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.
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.
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.
Congrats on a truly fine pb season following that early injury, Teke. Yep, we're still out here reading all reports with high interest. How'd you like the Convict Lake Resort as an operations base (w.a.f. esp.)?
ReplyDeleteGloope,
DeleteThanks for reading. Convict Lake Resort was really nice, but somewhat expensive. We wanted to explore the many lakes south, but had bad luck with weather when we were there. There are trails to Bloody Mountain from Convict Lake, and many other mountains are accessible from there.