Dollar Lake, beginning of the Rae Lakes area.
Fin Dome in the Dollar Lake area.
Rae Lakes basin.
Rae Lakes Basin
This area has a reputation for good fishing, and the lakes themselves are very picturesque. A side trail accesses the Sixty Lake Basin—for an even more remote fishing experience.
#33: 36.8176 N, 118.4073 W 10564'
Bear Heaven
The Guide to the John Muir Trail by Thomas Winnett and Kathy Morey notes that several areas along the JMT are reputedly "Bear Heavens." The Rae Lakes area is one of these. They advise using canisters and say that food-hanging techniques are ineffective.
We did not camp in this area, and didn't have problems with bears anywhere on the JMT, but using a bear canister is simple, effective, and required by law on several stretches of the JMT.