Made exactly the same hike about 12 years ago...I did it all in about 2 hours I think..BUT: I still remember how hard it was for me about the last quarter mile-I literally had to stop about every 20 yards to get my air....found out a couple years later I had 9 blockages in my arteries---luckily I did not die on this venture. Now I have had the triple bypass surgery(2014) but now I am almost 76. Oh well, at least I did it. Praise God. But it is an incredible area to explore...Funny, no one I knew back then knew of this Moat Lake.
I have shorter, easier hikes than this on my playlists so hopefully some of it isn't out of reach. You came back from triple bypass surgery so you sound pretty tough to me. Glad to be able to bring this memory back to you.
As always, a great video with lots of useful information, especially for those unfamiliar with Sierra hiking. Taking your time, observing the route and, most importantly, if unsure, turn around and go back. Great stuff, Amani.
Thank you. I've been hiking around these mountains like that for decades. I will say this, hiking up steep grades in high altitude doesn't get any easier!
Yeah, not a lot of people go up there because it is a real steep haul getting up there and the altitude doesn't help! Great having the place to myself all day.
I wanted to know if you ever fished Big Bird Lake in the Sequoia National Park back country. It can be accessed by the Pear Lake trail. It was absolutely packed with nice size super aggressive Brookies years ago...John-
I have not. Sounds interesting. I haven't been to Sequoia in a couple of decades other than scraping the boundary from the Eastern Sierra side. I'll get there eventually I'm sure.
AMANI, I have been to Virginal Lakes only once and had no idea there were lakes farther up the mountainside. Rough hiking the way you went. You had me huffing and puffing from my recliner. Thanks for taking us along. Very beautiful country and it does looks like few go to that lake.
It was tough getting up there for sure. There are a few lakes within a couple miles of the Trailhead. I have clips for Cooney and Blue Lake on my backcountry lakes playlist which are two lakes right on the main trail and both are a heck of a lot easier to get to than Moat was. The fishing was good too.
Thank you. Once the National Forests open back up I can do more stuff. I will say this, the car I got gets better gas mileage than my last one so my monthly fuel expenses should be better.
No more bears! I think I've had enough bear encounters to last me a lifetime. I used to find it exciting to see them in the wild but that magic has faded!
I watched the fishing video good stuff. I used to love bushwhacking like this. So Google maps I is your friend also. You can see the faint trail you took out . A good cross reference. It sounds like it wasn’t a much better trail. I hav found some good stuff on Google maps. The trail looks like it follows the ridge west of the “ outlet stream beds” .
I came out on the actual trail and it was pretty good for going down but it looked like going up would be harsh. I am not sure I'd rather take it up over the way I came in cross country!
I am soppose to head up to Twin in Mammoth next week Thurs. Hoping they will open it at least by Sat.If not I ll shoot for upper twin Bridgeport.keeping my fingers crossed.At least you have clear sky where your at.
I think the closure of National Forests goes until the 17th. I hope they don't expand it. I was supposed to try the Saddleback Lake area this week until I got word of the closures. I guess for a couple of weeks we'll all just work with what Is available. Closing Inyo National forest really pulls a lot of options off the table. National Parks are open.
@@wildernesswithamani1027 i think you mean saddlebag lake i was there in july take the water taxi to the other end of the lake and do the loop. there are a bunch of lakes back there and 2 of them have Goldens and some very nice ones . another hike and lake i think you would love is Dana lake it is a grind but the lake are full of golden trout and it hardly gets fished park near the portapotties at tioga lake pull out. follow the trail next to the river that runs into the lake all the way back into the canyon and get a early start.
@@markvanderstelt8999 Right on. I read a lot about saddleback lake and the 20 lakes basin above it. I was set to check it out last week but the Forest Closures steered me away. I am certainly interested in the Dana Lak you talk about. All of my plans are getting pushed back due to the closures so I presume I'll be hiking right up until the snow falls this year. Thanks for the insight and for tuning in.
The first time I stop in the beginning of this clip to speculate on where I needed to go was the spot where the actual trail begins. It's faint but you can see it when I'm talking. It was ok coming down but going up that thing looked real steep and brutal. At least it's short! I am not sure the trail would be easier than the route I took. They both are harsh!
@@wildernesswithamani1027 To me these are the most rewarding hikes, a bit of scrambling, a bit of loose talus and then there's the lake...thank you again for sharing...no smoke from the fires also
There is a distinct trail, but hard to find.... the trail pretty much follows the drainage all the way to the lake. It took my wife and I awhile to find it tho. Tight lines!
I followed the trail out. It was one of the trails I saw on the way in but it was faint enough where I simply wasn't sure. I'm not certain going up that trail is any easier than the rocky route I took!
The pointed rock got me there! I'm used to doing these short cross country hauls to when I'm backpacking. I always seem to have to know what the small lakes above me are like!
It was brutal uphill while gasping for air in the high altitude. I took the trail out and it looked just as horrible for going up as anything I experienced. Maybe even worse!
Made exactly the same hike about 12 years ago...I did it all in about 2 hours I think..BUT: I still remember how hard it was for me about the last quarter mile-I literally had to stop about every 20 yards to get my air....found out a couple years later I had 9 blockages in my arteries---luckily I did not die on this venture. Now I have had the triple bypass surgery(2014) but now I am almost 76.
Oh well, at least I did it. Praise God.
But it is an incredible area to explore...Funny, no one I knew back then knew of this Moat Lake.
I have shorter, easier hikes than this on my playlists so hopefully some of it isn't out of reach. You came back from triple bypass surgery so you sound pretty tough to me. Glad to be able to bring this memory back to you.
As always, a great video with lots of useful information, especially for those unfamiliar with Sierra hiking. Taking your time, observing the route and, most importantly, if unsure, turn around and go back. Great stuff, Amani.
Thank you. I've been hiking around these mountains like that for decades. I will say this, hiking up steep grades in high altitude doesn't get any easier!
Cool hike pretty remote and rocky
Yeah, not a lot of people go up there because it is a real steep haul getting up there and the altitude doesn't help! Great having the place to myself all day.
That lake is so calm and beautiful, love it!
Great day up there. I'm working on the fishing clip now.
@@wildernesswithamani1027 Awesome, you got us on a cliffhanger! Excited to see it Amani 👍
I wanted to know if you ever fished Big Bird Lake in the Sequoia National Park back country. It can be accessed by the Pear Lake trail. It was absolutely packed with nice size super aggressive Brookies years ago...John-
I have not. Sounds interesting. I haven't been to Sequoia in a couple of decades other than scraping the boundary from the Eastern Sierra side. I'll get there eventually I'm sure.
What fun!
I always have a good time searching for a lake I know is up there somewhere. It's always best if I actually find it!
Very nice
It's always great to first see that lake when you aren't certain exactly where it is!
AMANI,
I have been to Virginal Lakes only once and had no idea there were lakes farther up the mountainside. Rough hiking the way you went. You had me huffing and puffing from my recliner. Thanks for taking us along. Very beautiful country and it does looks like few go to that lake.
It was tough getting up there for sure. There are a few lakes within a couple miles of the Trailhead. I have clips for Cooney and Blue Lake on my backcountry lakes playlist which are two lakes right on the main trail and both are a heck of a lot easier to get to than Moat was. The fishing was good too.
Really glad you got a vehicle to hit the back country to do all that hiking and fishing. Wishing you all the best.
Thank you. Once the National Forests open back up I can do more stuff. I will say this, the car I got gets better gas mileage than my last one so my monthly fuel expenses should be better.
Hiked up there twice 40-45 years ago. No trail, no signs of people and no fish. Good to see the area again. Thanks.
Fishing was slow but the quality was very high as far as brookies go. I'm working on the clip now.
Lol letter to crickets i had to look that up its actually chicklets.
LOL, I figure it was something that sounded like that! Chicklets makes more sense!
Ask the Bear were you are going their smart.
No more bears! I think I've had enough bear encounters to last me a lifetime. I used to find it exciting to see them in the wild but that magic has faded!
Great! Looks a little low but I have not seen it seen 1992. Lol! I recall Goldens and avalanches! Fairwinds!
Right on. Great time spending the day up there. When the wind would pause it was dead silent. Awesome!
Honestly, good to see you with blue skies.
It was great up there. Awesome place to spend the day. I should have the fishing clip up soon.
Great video bro! I had a drum roll going going as you came over the ridge haha. Just curious what maps are you looking at when you plan your trips?
That was the moment of truth! You saw it just as I did! So happy to see water over that horizon!
I don't think i would hike that far for a fish
It wasn't far. Only a mile and a half or so. It was just a lot of extremely steep uphill in high altitude!
@@wildernesswithamani1027 it was a cool hike for sure
I watched the fishing video good stuff. I used to love bushwhacking like this. So Google maps I is your friend also. You can see the faint trail you took out . A good cross reference. It sounds like it wasn’t a much better trail. I hav found some good stuff on Google maps. The trail looks like it follows the ridge west of the “ outlet stream beds” .
I came out on the actual trail and it was pretty good for going down but it looked like going up would be harsh. I am not sure I'd rather take it up over the way I came in cross country!
I am soppose to head up to Twin in Mammoth next week Thurs.
Hoping they will open it at least by Sat.If not I ll shoot for upper twin Bridgeport.keeping my fingers crossed.At least you have clear sky where your at.
I think the closure of National Forests goes until the 17th. I hope they don't expand it. I was supposed to try the Saddleback Lake area this week until I got word of the closures. I guess for a couple of weeks we'll all just work with what Is available. Closing Inyo National forest really pulls a lot of options off the table. National Parks are open.
@Jeff Turner That is real bad news.
@@wildernesswithamani1027 i think you mean saddlebag lake i was there in july take the water taxi to the other end of the lake and do the loop. there are a bunch of lakes back there and 2 of them have Goldens and some very nice ones . another hike and lake i think you would love is Dana lake it is a grind but the lake are full of golden trout and it hardly gets fished park near the portapotties at tioga lake pull out. follow the trail next to the river that runs into the lake all the way back into the canyon and get a early start.
@@markvanderstelt8999 Right on. I read a lot about saddleback lake and the 20 lakes basin above it. I was set to check it out last week but the Forest Closures steered me away. I am certainly interested in the Dana Lak you talk about. All of my plans are getting pushed back due to the closures so I presume I'll be hiking right up until the snow falls this year. Thanks for the insight and for tuning in.
Nicely done......
The first time I stop in the beginning of this clip to speculate on where I needed to go was the spot where the actual trail begins. It's faint but you can see it when I'm talking. It was ok coming down but going up that thing looked real steep and brutal. At least it's short! I am not sure the trail would be easier than the route I took. They both are harsh!
@@wildernesswithamani1027 To me these are the most rewarding hikes, a bit of scrambling, a bit of loose talus and then there's the lake...thank you again for sharing...no smoke from the fires also
There is a distinct trail, but hard to find.... the trail pretty much follows the drainage all the way to the lake. It took my wife and I awhile to find it tho. Tight lines!
I followed the trail out. It was one of the trails I saw on the way in but it was faint enough where I simply wasn't sure. I'm not certain going up that trail is any easier than the rocky route I took!
Little birdy told me there’s fish there
Nice fish. Just a real steep hike to get to them!
@@wildernesswithamani1027 it’s a mission forsure hope to see you out there sometime would be cool to see someone that I watch on you tube ✌🏽
Follow the point rock thing and god bless you you’ll need help.🤨
The pointed rock got me there! I'm used to doing these short cross country hauls to when I'm backpacking. I always seem to have to know what the small lakes above me are like!
Many of your vids I wish I was there with you but not on this one 🙃
It was brutal uphill while gasping for air in the high altitude. I took the trail out and it looked just as horrible for going up as anything I experienced. Maybe even worse!
There’s this thing called a GPS get one.
Never used one. I roll low tech in the woods. Been doing it for decades.
Lewis and Clark crap 😉 good one
There's always that exploration uncertainty when you are guided by clues and hunches!