Just a quick follow-up note to "The Long Walk II".
Nana took advantage of a beautiful day today and drove up to the Ebbetts Pass area with the intention of hiking to Asa Lake to look for her missing wedding ring.
We found that she could drive on Forest Service roads to Highland Lake which is only a couple of miles from Asa Lake on the PCT. She headed up there shortly after lunch and was on the trail by 2pm.
She arrived at Asa Lake and started looking where she last saw her ring. After a half an hour of looking, raking up the dirt and poking around, she was having no luck. Out of frustration, she kicked the dirt and cursed. As she looked down, there was her ring, standing on edge, right where she had kicked up the dirt.
Needless to say, the hike back to the car was a pleasant one...
Bill
PS: Our thanks to Bruce, another hiker they had met on the trail, for looking also. Bruce was nice enough to call a few weeks later (after finishing his trek south to Mt. Whitney) and let us know that he had been unable to find the ring either.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Day 20 - The End of the Trail...
Today, Nana and Janice awoke to a beautiful but cold morning. Their gear was covered with frost. The morning light on the lake was beautiful although there was a lot of smoke visible from fires burning in the region.
Reflections in the morning light...
After breakfast, they bushwhacked uphill to Fontanillis Lake and explored around before heading over to Dick's Lake where they went swimming and had a bite to eat.
Fontanillis Lake...
Nana enjoys her last day on the trail...
After lunch, they headed back to the Bayview Trail where they went east until they intersected the Eagle Lake Trail. From there, they headed downhill to Emerald Bay where I was waiting with cold beer!
Janice, Nana and Kona at the end of the journey...
Thus brings an end to "The Long Walk II" for 2007. Thanks for following along on the adventures of The Mud Tribe.
See ya next year where we are planning an extended trip into the high country of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks...
Bill
Reflections in the morning light...
After breakfast, they bushwhacked uphill to Fontanillis Lake and explored around before heading over to Dick's Lake where they went swimming and had a bite to eat.
Fontanillis Lake...
Nana enjoys her last day on the trail...
After lunch, they headed back to the Bayview Trail where they went east until they intersected the Eagle Lake Trail. From there, they headed downhill to Emerald Bay where I was waiting with cold beer!
Janice, Nana and Kona at the end of the journey...
Thus brings an end to "The Long Walk II" for 2007. Thanks for following along on the adventures of The Mud Tribe.
See ya next year where we are planning an extended trip into the high country of Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks...
Bill
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Day 19 - Gilmore Lake to Middle Velma Lake...
Today marks some changes for the ladies of The Mud Tribe. Janet has decided to head back home to prepare for a 100 mile bike ride this coming weekend in the Mt. Shasta area. She will be exiting The Long Walk II at Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe this afternoon. But, Nana will not have to finish alone as a friend of hers, Janice will be hiking into Desolation to join her for the final night before exiting at Eagle Falls on Wednesday. Janice is also bringing along her dog, Kona.
After leaving Gilmore Lake, the ladies climbed Dick's Pass before dropping down to Dick's Lake and then left the PCT to head east on the Bayview Trail.
Dick's Lake, (foreground) Fontanillis Lake (back left) and Upper Velma Lake(back right)
I took the opportunity of having the day off and hiked in with Janice & Kona from the Bayview Trailhead at Emerald Bay to surprise Nana and Janet for lunch. They had already planned to meet Janice at 12:30pm near the Fontanillis Lake trail junction, some 5 miles uphill.
Janice gets ready to hoist her pack...
Although the trail climbs steeply for the first couple of miles, the views are well worth it. You can see Emerald Bay below as well as most of Lake Tahoe, Cascade Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake and Granite Lake.
Janice and Kona at the entrance to Desolation Wilderness...
Beautiful views of Emerald Bay...
Shortly after 12:30pm, we met up with the ladies west of the Velma Lakes trail junction. Unfortunately, Mother Nature once again was messing with things with winds gusting over 30mph and temps some 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. It was downright chilly up there with only a short sleeved T-Shirt to my name.
Janet, Janice, Nana and Kona on the trail...
Nana and Janice mulled over the maps and their plans during lunch. They decided that their original destination, Fontanillis Lake was too exposed and would be miserable with the winds (which are predicted to continue all night) and cooler temps. So, they modified their itinerary and headed for the Velma Lakes which are more sheltered and sit below the ridgeline. This would put them in a position to finish the trip tomorrow, one day early, at Emerald Bay in lieu of at Meeks Bay on Thursday.
With that decision made, we all headed down the trail to the Velma Lakes junction where Nana and Janice headed north while Janet and I headed east, back to the Bayview trailhead.
Janet bids Nana and Janice farewell...
A few miles and a couple of hours later, Janet and I were at the parking lot saying goodbye. It was the end of the journey for Janet after 19 days and some 170 miles of trail. Another "Long Walk" under her belt.
After leaving us, Nana and Janice hiked in to Upper Velma Lake and found a nice spot to camp in the rocks which gave them some shelter from the wind.
Janice enjoys a glass of wine with dinner...
The wind did finally die down and they settled in for the evening.
Bill
After leaving Gilmore Lake, the ladies climbed Dick's Pass before dropping down to Dick's Lake and then left the PCT to head east on the Bayview Trail.
Dick's Lake, (foreground) Fontanillis Lake (back left) and Upper Velma Lake(back right)
I took the opportunity of having the day off and hiked in with Janice & Kona from the Bayview Trailhead at Emerald Bay to surprise Nana and Janet for lunch. They had already planned to meet Janice at 12:30pm near the Fontanillis Lake trail junction, some 5 miles uphill.
Janice gets ready to hoist her pack...
Although the trail climbs steeply for the first couple of miles, the views are well worth it. You can see Emerald Bay below as well as most of Lake Tahoe, Cascade Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake and Granite Lake.
Janice and Kona at the entrance to Desolation Wilderness...
Beautiful views of Emerald Bay...
Shortly after 12:30pm, we met up with the ladies west of the Velma Lakes trail junction. Unfortunately, Mother Nature once again was messing with things with winds gusting over 30mph and temps some 20 degrees cooler than yesterday. It was downright chilly up there with only a short sleeved T-Shirt to my name.
Janet, Janice, Nana and Kona on the trail...
Nana and Janice mulled over the maps and their plans during lunch. They decided that their original destination, Fontanillis Lake was too exposed and would be miserable with the winds (which are predicted to continue all night) and cooler temps. So, they modified their itinerary and headed for the Velma Lakes which are more sheltered and sit below the ridgeline. This would put them in a position to finish the trip tomorrow, one day early, at Emerald Bay in lieu of at Meeks Bay on Thursday.
With that decision made, we all headed down the trail to the Velma Lakes junction where Nana and Janice headed north while Janet and I headed east, back to the Bayview trailhead.
Janet bids Nana and Janice farewell...
A few miles and a couple of hours later, Janet and I were at the parking lot saying goodbye. It was the end of the journey for Janet after 19 days and some 170 miles of trail. Another "Long Walk" under her belt.
After leaving us, Nana and Janice hiked in to Upper Velma Lake and found a nice spot to camp in the rocks which gave them some shelter from the wind.
Janice enjoys a glass of wine with dinner...
The wind did finally die down and they settled in for the evening.
Bill
Monday, September 3, 2007
Day 18 - Echo Summit to Gilmore Lake...
This morning the ladies hit the trail again and headed into Desolation Wilderness from the Echo Summit area. Their destination was Gilmore Lake, 10 miles up the trail. Sophie headed back home, content with her segment between Sonora and Carson Passes.
Echo Lakes Ferry...
Along the way, they passed Lake Aloha which sits in a large granite bowl. They noticed that the water levels were way down this year due to the dry conditions.
Lake Aloha...
They got to Gilmore and got camp set up in the early afternoon. Since there were several hours of daylight left, they decided to take a side trip and climbed Mt. Tallac, a popular Tahoe landmark. Nana called me from the summit shortly after 6pm to tell me of their adventure and to check in.
On top of Mt. Tallac...
Bill
Echo Lakes Ferry...
Along the way, they passed Lake Aloha which sits in a large granite bowl. They noticed that the water levels were way down this year due to the dry conditions.
Lake Aloha...
They got to Gilmore and got camp set up in the early afternoon. Since there were several hours of daylight left, they decided to take a side trip and climbed Mt. Tallac, a popular Tahoe landmark. Nana called me from the summit shortly after 6pm to tell me of their adventure and to check in.
On top of Mt. Tallac...
Bill
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Day 17 - Layover Day - Hope Valley...
Still in Hope Valley. The ladies are enjoying some fly fishing, some good food and good company! Oh, and they have clean clothes and full packs too...
Nana fly fishing on the East Fork of the Carson River...
Linda and Kris try their luck...
Bill
Nana fly fishing on the East Fork of the Carson River...
Linda and Kris try their luck...
Bill
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Day 16 - Layover Day - Hope Valley...
Today the ladies are enjoying a layover day at Sorensen's Resort in Hope Valley!
A Hope Valley Landmark...
Just outside our cabin...
Beautiful Grounds...
Our sunset this evening...
Bill
A Hope Valley Landmark...
Just outside our cabin...
Beautiful Grounds...
Our sunset this evening...
Bill
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