A quick note to all of you thirsty, late season hikers out there!: Horton Lake is your last water source, and your next water source! There is no water in the basin over the next pass, and there is no water on the final ascent to the summit either! (This is true for routes through both the western couloir above the mineshaft, as well as the southwestern ridgeline)! Early-Mid season hikers, you might get lucky with some snow runoff somewhere, but 🤷♀️
So! Horton Lake! Or rather, Horton Lakes! According to local legend, Upper Horton Lake used to be know for growing unusually large trout, allegedly upwards of 20 inches. All three lakes used to be stocked with trout, though the fish have now been removed from the uppermost lake in order to facilitate the growth of the Yellow-Legged Frog population, a species native to the Sierra Nevadas! The lake(s) reside beneath Basin Mountain (southeast) and Four Gables (west)! To the south, Mt Humphreys peaks out from behind Basin Mountain! There is also a myriad of tentsites by the lake!
Bonus tip: There are some cute lil’ cabins here too!