Submitted by Basilbop (not verified) on Fri, 2006-07-07 23:24.
It is also possible to reach Obelisk Lake by heading up the canyon wall south of the Merced Lake High Sierra Camp--it's not as steep as it looks, and the open slabs may be preferable to the brush-choked Grey Peak Fork route.
There is a reliable log jam a few yards upriver from the camp's water intake (follow the black pipe) for crossing the Merced River. Once across the river, head up the slabs to a forested saddle west of "peak" 9482 on the topo, midway between Merced and Obelisk Lake. You'll cross an old cavalry trail south of this saddle--old maps suggest it might connect Grey Peak Fork with Starr King Meadow and Illilouette Creek. From the saddle, contour along the west side of canyon that leads to Obelisk Lake. To make a loop trip from Merced Lake, you can return via Grey Peak Fork as above.
It is also possible to reach
It is also possible to reach Obelisk Lake by heading up the canyon wall south of the Merced Lake High Sierra Camp--it's not as steep as it looks, and the open slabs may be preferable to the brush-choked Grey Peak Fork route.
There is a reliable log jam a few yards upriver from the camp's water intake (follow the black pipe) for crossing the Merced River. Once across the river, head up the slabs to a forested saddle west of "peak" 9482 on the topo, midway between Merced and Obelisk Lake. You'll cross an old cavalry trail south of this saddle--old maps suggest it might connect Grey Peak Fork with Starr King Meadow and Illilouette Creek. From the saddle, contour along the west side of canyon that leads to Obelisk Lake. To make a loop trip from Merced Lake, you can return via Grey Peak Fork as above.