My Solo Snowshoe Trip in the Eastern Sierra around Lake Sabrina

Lake Sabrina: Eastern Sierra

March 3, 2005

SUMMARY: Sometimes I think I even scare myself! I had an itch to go snowshoein' real bad! So bad was this itch in fact, that I drove all the way up to Lake Sabrina in the Eastern Sierra near Bishop to scratch it! The morning for me started around 2:00 AM. With such an early start, I made it to the trailhead around sunrise. Well actually, the trailhead was nothing more than a locked gate about halfway up the road where the Forest Service declares roads end in the midst of winter. I forgot my gloves, so I was forced to use an extra pair of socks as such. It was bitterly cold that morning, and it took two hours for my hands to warm up. Eventually I topped out at snow filled Sabrina Lake. In the summer, this is a popular and often crowded mountain destination. Today, I was the only soul. In fact, I was the only creature around to be seen for miles! After reaching the lake, I continued up a ridge on the left and headed towards the Sierra Crest. Did I mention that this was a record snow year and that I was snowshoeing in the Sierra above 10,000 ft solo?!?! At times things got scary as unstable slopes of snow briefly gave way, but all in all, it was a great experience. I took a nap near the top of the ridge beneath some leafless aspens. Afterward I head back down to Lake Sabrina and then on down the snow covered road to where my truck was parked. I was home in Oceanside later that night and then out the door at 5:30 AM the following morning for work... an ambitious itinerary that I do not recommend!