White Bark Vista

Although Andy's feet hurt and I was sick with a little influenza we still drove up to explore around Shaver and Huntington Lakes. We stopped at the main public parking area at Shaver and took the dogs along the beach. We didn't encounter anyone and the dogs enjoyed the time. Commando demonstrated his great swimming and stick chasing skills.

We took the back way up to Huntington Lake. Andy remembered a great granite overlook so we continued on up to Kaiser Pass. Mother remembered a camping trip here as a child with Uncle Norman.

There were only a few inches of snow, the sky was clear and sunny and temperature was in the mid-40's. We first tried driving up the road but the car slipped and we had no idea whether it was passable or not. We chose the better part of valor and parked the car off the road at Kaiser Pass.

We started out with two women on cross country skis and soon left them in the dust (well, snow). The climb was steady, but not at all steep and I wasn't bothered by the altitude.

Close to the top, an SUV passed us so I guess the road was passable after all. Still, we had the moral high ground.

The view at the top was magnificent! It looks over Edison Lake and the Ansel Adams and John Muir wildernesses. Andy had cleared the summit long before I did so he was ready to go once he'd come down from some nearby granite outcroppings. The SUV that had passed us also had some annoying barking dogs that they said weren't friendly.

Perhaps they were annoyed at off leash Commando and Moose, but our dogs are well behaved...well, sort of. We did watch Moose because he's very old and deaf and may be a bit crotchety with the young whippersnappers trying to pee on his lawn.

We started back being mindful of some of the patches of ice covered in snow. The SUV headed down and we had a bit of a job getting deaf Moose out of the way but no animals were harmed.

Two other SUVs headed up as we headed down.

We thought we were at 8000 feet but we were really over 9000 feet. The distance was short, about a mile of walking, less than that as the crow flies.

Enchanted Pools Deux

Made it! On the last trip I was within 100 feet of the pools (maybe 300), but it was good that I turned back because it was dark when I got back.

This time, because I knew the "trail" I made excellent time to the pools and was sitting on a rock between the upper and lower pool eating my leftover pizza within an hour. They are beautiful, exactly as described by the name.

We hiked a bit upstream and I crossed and tried to find the Rockbound trail to return. I didn't find the trail and we ended up bushwhacking to the lower falls (where steep cliffs stopped us) and beating through some willows and stepping into the stream up to the middle calf to cross.

Commando needed some urging, but he finally came through.

I think next time I'll try the Rockbound trail and see if I can determine where to cut off and head for the pools.

This also looks like a nice trail up to Twin Lakes, much easier and more pleasant than the real trail. That will probably wait for summer though!

I'm very glad I made it this time.

Enchanted Pools

Tried to get to the enchanted pools and didn't make it. In my defense, we didn't leave till noon and it gets dark early. I also didn't have a map or compass and only my memory of looking at someone else's map to guide me. I also met some people on the trail who confirmed that if I just headed left on the faint trail off of the Twin Lakes trail and had some luck I might find them. I probably got very, very close...say, within 1/4 mile.

I'm glad I turned back when I did because it was almost completely dark when I got back to the car. There was just enough light to see the beautiful Crystal Range reflected in the mirror still Wright's Lake with a tiny campfire across the lake and an early star over Mt. Price to add extra charm to the scene.

It was an excellent hike over awesome granite slabs with some stream crossings and a waterfall. I could hear a bigger stream at the place I stopped in a steep canyon below (probably the source of the pools) but it was getting late.

As usual, Commando enjoyed running around like a fiend. We only met 4 people. Three in a group at the beginning, and 1 guy who came up behind me on the way back. He'd been at Grouse Lake.

I wanted to try again today, but I was more tired than I expected and so I lazed at home with a small trip out to get a new ear piece.

Snow 2008!

Drove up to Wright's Lake again, this time via the partially paved Granite Springs road. The weather was overcast but clearing up and the recent storms hadn't dumped too much snow so I figured the roads would be driveable and they were.

The forest service had been clearing the forest all season and with the start of rain and snow we drove past dozens of burning slash piles. I was surprised at how much heat those piles create!

Wright's Lake was more overcast than the rest of the area as Commando and I headed out on the short 1.5 mile loop trail. I had brought my snow shoes, but as the snow was only a few inches, I didn't wear them.

It was quiet with only two sets of human tracks. We met the couple and their two dogs about 5 minutes from starting out. They had two. The dogs exchanged pleasantries and we each headed our separate ways. I was glad to be able to follow their footprints in case I lost the trail.

Well, they weren't very good at route finding as it turned out. After a very short climb, their print stopped when the "trail" did at one of the cabins and they had looped back on an alternate route. I pressed on a bit into the brush, but it was obvious that there was no trail.

I backtracked to the flat land and started ahead at the most recent "Loop Trail" sign. I kept looking, but no other sign. I took a side road (snowed over) that went in the right direction. We passed a few more cabins and then some signs saying that vehicles couldn't pass.

I could see one set of human tracks from the weekend before, that had been snowed over. I could also see what looked like a trail, if I were a heavily travelled trail covered with a few inches of snow.

Still no "Loop Trail" signs but the route looked good. There were some orange markers nailed to some trees, and signs in different directions saying "Horses" and "No Horses" at a large clearing. The horse trail didn't look very well used.

I was just starting to get a little worried that I might have to backtrack when we finally encountered the trail junctions to Rockbound Lakes and Twin Lakes. A bit down from here I sat on a cozy rock, ate my snack and drank some water. There is a spectacular meadow above the lake with Silver Creek running through it. The creek is very still with little current (usually!) and someday I'll have to bring my kayak up.

We continued onward and as we neared the cabins on this side of the lake there were fresh footprints again. The sky cleared up a bit and I thought maybe Red Peak might show up.

Back at the car Commando got to run around with a beautiful red hound dog pup. Great end to the day!

Lyon's Creek Trail

Although the weather was frightful with rain (and snow above 6K) I still wanted to hike. Commando and I got into the deathtrap and headed up to Wright's Lake via Ice House and the Wright's Lake tie road.

I was an uneventful drive although the huge rain in Placerville didn't fill me with confidence.

There was about an inch of slushy snow just below the big meadow at the junction of the tie road and Wright's lake road and it continued to snow/rain steadily. Snow had accumulated on the road to the lake with many tracks of previous vehicles. I had passed a few hunters on this last day of deer season so was glad that I'd remembered to bring Commando's bright yellow slicker.

At Wright's lake the gate was open. I had planned to hike around the lake, but when I saw the snow on the road, and that it was continuing to snow, I chickened out and decided to head a bit lower to hike. Although the deathtrap had handled well enough so far, I really don't have a lot of confidence in it and I really don't want to become a statistic.

We stopped at the Lyon's Creek trailhead. I hadn't hiked here in the past because the parking area has always been crowded. Today, there was a truck towing a small boat and that was it. As I parked, a couple (with two charming dogs) pulled in to hike. Our dogs got acquainted and ran around like loons while we geared up.

They hiked on ahead as I made my slower way along. For some reason my cell phone wasn't working, although it should have plenty of power, and I wasn't sure how long I would be out. The terrain was pretty, with about an inch of very wet snow. The temperature couldn't quite decide whether to be freezing or not, so there was a mix of snow, light rain, and even some sleet at one point. There was about an inch of snow on everything.

As far as I went along the trail (which wasn't far, maybe a mile) the trail was easy. Relatively level with only a few rocks. It's mainly a typical alpine forest on granite. There are a few views of the creek from just off the trail.

I will have to try this trail in better weather, and even perhaps stay overnight at one of the lakes. Next year!