Noob near the Sierras

[BackpackingtheSierras]

Hi all. Hope everyone is getting some awesome trips locked in for this year. I'm hoping to explore outside of California this year some more. With a focus on Wyoming and Montana. I usually don't join community forums, but as an outside passive observer this place seems pretty chill, so thought I'd give it a go. -Jeff

 

[wsp_scott]

Welcome, I have a late July trip planned for the Sierra, out and back over Shepherd Pass

 

[balzaccom]

Welcome! Ok--that bottom photo is Benson Lake, where are the other two?

 

[BackpackingtheSierras]

Welcome! Ok--that bottom photo is Benson Lake, where are the other two?

Near Sonora Pass. The lake is Barney lake in the Hoover, but I have heard it called Benson before and even seen people use that name in trip blogs. But Benson is a bit further south west in Yosemite and reachable on the same trail. They look very similar.

 

[balzaccom]

Yep--I know both of those lakes...and I think you are wrong about this.! Here's a shot of Benson--same split mountain in the distance. Same sandy beach:




And here is Barney, with much taller peaks to the West...:

 

[BackpackingtheSierras]

Wrong about what? I literarily took that picture at Barney lake two years ago and then hiked on to Peeler Lake. Dude, I'm new around here and this is the kind of stuff why I have always avoided participating in forums.

 

[swmalone]

@balzaccom looking at the pictures you posted and enlarging the one that @BackpackingtheSierras posted I think you might both agree it is Barney Lake.

Just from what I saw.

 

[balzaccom]

Yep. Just looked at these again. The beach at Benson us what threw me off. Apologies to the OP.

 

[DuratanZ]

These are simply incredible views, even when hunting, I have not seen such beauty close!