East Sierra Trip - Twin Lakes - September 2022

Walk One - Mine Creek & Bennettville

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our first day hike was at Mine Creek, just off Tioga Rd., on Hwy. 120, a few miles shy of the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park. 

The Mine Creek trail starts at 9,500 ft. and climbs gradually to Bennettville, and from there the gentle uphill stroll includes Shell, Mine, & Fantail Lakes. 

In the 1880s, Thomas Bennett, who owned a mining company, was somehow convinced that silver could be extracted here. So tunnels were dug & 14 wooden buildings went up. From 1882 - 84, Bennettville even had a US Post Office. Initial expectations were for a town of 2,000 people. 

Tom Bennett spent $300,000 in vain: instead of precious metals, the miners discovered that this was a forbidding elevation for year-round residency.  

Currency note - $300,000 in the early 1880s equals $10M today, a LOT of capital to blow on an unfounded idea !    

The most valued legacy from the 'dream of Bennettville' was the rough supply road from Lee Vining that miners had built. In modern times this became Tioga Rd., or State Hwy 120, a scenic drive & a civil engineering masterpiece, climbing 3,000 ft. at a nearly steady 8% grade.   

Tioga Road, from Aug. '13

From Rich's handout - "Although the treasure they sought eluded them, the true treasure lies open for us all to enjoy: these tranquil hills & valleys, these radiant peaks and shimmering lakes and streams" (reference is below).

note - you can enlarge any part of a picture by left-clicking in and then out again. 

	Mine Creek & Lee Vining Creek combine near the trailhead (looking downstream)		start of the walk
		Mine Creek trail at 9,500 ft.		Diane, Jean, Linda, Cathy, Rich, John and me (see note 1)
	The Bennettville saga...		Jean at Shell Lake		first look at Mt. Conness
		Mt. Conness at 12,002 ft.		looking back at Shell Lake
	Fantail Lake				Linda and Diane
				a smoky sky prevails...
	Mt. Dana at 13,061 ft. in hazy air, see note 2				John & Rich looking for a lunch spot
				paintbrush

note 1 - On the first day out we had 7 hikers, with 8th member Barb arriving later in the day.    

note 2- Hazy skies were caused by smoke drifting south from the Mosquito Fire, which broke out near Auburn, 150 miles to the north, a day or two prior to this trip.     

After lunch at Fantail Lake, a few up us did a little more uphill walking, getting to approx. 10,150 ft. before heading back.         

	sorry, as little out of focus...				the high point
		Kathy, John & Rich's lunch spot		uphill rock garden
	Mt. Dana from Fantail Lake				downstream walk
				goodbye to Bennettville >
	Linda & Jean		falls on Mine Creek

The round trip walk was about five miles, with 600 ft. of gain. 

The hikers had a lot of positive comments about this being a good altitude acclimation walk.

Most of us have done this hike before and you can't beat the scenery. 

go to hike two

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Postscript - below are photos taken at the Twin Lakes Resort. 

Twin Lakes & Sawtooth Ridge, Sept. '19

Sawtooth Ridge  (Sept. '22)

references

(1) Trail info reference: 2019 Tioga Tramps: Day Hikes in the Tioga Pass Region, by John & Elizabeth O'Neill, published by Great Owl Press in 2018.    

(2) Historical info about Bennettville comes from Wikipedia or the sign shown above.

After the hike we dropped 3,000 ft. on highway 120 and met Barb at 4:30 pm at the Whoa Nelly Deli bistro, located inside the Mobil station at the intersection with Hwy. 395. This gas station is a very popular food stop.  

In a modest-sized kitchen, a group of 3 or 4 chefs generate a continuous flow of (limited menu) entrees, available immediately, with other menu items taking only a little longer. It has an established food reputation, going back a few years.    

I was the last in our walking group to order & had just paid when my number was called for counter pick-up, so grab a tray, etc. When I found the others they were seated in booths, fish tacos being the popular dish. The house salad that I ordered was impressive and then Dianne gave me half of her fish tacos and it was amazingly good.  

Gas station (absence of) decor aside, the Whoa Nelly Deli gets high marks for freshly made gourmet food & fast delivery, and, because the owners did create a small dining-room-like space. In addition, just outside a single glass door, there are dining tables under an overhead canopy, with a stupendous view of Mono Lake !

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