We started off from San Jose a little after 4 am for the long drive to Bishop. After picking up our permit we met Robin and Pavla at the Burger Barn for lunch, followed by the long drive to the trailhead. The road into the Horton Lakes trailhead is quite rocky and rough. Pavla left her Subaru Forester about 3/4 mile from the trailhead and hopped in with robin for the final stretch. Here we are just before taking off on our hike, with the impressive mount Tom standing above us. We finally hit the trail mid-afternoon.

The route is an easy to follow old mind road that has deteriorated to single track trail in most places.

Looking back as we climb - the road just right of center is where we left the vehicles and started our hike (wilderness boundary). Coyote Flat in the distance.

Ruins of the old Sunny Boy mining camp. We didn't take the time to check out the cabins since we wanted to get in to the lake to find a decent campsite since it would be home for three nights. Horton Lakes is not a very popular spot, but we counted at least 12 people going in for the holiday weekend. Considering the daily quota is 10, I'm wondering which group was illegal (not us!)

We're finally climbing out of the desert scrub and start to see some good views. The curved summit farthest back is Four Gables, a peak I climbed from the other side a couple of years ago.

First signs of fall - one orange branch in a patch of aspens.

A view of the northern end of Basin mountain from the trail, with lower Horton Lake below. The summit is not visible from here, it's well-hidden behind these lower points.

Four Gables in the distance with an unnamed pointy peak ahead. We finally see the old mining cabins by Horton Lake, signifying the end of today's hike and climb (about 4 miles with 2000 ft of gain).

An old ore cart (?) at the turnoff to Horton Lake.

Old mining cabins above Horton Lake. And a peek at tomorrow's route up Basin Mountain (summit still not visible from here, but the route goes up the valley straight ahead)

Pavla passes an old bin.

Not a bad place to settle down.

We choose our temporary home a bit downhill from the cabins, just above the lake (seen through the trees on the right).

This is our second season with the Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 tent - a palace compared to our old tarptent. Also, 2 lbs heavier, but worth it.

Tomorrow's route up basin - across the talus on the other side of the lake, up the green (edge of the shadow), around the middle ridge on the right, and then across that plateau thingee to the summit which is hidden behind the big wall on the left.

Sunset towards Basin

Sunset towards Basin

We can see Bishop from camp, kind of weird. We even have a 3G phone signal up here.

Moonrise over Bishop.

Map of our track up Basin Mountain. Cross the talus on the south side of the lake then follow the use trails along the east side of the creek to the lower lake. Scramble up through the talus to the second lake at around ~11.4k. From this lake head towards the north ridge, and just before hitting the ridge turn south to the summit. It's an easy class 2 route right up to the summit block which has a little borderline class 3 exposure but is still really easy.

We tried to go around the other side of the lake on the way back but couldn't find a path through the marsh and bushes. Also: there are two chutes that look like they might go from the lower lake straight towards the summit. We didn't investigate since they looked steep and we had no beta. But they might go and help cut down on distance (not that this is a super long climb...)

basinmap

Moonset from camp.

There were some interesting beachy flat spots scattered through the talus field that would have made nice campsites.

That is NOT Basin. We can't see the summit from here.

Looking across the lake to tomorrow's route up Mt tom. You can see the old mining road switchbacking up the hillside where it pops out on the hanging valley below Mt Tom.

After getting through the talus we follow use trails along the east side of the creek. It's easy terrain and really pretty.

Looking across towards tomorrow's peak.

Just below the first small lake.

Just below the lower lake. We'll scramble up through the rocks to the second lake, sticking to the green in the middle of the slope most of the way.

An awful shot since the sun was in my eyes, but we can finally see the summit. It's not the high point in the middle, it's the little bump just to the left of it (it's further back so it looks shorter).

The amazingly clear lower lake.

It even has a beach!

Robin checks out the route. Mt Tom in the distance.

Looking back at the green lake. Pavla on the left for scale.

Working our way around to the second lake. A bit of rock hopping through here but nothing too hard. There was some slabby bedrock through here.

Up.

Robin, the lower lake, and Mt tom.

Lots of this.

We make it to the next plateau and the second lake. We'll head up the slope to the ridge in front of us, then turn right towards the summit.

Taking a break and grabbing water at the second lake.

That is about 1800 ft of slope to climb. The summit is the bump to the right of center.

Looking over at mt Tom from the second lake plateau. On the left, you can see where the last switchback of the old mining road tops out.

Four Gables