Dispersed Camping with Exped – Part Three: Sonora Pass Sunset & a Night Above Aspen Meadows
Late Thursday afternoon, Tom and I left Carson Valley with our sights set on the rugged granite country of the Emigrant Wilderness. We were headed for Aspen Meadows Pack Station to join a backpacker’s assist trip the next morning. But first, we had one more stop in our summer series of dispersed camping adventures with Exped.
The drive south toward Sonora Pass is a journey in itself, and we made sure to make it memorable. Walker Burger in Walker, California, is practically a Highway 395 tradition, so we pulled in for a burger and shake—fuel for the adventure ahead. From there, the winding climb over Sonora Pass unfolded in a ribbon of sweeping alpine views and crisp, high-country air. As we cruised past Kennedy Meadows, the light flickered through tall pines and the slow summer roll of the river set a perfect backdrop of mountain calm.
By 7 p.m., we pulled into the Ranger Station at Pinecrest Lake to pick up our wilderness permit for the weekend, then continued up the mountain to Aspen Meadows Pack Station, tucked in behind Pinecrest Lake and Dodge Ridge. We dropped our packs with the crew and got instructions on where to find them the next afternoon at Upper Bucks Lake. From there, we backtracked about a half mile to find a quiet camp on the ridge overlooking the valleys below.
As luck would have it, we found a perch with an open view down a sweeping valley—and caught what may have been one of the most spectacular Sierra sunsets I’ve ever witnessed. Golden light poured across forested hillsides and meadows until the shadows claimed the canyon. A slight haze in the air painted the distant peaks with that coveted purple hue layered along the horizon.
With daylight fading, Tom pitched his tent while I unrolled my Exped MegaMat inflatable sleep pad and pumped it up in the back of the Chevy Avalanche. Tonight, I’d be testing the warmer side of the Exped Duo Sleeping Bag System—temperatures were holding in the mid-50s with just a gentle breeze drifting up from the valley. Below us, the bells of grazing horses and cattle echoed in the still air. Above, a nearly full moon rose over the ridgeline, washing the stars in soft light.
We settled into our Crazy Creek chairs, swapping stories and watching the moonlight spill over granite ridges. By 10 p.m., with tomorrow’s trail just miles away, we crawled into bed under the glow of the Sierra moon—resting easy before the adventure ahead.
This was the first night I tested the lighter, 40-degree side of the Duo system. Paired with the 4-inch MegaMat foam-inflated pad, there were no cold drafts creeping in from below, and the extra space in the Duo system allowed me to sprawl out in warmth and comfort. Before slipping off to sleep, I peeked out the tailgate for one last look—moonlight now fully illuminating the ridge and valley below. What a perfect quick camp spot.
After a solid night’s rest, I woke around 6:30 a.m. and rolled out of the truck to make coffee and watch the morning light sweep across the valley. Breakfast was Mountain House Granola with Blueberries, a simple and satisfying start to the day. Soon, Tom and I were quietly cleaning up camp. By 8 a.m., we were packed and on the road toward the Crabtree Trailhead, ready for a 14-mile day hike to reach our packs—one that would take us past the first six lakes of our Emigrant Wilderness adventure.
