Sunday, July 18th, to Thursday, July 29th
Well, I don’t even remember all the things we did Sunday, July 18th–drove cars around the Ebbetts fire (driving through some very intense smoke), stayed at Fallen Leaf Lake campground near Tahoe, and finally, finally got back out on the trail on Monday, July 19th–hiking from Echo Lake to Barker Pass.
It was a test hike through the Desolation Wilderness–to see if my knee could stand up to day-after-day backpacking, starting with a ten mile day, then eleven, then twelve. The knee did fine! I got rid of the heavy knee brace after the first day. Met Juice, who just graduated with a Master’s degree in Double Bass.
This was a hike of many lakes! First up was Echo Lake (and a thunderstorm). Next up was Aloha Lake–featuring a shallow (we think?) granite basin. There were many boulders sticking out of the water like giant sleeping narwhals.
Then, this sweet little lake hanging in the upper corner of a much larger valley (and right above Susie Lake):
Then Susie Lake, where we camped. And the next morning, a steep little climb and Gilmore Lake:
And an another Gilmore:
Then, a big climb up to Dick’s Pass, which had us thinking fond thoughts of our old friend Dick Cahall:
And a final day through tall meadows:
It was a gorgeous three days, my knee was fine and then…
Big clouds of smoke coming out from the hood of my car…big puddle of oil on the ground…trouble! We called AAA, transferred all the gear to Chris’ truck, got the car towed to town and thankfully, the elder Finney’s were home and took us in. Thank-you from the bottom of our hearts!
Seven days (and actually, still waiting) and the car is almost ready to go (don’t even get me started–what a sorry tale of multiple repairs).
Meanwhile–in addition to a lot of chatting and some excellent dinners (thank you Mom!) we explored the PCT up near the Sierra Buttes, hiking about 15 miles of the PCT, but 30 miles total. We were about 20 miles south of the Dixie Fire closure up near Chester, CA.
And now, soon (we hope) we’ll pick up the car and start off again from Barker Pass. We have another brief 32 mile hike up to Donner Pass to fill in where we left off before the car broke down, and then–like many PCT hikers–we’ll probably skip up to the Burney Falls area to avoid the fire closure and smoke. Northward! Our hike has become somewhat particulate, interrupted and confusing to us, but we’re still having fun and we’re still heading north!
Three and Some Trees 