June 3, 2001
Greetings Rock Creek fans! What an incredible spring we've had in the
Eastern Sierra thus far. The high temperature was 70 on Thursday, well above normal, and temperatures for April and May consistently exceeded the
norm. Now that June is here, don't expect the weather to change much either.
Even though this weekend was windy and much cooler than last week, dry and warmer weather is expected to resume.
It is not expected to get quite as warm as it has been however. Check the website's weather page for
the very latest...
http://www.rockcreeklake.com/weather/
Trail conditions in the Rock Creek area are incredible for this time of year as a result of an extremely dry winter in the area.
The weather has continued to be warm and dry for well over a month now, and the result has
been an early runoff. Creeks and lakes in the canyon are presently full, but the water has begun to slowly recede, and will continue to do so for
the next 5 months. Despite the fact that Southern California received above normal precipitation this winter, this did not translate into a
normal snowpack for the Eastern Sierra, particularly the central and northern portions of the east side.
In fact, much of the area ended up with a snowpack significantly below normal, and Rock Creek led the way with
one of the lowest, if not THE lowest snow water content in the region. The
final tally in Rock Creek showed that the snow in Rock Creek held 37% of the normal water content for the year.
This, combined with the warm and dry weather for the past month or two, has translated into
summer-like trail conditions. Last Saturday we hiked to the Gem Lakes, encountering snow
only beyond the Chickenfoot Lake junction. With the temperatures of last
week, much of that snow has undoubtedly melted, along with the thin layer of ice that was present on Chickenfoot Lake.
On Sunday we hiked to Dorothy Lake (Tamarack Lakes area, elevation 10, 500+ feet), finding the trail to
be dry and dusty, yet spectacular. By late July and August, these trails will be extremely dusty, dry, wind-blown, and torn up by pack animals.
Hopefully rain from afternoon thunderstorms will help control the dust, but with the extremely dry conditions thunderstorms could possibly do more harm
than good, in the form of lightning-generated fires. This could be a very interesting summer due to the extremely dry conditions.
Francis Lake is another great hike in the Tamarack Lakes/Dorothy Lake area.
The lake has also been an excellent fishery over the years, particularly last summer.
It was one of the area's hidden jewels. This winter, however, the lake received a significant kill of fish, a result of cold
early-season temperatures and a thick layer of ice that apparently
suffocated many of the fish. Jim King (Rock Creek Lakes Resort) reports that several hikers have reported no sign of fish in the lake and a number
of dead fish on the lake's shore. He plans to contact DFG in Bishop in hopes of restoring the lake's fishery through aerial planting or other means.
Speaking of the fishing, it has been very good thus far in both the creek and lake.
As of last report, it was still a bit early for flyfishing, but I'm sure that small nymphs are working in the creek and pond area below the
lake. Try a #20 beaded hare's ear or prince nymph. Various nymph patterns
would be worth a shot until surface hatches become more consistent. Last weekend, I went out Sunday afternoon and spied several fish upstream from
the lake above the bridge. They were not very active however, and I only got one on a #2 Panther Martin.
The lake was more productive. I caught 3 in about an hour on red/gold and perch Thomas Buoyants, and on Monday I
trolled with a friend from 11:30-2:00 and caught four trolling an olive wooly worm.
He caught 2 trolling a wooly bugger of the same color. That's pretty good considering it was midday.
I'm sure that trolling a wet fly in the early evening hours is excellent right now, and will continue to be so
for much of the season. This has always been one of the best ways to fish Rock Creek Lake.
As for bait, Sierra Gold, various colors of Power Bait, and nightcrawlers have been working in both the creek and lake.
TJ Chase from the Resort caught an 18 inch, 2 pound rainbow at the lake's outlet
using a Rock Creek Special fly. Expect fishing to continue to be good until August.
Lots of fish have been planted and the fishing pressure has not been heavy.
Plantings will continue weekly until the end of the fishing season in October.
Also, Alpers trout will probably be planted near the end of June. Stay tuned...
Camping in Rock Creek is the area's biggest draw, along with the fishing. My family began camping there in 1975, and many of you have been coming to
the area much longer than that. The area's beauty and the location of the
campsites are unparalleled in the Eastern Sierra...some would say anywhere.
Still, the campground managers make it that much more enjoyable. Many of the same campground managers have returned year after year, lending to the
area's "family atmosphere" that is so apparent anywhere you go in Rock Creek.
This year, you will be happy to know that Bud and Lois have returned to French Camp, Ellen and Arnell have returned to Iris and Big
Meadow, and the same great hosts have come back to East Fork, including Allen and Yvonne Crume, and the canyon managers Pat and Art
Dubuc. Matt and Carol, hosts at Pine Grove 2 years ago, have returned to manage Tuff,
and Debra at Pine Grove is back as well. You may be disappointed to know that Billie and Teele, managers of the lake for the past few years, have
chosen to travel this summer and will not return. However, Dick and Laura are the new managers at Rock Creek Lake and I had the opportunity to meet
them last weekend while camping in site #26. They are VERY NICE people and
an asset to the canyon. You will be pleased with their hospitality and friendly nature...I'm sure of it.
They are "Rock Creek People."
It will be a great summer for camping in Rock Creek...if you can deal with the bears.
Yes, those pesky 400 pound rodents are back again this year, despite the fact that the one that caused most of the damage last summer
was taken out in October. Thus far no damage to vehicles has been reported, but they have gotten into a few coolers and trashed a couple of
poorly maintained campsites. It's IMPERATIVE that you store your food correctly!
If you have any questions about appropriate food storage ask the campground managers.
They will be more than happy to answer your questions. The installation of bear boxes will be completed at Rock Creek
Lake, Upper Pine Grove and Pine Grove very soon, and they will be installed in strategic sites in East Fork beginning this month.
It will take another 2-3 years, maybe longer, before every site in the canyon contains a bear
box. If you have any questions regarding bear boxes and their locations, visit the camping page of the site and contact the Dubucs, managers of the
camping in the canyon.
Lastly, Rock Creek Lakes Resort is serving PIE!!! Oh yeeeeeee, it's on the
table and all of you that have waited all winter need not wait any longer.
Strawberry's gotta be on the menu for tomorrow. Hint...check out the August issue of Sunset Magazine.
Also, the store's open, the cabins are being rented (call to check openings), and the boats are in the water.
By the way, the Resort's rental motorboats cost $45 for a full day and $33 for a half day, and rowboats cost $25 for a full day and $16 for a half day.
Take advantage of the small crowds and come up in June before the kids are
out of school! The weather's been great, the fishing's good, and the trails are wide open.
YOU CAN'T BEAT JUNE!!! Well, unless you come in late September for the fall colors, but that's a whole other issue.
Do something for me...Take it easy and THINK CREEK!!!
Tim