Quail Meadow 7870 ft - Marie Lake 10555 ft ...12.8 miles
day 9 : 8 July 2003
  
  broadwalk  
  ...the best way to walk across the soggy marsh just after Quail Meadow  
  
  
   
  switchbacks  
  from soggy marshland to the dry steep northern slope of Bear Ridge... the switchbacks up the ridge seem interminable  
  
  
   
  cold beer ahead?  
  yes, cold beer is definitely available at Vermilion Valley Resort for northbound hikers, but southbound hikers have to wait till they reach Whitney Porter  
  
  
   
  bear creek  
  after crossing over the very dry Bear Ridge, the JMT is now in the beautiful and wet canyon of Bear Creek with the trail paralleling the creek on its east bank, with wildflowers plentiful everywhere  
  
  
   
  rosemarie meadow  
  a most charming place with great views of the nearby peaks, such as the Seven Gables; but also here at Rosemarie Meadow is here our mosquito woos start  
  
  
   
  outlet of marie  
  the outlet of Marie Lake that flows down to Marshall Lake and thence on to form Bear Creek  
  
  
   
  mosquito lake  
  surrounded by towering barren rocky peaks and a great view towards Selden Pass, the banks of Marie Lake would be an ideal campground for the night if not for the billions of mosquitoes that swamp here  
  
  
   
  taliban  
  using a towel as protection against the marauding mosquitoes that gets into everything... nostrils, mouth, spaghetti  
  
  
   
  golden peaks  
  the setting sun casts a beautiful golden glow on the otherwise dull barren peaks