Bloody Mountain

Hiked: 9/5/2024
Distance: 13.2 miles round trip on trail, use trail, and cross country
Summit Elevation: 12552'
Prominence: 1234'
Elevation Gain: 5025'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 4.0
Round trip time: 9 hours
Recommended water: 128 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free on Laurel Lakes Road
Difficulty: Strenuous

Day two of my Bishop blast had my sites set on Bloody Mountain (SPS #141), a 12er south of Mammoth Lakes. The name refers to the blood red glow reflected from the red rock in the morning. The effect is best viewed from Mammoth Lakes. Bloody can be a short hike (5.6 miles round trip) if you can drive up to the trailhead at 9900' on the unmaintained Laurel Lakes Road. I only made it to 8000' before vehicle-ending boulders embedded in the road convinced me to park at a turnout. Where I parked added 6.6 miles round trip to the hike, but it seemed less stressful to hike it vs. the exhausting drive and worrying about permanent damage to the truck. Big mountains kept the road in shade and I made good time to the trailhead. The trail started with switchbacks up to a pine forested plateau, then more switchbacks to the saddle between Laurel Mountain and Bloody Mountain.

Start of the trail

Bloody ridge from the saddle
There was no use trail visible, but one appeared when I got a few hundred feet up. The ridge was composed of small red and gray talus. It was very loose on the first slope, but got more stable higher up. There were many bumps to traverse and two major false summits. I took short breaks every other bump. The ridge seemed to go on forever. Most of the hike was steep class 1, but there were two places I'd rate class 2. Both of those places were where the use trial faded away. After sufficient grunting, I finally reached the summit and made sure there wasn't a higher point ahead before letting myself relax. I found two registers in a metal cylinder. Both were full, but I found an empty space in one to leave my autograph. A new register is needed. I found no marks of any kind. Views all along the ridge were extraordinary. To the east, the high lakes of Genevieve, Edith, and Dorothy made a splash. Mt. Morrison and White Fang rose up behind them. To the north, Mt. Dana and Gibbs were visible in Yosemite. Mammoth Mountain looked like small potatoes. After photos, I stretched out my quads, feeling some soreness from the previous day. Then, I plopped down in the sun to enjoy the moment.

Looking back at the saddle

Lake Genevieve, Edith Lake, and Lake Dorothy

False summit

Lost World Peak below, Yosemite peaks in the distance

Bloody summit, Laurel Mountain ahead

Descending
I started down the ridge, going over the bumps in reverse. When I got to the final slope, I wasn't paying attention. I looked down and saw a trail below and proceeded to ski down the talus. I got a few hundred feet down when I realized I couldn't see Laurel Mountain. I realized I was descending the wrong side of the ridge. I didn't want to scramble back up the loose talus, and cliffs prevented me from taking a side hill route to the correct side of the ridge. I decided to continue down and look for a way back to the Bloody-Laurel saddle. As soon as the cliffs gave out, I found a gully I could safely descend. Across the rocky basin below, I saw a trail that connected back to the saddle. I made good time across the basin and grabbed the trail, cruising the switchbacks up. The diversion cost me about 20 minutes and a bruised ego. I continued down the trail and stopped about 20' above the trailhead to reapply sunscreen. While I was sitting there, a dude driving a 4-wheeler motored up to the trailhead, got off his ride, and started peeing next to a tree. I thought about announcing my presence, but it would only have created an awkward scene. Instead, I sat there while he finished his business, got back on the 4-wheeler and continued up the road, never knowing I was there. I was glad to get back to the truck and off Laurel Lakes Road. Two 12ers in two days. Not bad for starting the year with a broken ankle.

Laurel Mountain from the wrong side of the ridge

Dropped down this gully

On the way back to the Bloody-Laurel saddle

Glider soaring silently above

Mt. George Davis (Mt. Thoreau)

Hiked: 9/4/2024
Distance: 9.3 miles round trip on trail and cross country
Summit Elevation: 12691'
Elevation Gain: 3577'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.8
Round trip time: 8 hours 15 minutes
Recommended water: 128 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free at North Lake trailhead
Difficulty: Strenuous

When Leisa and I hiked to Piute Pass, we noticed a dominating peak on the other side of the lakes. My GPS named it Mt. Thoreau. When I looked it up later, most sites named it Mt. George Davis. I'll get to the naming controversy later. When I had a chance to come back and climb it, I approached it from the Lamarck Lakes trail instead of Piute Pass, though I think either would work. From the North Lake campground, there were two trails leading out of the campground. The left branch went to Lamarck Lakes. The first lake I reached was Lower Lamarck Lake. Mt. George Davis was visible from there. I followed a fisherman's trail around the north side of the lake, then other informal trails to the Wonder Lakes. At the third Wonder Lake, I crossed over to find a way through the low cliffs. There were a couple of ways through. Above the cliffs, I started up a difficult scree slope. It had a 40-50 degree angle and I tended to the stay near boulders and trees that could assist.

From Lower Lamarck Lake

From the third Wonder Lake

Slow, slippery scree slope

Final approach
After a slog up the scree, I took a break below the final scramble to the summit. I left my pole standing in the sand with plans to pick it up on the way back. I decided to ascend the most prominent gully. With minimal route finding, it stayed class 2. At the top, the summit was a short hop. With perfect weather, views were sublime. I had a front row view of Mt. Humphries and Mt. Emerson. Most of the Wonder Lakes were visible as well as the lakes along the Pass trail. I located the register in a metal box and found it titled Mt. Thoreau. Inside the front cover was an excerpt from the book written to argue for the name change. I found it quite interesting, though I have no preference on the name.

Here is what various entities call it as of 9/6/2024:

• USGS: Peak 12691
• Sierra Club: Mt. George Davis
• Garmin: Mt. Thoreau
• Mountaineers for Thoreau: Mt. Thoreau
• Peakbagger: Mt. George Davis
• Summitpost: Mt. George Davis
• Open Street Map: Mt. Thoreau

After signing in, I took photos and flew the drone at the highest elevation I had attempted. With little wind, it performed admirably. I spent about 30 minutes total on the summit. It looked like the side to Piute Pass might also go as class 2, but I couldn't see all the way down. When I got off the summit, my pole was standing right where I left it. The descent was uneventful, though I stumbled down a slightly different way on the low cliffs and around the lakes. I was back to the trail before I saw anyone else.

Mt. Humphries from the summit

Mt. Emerson from the summit

Mt. Emerson from below

Other Reports:
Mount George Davis (Bob Burd)