Back-packing Trip: Virginia Lakes to Return Lake and out at Green Creek

On Monday, July 11th, dad, Kara, Cade, and I set out from Virginia Lakes for Return Lake. We spent 3 nights at Return Lake and then hiked out over Virginia Pass and then down to the Green Lake trail head. We had left a car at the Green Lake trail head and then drove to Virginia Lakes to start our hike.

The hike out of Virginia Lakes (Hoover Wilderness) starts at about 9,850 ft and can be a hot one because the trail is pretty exposed most of the way. We got lucky and had a nice breeze the entire time and cooler temperatures. After hiking passed Blue, Cooney, and Frog Lakes, we started climbing to the top of Summit Pass (11,100 ft).

                          

On the way up Summit Pass.

There were beautiful purple flowers blooming out of the rocks.

                             

  

The top of Summit Pass looking toward Virginia Peak.

  

At the top of Summit Pass.

A bouquet growing out of the rocks.

After heading down the other side of Summit Pass we made our way to Summit Lake. Once we reached Summit Lake we found a nice big rock to sit on and eat lunch. After lunch, a couple of us took a nap on the rock.

                            

Kara in her Foxey Designs t-shirt and hat.

After resting at Summit Lake for a while we continued on the trail. Once we got all the way around Summit, we crossed into Yosemite National Park. The trail became heavily wooded and speckled with a variety of wildflowers.

We had some shady downhill after Summit Lake.

After hiking about 1.5 miles passed Summit Lake, we came to a stream and a fork in the trail. We continued right up the stream. If we had gone across the stream and followed that trail we would have headed toward Tuolumne Meadows.

Eventually we made it to a canyon. Return Creek flows through it so I am going to refer to it as Return Canyon.

Virginia Peak and Return Creek. 

We had to go off trail to get to Return Lake. One last little climb and we made it. The total mileage for that first day was about 9.5.

Return Lake

The first morning Kara made Cranberry Macadamia nut cinnamon rolls. Yum!!!

The first full day at Return Lake (10,230 ft) we relaxed, fished, and swam. The next day we did a day hike to the top of Grey Butte (11,370 ft) and then on to Soldier Lake. From Return Lake to the top of Grey Butte is only about 1.5 miles.

Heading toward Grey Butte.

Grey Butte

Some flowers along the way.

View from the top of Grey Butte. Looking down on Soldier Lake and out toward Yosemite. Half Dome can be spotted in this photo.

Looking out the other direction. You can see Return Lake and Virginia Peak.

Kara at the top of Grey Butte.

Cade at the top of Grey Butte and it was his birthday that day.

Here I am at the top.

After making it to the top of Grey Butte and hanging out for a bit, we climbed down and went to Soldier Lake and took a freezing cold dip. 

It was Cade's birthday that day so Kara made a Raspberry cheesecake to celebrate. It was so delicious!

Happy birthday Cade!

Kara hanging out in her Foxey Designs t-shirt.

Our last evening at Return Lake. Can you spot Cade fishing?

The next morning we started our hike out.

Lupine along Return Creek.

We began to climb Virginia Pass. The trail was difficult to find but a little less than halfway up we found it.

                       

It was about 2 miles to the top of Virginia Pass from Return Lake. From Return Lake we climbed down to the bottom of Return Canyon, crossed Return Creek and then climbed about 750 ft. to the top of Virginia Pass. From there it was all downhill to Green Lake. I'm not sure the exact mileage but I would guess it was about 6 miles from the Pass to the Green Lake trail head.

At the top of Virginia Pass.

When we got out of the wilderness we headed straight to Jolly Kone in Bridgeport- the perfect ending to any back-packing trip! ;)

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