At a certain point in our lives,
We lose control over what’s happening to us,
And our lives become controlled by fate.
~Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Climbing Red Slate Mountain 13,123′
Overview
Red Slate Mountain climb, with its distinctive red granite summit, is a rewarding climb located near the McGee Creek Trailhead. This moderate hike offers stunning views and a mix of beauty and challenge, making it a great addition to your adventure in the Sierra Nevada.
Red Slate Mountain is on the Sierra Sampler List, which features 100 peaks that are relatively easy to access, enjoyable to climb, and/or possess other appealing qualities, originating from the main areas of the Sierra range. I have been working on climbing the peaks on this list. Also, it is one of 35 Sierra Club Mountaineers Peaks.
After a swift departure from the John Muir Trail due to an impending snowstorm, we made our way to Looney Beanies in Bishop. Dan, Milissa, and I eagerly consumed coffee, delightfully satisfying Beet Egg Bowls, and an assortment of other treats. In search of a backup plan for our JMT adventure, we opted to ascend Red Slate Mountain. Climbing Red Slate Mountain late season on a very high snow year ended up the good choice.
This trip is mostly on well-maintained trail, with a cross-country section from McGee Pass to the summit of Red Slate Mountain. It turned out to be a perfect plan. This short overnight trip is a winner. It is not only a physical challenge but also an opportunity to experience the unmatched beauty of the high Sierra. I loved every minute. Highly recommended.
TRIP DATE: September 28-29, 2023
DISTANCE: 21.3 miles round trip
ELEVATION GAIN: 6,052′
TRAILHEAD: McGee Creek Trailhead with trash, pit toilets
DIFFICULTY: Moderate, with some class 2 scrambling
NAVIGATION: Map skills and GPS encouraged
BEST TIME TO HIKE: Summer and Fall
WATER: Many natural water sources available
PERMITS: Required for overnight camping at recreation.gov online reservations
CELL SERVICE: Limited at the trailhead
Guidebook, Maps, and GPS
- Secor’s The High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, Trails route description for Red Slate Mountain
- This is my go to map for the Mammoth Lakes area Mammoth Lakes Trail Map
- Click “Open in “CalTopo” in upper left hand corner of map to view and download GPX.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1: McGee Creek Trailhead to Big McGee Lake
- Begin at the McGee Creek Trailhead and hike approximately 7 miles to Big McGee Lake.
- Gain about 2,916 feet in elevation along the way.
- Enjoy the scenic beauty of the trail and the surrounding wilderness.
- Camp at Big McGee Lake for the night.
Day 2: Big McGee Lake to Red Slate Mountain Summit
- Start early to climb from Big McGee Lake towards McGee Pass.
- Ascend the mountain using a faint use trail, navigating through rocky terrain and soft talus.
- Reach the summit for breathtaking views of the surrounding Sierra Nevada landscape.
- Descend the peak and return to trailhead.
Route Options and Tips
- Out and Back: Hike to Big McGee Lake and then back to McGee Creek Trailhead (omit Red Slate Mountain Climb)
- Another option would be to camp at Big McGee Lake and day hike to the top of McGee Pass and camp a second night at Big McGee Lake. Yet another option is omit the peak and hike the trail to the pass.
- Follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles to minimize your impact on the environment.
- HOT TIP: Print or Save an elevation profile for your hike, I use CalTopo map program. This tool is invaluable for planning your hikes and getting a detailed understanding of the terrain you will encounter.
Follow these steps:
- Open CalTopo: Go to the CalTopo website.
- Select Your Route: Create or select your path using the various mapping tools available.
- Generate Elevation Profile: Once your route is established, CalTopo provides an option to view the elevation profile. Look for the option in the sidebar or under the route options.
- Customize Display: You can customize the elevation profile view by selecting options for distance, elevation gain, and more to suit your analysis and planning needs.
- Download and Save the Profile: If needed, you can download a GPX or image file of the profile for off-line use.
Recommended Gear
- Food Protection: Food trash, and scented items must be stored in bear-safe containers or counter balanced, like an Ursack
- Satellite Messenger: I carry a Garmin inReach Mini 2 and highly recommend it.
- Backpacking Kit: It is important to get your backpacking kit as light as possible for safety, comfort, and your health. Here is my current lightweight gear list.
- Additional Layers: For this later season trip, I added a fleece mid-layer, pants, and warmer puffy jacket with hood
Trip Video
Daily Journal
Day 1 Afternoon – McGee Creek Trailhead to Big McGee Lake
7.7 miles
2,824′ elevation gain
This Trailhead can get hot, so starting early is best, while late season hikes can begin in the early afternoon. We set out around 12:30 pm after getting all our gear reorganized in the trailhead parking lot. We needed to shuffle gear for a short, colder overnight backpack. The plan was to hike about 7 miles to Big McGee Lake.
Setting off, we walked along McGee Creek, surrounded by stunning scenery that shifted with every step. The sagebrush and aspens, beginning to turn colors, create a prime leaf-peeping area, vibrant yellows and reds painting the landscape. As we ventured deeper into wilderness, we decided to stop for a lunch break in the shade, allowing us to recharge our energy while taking in our surroundings.
A creek crossing was tricky to navigate, adding a sense of excitement to our hike. Mount Crocker appeared in the distant hiding Red Slate’s summit. The area’s beauty is striking, with vast landscapes.
As we climbed, surpassing the elevation of 9,000′, the views became even more breathtaking. Every ridge we ascended offered a new panorama, and at 10,000′, we entered an alpine environment filled with wildflowers in bloom and unique trees. Eventually, we reached a conifer forest that provided much needed respite from the sun.
By 4:00 pm, we arrived at a large meadow near a cirque with distant ice fields glistening in the evening’s fading light. After a refreshing snack, we traversed into the magical cirque with the hidden gem of turquoise Big McGee Lake.
Upon reaching the lake around 5 pm, we searched for a sheltered campsite as winds were picking up and discovered a camp on a rock perch above the lake.
The highlight of our evening was dinner on a rock, where we shared stories and laughed while watching light dance across the lake’s surface. Although mosquitoes became a nuisance as the wind died down, it reminded us that even paradise has its drawbacks. We quickly dove into our tents and prepared for an early morning climb of Red Slate Mountain. .
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Note: Several facts are taken from Milissa’s journal of the day. View her blog at Moving Mountains.
Day 2 – Big McGee Lake to top of Red Slate Mountain then back to McGee Trailhead
13.67 miles
3,228′ elevation gain, 5,887′ elevation loss
Alarms went off at 5:00 am to prepare for a 6:00 am go time.Through the night we could hear wind up high, but somehow it never reached our tents.
We stashed our equipment under a tree in some rocks to come back to. We headed up, switch-backing to the northwest towards McGee Pass. The peak was expected to be a class 2 route and mostly chossy slog of some loose scree and red talus leading to a summit cap. R.J. Secor describes the summit as a “Big pile of rubble with a swell view from the summit.”
The views, color, morning light, and the sunrise filled our hearts with gratitude and awe. Everything looked like we were part of a painting. We continue the climb reaching Little McGee Lake, filled with chunks of ice and snow.
The trail immediately shifts to rock and switches back and forth to gain some elevation. Lingering snowfields from last winter quickly cover the trail and we were forced to find safer options up and over rock. When reaching a narrow bowl, Red Slate Mountain comes into view. After crossing the snow filled bowl it was time for a much needed snack.
We found an excellent use trail leading up from the pass, briefly disappearing on the lower angled slopes near the base but reforming near a bulge halfway up the slope.
It is less than a mile of climbing to the top. At the summit our little group celebrated with views for days.
- East to the Mount Morrison and Mount Baldwin
- West to the Silver Divide
- South to Red and White mountain and the Abbott group
- View north towards Mammoth Mountain, Ritter and Banner
After a short break, we started back down the southeast slopes retracing our route down. The trip back to McGee Trailhead was downhill, uneventful, and filled with sharing, talking and laughing. Our little group ended up making something unanticipated (a late season snowstorm) into a memorable time in the wilderness.
Note: Several facts are taken from Milissa’s journal of the day. View her blog at Moving Mountains.
Favorite Gear from the Hike
- Fleece: Patagonia R1 Air Zip-Pullover: Warm, packs easily, comfortable, and breaths well. Love the fit too. I wear a women’s medium. Dan wears a men’s small.
- Gaiters: Dirty Girl: Magically these thin little wraps of stretchy material give very effective protection from rock and dirt and even warm up the ankles a little on cold days. I wear a size medium (my shoe size is women’s 9 1/2).
