Backpacking in the Northern Sierra's

I love to backpack the mountains. I love to sleep outside and listen to all the sounds nature provides. It is absolutely awesome.

In Mid July of the Summer of 2003, I spent three days in the Desolation Wilderness, as my summer solitude for the year. It was absolutley awesome! I parked at the trailhead at Lily Lake, after a half hour drive along Fallen Leaf Lake. The drive around Fallen Leaf lake is slow going because of the heavy traffic and a single lane for much of the trip.The Sierras this year were mostly clear of snow, except for the passes. They were slippery. I spent the first night at Grass Lake and at Suzie Lake the second night. The Desolation Wilderness area is just South West of Lake Tahoe.

I spent some time at Lake Aloha, almost slept here but instead pressed on to home that night. Here is a picture of Lake Aloha, in the Desolation Wilderness, July 2003. I was looking South West, close to the shoreline, just west of the trail intersection. If you look at the red cross on the TopoZone link you can get an idea of where the picture was taken. I was on the PCT about here: on the PCT, Lake Aloha, Desolation Wilderness, California

One note that is very important: the portion, of Lily Lake trail, I marked in red, is very difficult. Some times it is hard to find the trail. I would say that some portions are even some what dangerous. There are old trail markers that say danger and "no horses allowed". I came down this portion at night with a headlamp. It was quite the strenous descent! Must suggestion is to allow more time than you think. There some very large trees to enjoy as you hike up the trail from the Lily Lake trail head. The trail head is not marked very well, or marked at all. When I was there you just have to see where the trial comes down to the road.

If you following the colored lines on this map you will see my route for the three days. I put the first days trvel in red, with the second days travel colored in blue and lastly the third days travel in purple.

 



















BACKPACKING the Sierras, Desolation wilderness
Waterfall above Grass lake, flowing out of Susie Lake Waterfall above Grass lake, flowing out of Susie Lake Grass Lake, from shoreline Grass Lake, Desolation Wilderness, CA Grass Lake, Desolation Wilderness, CA
Waterfall Waterfall Grass Lake Grass Lake Grass Lake
Lake Aloha, Crystal Range in the Back ground. Lake Aloha as viewed from the Pacific Crest Trail, Desolation Wildernes, Ca Begining of hte third Day, Jack's Peak above Susie Lake, California The COOL HAT !! Night fall at Susie Lake Camp, here is my tent
Lake Aloha Lake Aloha Jacks' Peak THE HAT Camp
2nd night in the desolation wilderness, nightfall at Susie Lake, Jack's Peak above the lake Waterfall above Grass lake, flowing out of Susie Lake Grass lake view from Susie Lake Robert so tired after two days of hiking Grass Lake, from ridge above the lake, looking NE
Jack's Peak Waterfall Grass lake Robert 2nd night Susie @ night
Same Wheathered tree at Heather Lake, looking towards Susie Lake at the outlet of Heather Lake, in the desolation wilderness area There is a cool looking island in the heather Lake, you can see the Crystal Range in the back ground. Heather Lake, Desolation WIlderness, CA, looking towards the West Heather Lake, in July 2003 Wheathered tree at Heather Lake in the desolation wilderness
Outlet Island Heather Lake Heather Tree
Lake ALoha, Desoaltion Wilderness, CA, near Lake Tahoe High at Heather Lake, right on the Trail, I found this cool tree. Jacks Peak From Susie Lake Lake Aloha Trees, July 2003 Trees growing in Lake ALoha, Pretty Cool HUH?
ALOHA! Haggled Jacks Peak Swimming Lake Trees
Lake Aloha, PCT covered in Snow. Indian Rock from trail heading to Lily lake, on ridge south of Lily lLake, Near Lake Tahoe, CA Robert over looking Echo Lake, CA. PCT runs along north Shore the real reason you hang your food Susie Lake, Desolation Wilderness, California
PCT ??? Indian Rock Ca Robert Parker Squirrel Susie Lake
Indian Rock, from trail heading to Lily lake, from the PCT between Tamarack Lake and Triangle Lake Angora Peak and Indian Rock Picture taken from trail heading to Glen Alpine Springs from Lily lake, SW of Lake Tahoe Pyramid Peak towering over Lake Aloha Robert C. Parker, PCT, CA, near Lake ALoha They say not to cut the switch backs and stay on the trail, HMMMM how do you do that????
Indian Rock, CA Angora Indian Pyramid Peak Robert w/ pack Trail
Echo Lake from Ridge above it. On trail to Lily Lake, Desolation Wildernes, Ca Trail above Echo Lake, about 8600ft, heading towards Lily Lake, Desolation Wildernes, Ca Grass Lake, from shoreline Angora Peak, Indian Rock, Echo Peak, in order, in the mid ground on the right, from Susie Lake Ridge Line, Indian Rock background, sweaty , tired Robert in the foreground, Desolation Wilderness, CA
Echo Lake Trail Grass Lake Peaks Sooo Tired