Emigrant Wilderness
Granite, a never ending sea of granite, this is the bountiful gift of the Sierras.
Just beyond the boundaries of Yosemite National Park lies the Emigrant Wilderness. Although its granite features are less notable than that of its historic neighbor, it offers stiff competition. Dotted with lakes, the wilderness blends rolling mounds of rock with cliff faces that have been eroded and weathered down for centuries. As you ascend and descend peak after peak, moving between 5,000 and 8,000 feet of elevation, you become attuned with the life around you. Jeffrey Pines and Aspens grown in the low valleys and meadows, mingling with blooming flowers, while the Foxtail Pine and Bristlecones mount themselves to the barren, slabbed mountain faces.
The Emigrant Wilderness terrain is more navigable and does not require ropes and harnesses to reach its peaks. Rather, hikers must be equipped with a strong set of hiking boots, a fervent will to push ahead, and calves that resemble those of a UPS delivery man. Its high, granite lakes make for refreshing swimming, and exceptional fishing.
Early in the summer season the fishing is abundant. Streams are still flowing with snowmelt, trout are spawning and the backcountry is yet to have seen many eager backpackers and day hikers. For us, who went on this trip with the intent of catching fish, early August did not present itself with the benefits of an early summer excursion. However, this amplified the reward for hooking into a good size rainbow or brookie. Especially because the fish had become rather skittish at this point in the summer. In some spots the trout snapped up dry flies like candy, and at others the temptation of a nymph was too much to resist. Unfortunately for Ryan, my younger brother, the biggest fish of the trip escaped him by unhooking itself just before reaching shore. This was only a minor hiccup in his fishing endeavors. Ryan and my father tediously fished each day, and pulled in enough fish to fulfill their imaginary quota.
The trip was as therapeutic as it was exhaustive. We covered just over 20 miles and gained and lost roughly 1,600 feet of elevation while following Crabtree Trail and an assortment of other routes. My youngest brother, Andrew, showed unwavering commitment. Andrew does not backpack, nor does he hike much for that matter, but he did not complain once the entire trip. His dedication motivated us and kept us going. And by the end, as we crossed the last bridge to the parking lot, a resounding feeling of accomplishment overwhelmed us.
