Wright's Lake to Twin Lakes

Took Commando the Wonder Dog up 50 to the Wright's Lake exit east of Pollock Pines. This is a beautiful area with summer cabins and camping, but it certainly isn't that crowded, although, it's more crowded than some other areas.

The trail goes up pretty steadily and soon gets into beautiful granite mixed with pine forest. I made it up to a beautiful waterfall and rested and then turned back.

On the way back noticed a tiny tree seedling, about the size of my thumb growing in a large granite erratic (Hummer sized at least). Although I can't hold out much hope for this seedlings long term survival, I have to give it props for overcoming the odds of sprouting and finding a place without much competition.

This will be a great place to camp.

Plummer Ridge

Drove around off of the Mormon Emigrant road and discovered this little area to hike. It's a long flat ridge that goes on and on and on. There are some good views of the Valley and lots of pine and low growing shrubs. There's a Forest Service cabin that provided some interest. It's too bad they don't plow the roads in the winter because this would be a nice place to snowshoe.

Loch Leven Lakes via Salmon Lake

Commando and I hit the trail around noon. I didn't do a very good job of packing up because what I thought was full big bottle of water turned out to be only about a quarter full. I had a vitamin water, but could really have used more water. I also left the snacks in the car.

The trail immediately enters the end of a pretty marshy meadow with red wing blackbirds. Then it climbs for about 1/2 mile through forest. There were a lot of trees down over the trail and no one had tidied them off of the trail. The trail levels off through a more open forest and Commando was quite sure he was going to finally catch that rodent in this terrain.

Next, there's a still lake, perhaps 20 years from becoming a marsh or even a meadow. I crossed the inlet on a downed log that made a perfect bridge. Then the trail climbs up a steep and rocky section, another flattish ridge and then down a steep and rocky section.

Halfway down, you can see the first destination (1 and 1/4 miles) Salmon Lake. Personally, I would have made the trail straight down the granite to the lake instead of veering off then circling back to the lake...but what do I know? I sat on a very comfortable and convenient granite boulder and soaked my feet in the lake. I was hoping it would be icy, but it was quite warm. There was quite a school (or swarm) of fish (catfish??) with long "whiskers." They were curious about my feet and kept making little lunges at my toes. Finally one was bold and actually "bit" my toe. Even though I'd been enjoying them and knew it was coming I still yelped and pulled my feet out. There's just something primitive about it.

Back on the trail I had to decide if I'd had enough, or could I press on the other mile for Loch Leven. I decided to press on.

This seemed a much shorter mile than the last one, and I'll have to check the map again to see if they count the trail to Upper Lake Leven or not. We finally make it to the lake and saw several groups of people who had come up by the main trail. I briefly considered going another quarter mile to Middle LL but realized I was a bit tired and maybe I should head back.

The trail back was a challenge but we made it. This is a nice trail, but the Grouse Ridge area is more scenic if you ask me.

I'll post the pictures I took later.

Grouse Ridge Again

This area of the Tahoe National Forest (off of 80 and 20, up Bowman Lake Road) provides quick access to the high, granite country. The Grouse Lakes region is as stuffed with lakes as Minnesota.

The beginning is at just below the Grouse Ridge Lookout, and the trail descends over granite. I can't believe mountain bikers take this trail...one was cycling up the hill as I went down. It's rocky and steep! There were plenty of wildflowers soaking up the good sun, including this Spreading Phlox.




I'm still hiking pretty slowly, only about 1 mile per hour. This trail is about 2.5 miles, so with stops (including a fabulous view of Island Lake) it took 3 hours. The main stop was on a red hill with some gray granite rocks. I sat on this one.

Leek Springs Lookout

Drove up with the faithful hound Commando for a hike/bike ride. Weather was perfect, sunny, hot (but not too hot) with a few puffy clouds for interest.

My original plan was to take some roads around a meadow (Leek Springs Meadow?) based on the view from Google Maps. I thought I'd bike and give my Achilles tendon another weekend of rest. On the way down, a ranger passed and suggested that I head to Leek Springs Lookout instead. I should have listened. She didn't sound too sanguine about a meadow loop.

We continued on and got to the junction of forest road 9N15 and the way to LSL. 9N15 was (according to Google) the right road to go along the meadow. I took that one, the less travelled one.

Shortly after, there was a private road leading off across the meadow (barely glimpsed through the pines). We forged ahead on the rocky road with two snow berms and two downed trees to struggle through and over. The road traversed a hill and seemed to NOT be going to cross the meadow anytime soon.

Have I mentioned that I can be stubborn? We continued on and just as it looked like the road was going to turn and cross...it ended. True, it ended at a nice overlook towards the Valley with some granite hills nearby filling in the scenery nicely, but, no meadow crossing.

We strolled around a little and I briefly considered striking out overland to get to the road I "knew" was just on the other side of the ravine at the apparent west end of the meadow. If I'd had hiking boots and no bike I might have tried it. Fortunately, I had my sandals and bike and didn't feel like trying to schlep through the forest with those impediments.

We drank some more water and headed back. It was beautiful both ways with many, many blue flowers of many kinds. There were also several seasonal creeks from the snow melt and Commando cooled his paws in most of them.

Back at the car, I loaded up and we drove to LSL. Wow. Beautiful. Stunning 360 degree views of the Sierras. I could see where we had been earlier down below. The woman at the lookout was chatty but entertaining. There is quite a complex there with a helicopter pad, many satellite dishes and various scientific looking devices. I would have asked more questions, but she couldn't let me up in the tower and she couldn't come down.

After leaving LSL we drove along Foster Meadow Road which took us back to 88, the to the Mormon Emigrant Trail. We briefly explored the road on the other side of Leek Spring Meadow that I'd been trying unsucessfully to walk. I was a short road and ended at the meadow with a locked gate. It said this was a sensitive ecological area (true) and no one could pass without the express written consent of Fish and Game. Hmpph.

Good day though, I will definitely be visiting this area more often.