Lake. We had never been to Skelton Lakes, so we hiked up Delaney Creek, climbed up the south face of White Mountain and down into the upper Conness Creek drainage (which is beautiful) to camp . The upper Delaney Creek drainage is quite scenic and we only saw one other group of two who were on their way to Dingley Dome. Views from White Mountain are spectacular. We went directly up from lower Skelton Lake staying west of the upper lake, but it might have been better to head toward the middle lake first and then turn back towrd the upper lake. Either way, the approach is fairly easy. We had been to Roosevelt Lake a few years ago from Young Lakes, but took a slightly different route this time trying to stay higher up in the drainage to avoid losing elevation on our way to Don't Be a Smart Pass (between Roosevelt and McCabe Lakes). It worked, but crossing the boulder field above the east side of Roosevelt was annoying and slow. In hind sight, we probably should have just lost and regained the elevation going around the west side of Roosevelt. Regardless, the views on the way up to Don't Be a Smart Pass are incredible. There is a snow field on the north side above upper McCabe Lake that is still quite sizable, steep and annoying - LOL. Upper McCabe Lake is a gem. The middle and lower lakes are nice, but nothing special. There were several fisherman at the upper lake who had come over the pass from the Hoover Wilderness. Went down Cold Canyon which is already quite dry. As one would expect, we started to see more people as we approached Glen Aulin, which we blew through as quickly as possible. Not wanting to make the 6 hour drive back to Vegas in the dark, we decided to spend the last night at McGee Lake so we would have the short walk out the next morning. It has been 26 years since I last camped at McGee and I must say it is a very nice little lake with nice peak views from both the east (toward Mt Hoffmann) and west (toward Mt Conness) ends. That night, we climbed the unnamed dome on the southeast shore. Ended the trip with a very nice early morning stroll down Murphy Creek. All in all, the weather was perfect - perhaps just a bit warm near Glen Aulin. Bugs were present throughout the trip, but never a major issue.
Looking down Delaney Creek at Unicorn and Cathedral Peaks
Above lower Skelton Lake
Peak panarama on way up to White Moutain - Delaney Creek meadow and Lambert Dome in lower right
Crest above Young Lakes (lower in view) with Ragged Peak
Camp in the upper Conness Creek drainage with Conness in background
Young Lakes - upper and lower from above
Conness Creek and way to Roosevelt Lake
Peaks visible on way to Roosevelt - Ragged, Clouds Rest, Half Dome, Hoffmann, etc
Above Roosevelt Lake
Roosevelt Lake - Sheep Peak
North Peak-Roosevelt Lake-Sheep Peak (with many other peaks in background) from just below Don't Be a Smart Pass
Snow field on north side of Don't Be a Smart Pass above upper McCabe Lake
Another shot of the snow field
Upper McCabe Lake
Upper McCabe Lake
McGee Lake - Mt Conness
McGee Lake at sunset
