Eagle Falls and Lake (El Dorado County, CA)

The Lake Tahoe area must be one of the most scenic areas in all the world. I am so lucky to live so close and be able to take it all in so often. The last couple of weeks have been pretty busy, but I've managed to get a few trail miles in here and there, but nothing blog-worthy. Today, that changes. I drove down to South Lake Tahoe to take advantage of that magnificent scenery, with Eagle Lake as my destination.

Parking around Emerald Bay is always difficult, as it is, perhaps, the single most scenic place in all of the extremely scenic Lake Tahoe area. Add that to the fact that the parking lots that exist are tiny and the winding road along the mountainsides don't leave much of an area to pull off. These are the times that I'm glad I have a jeep. No parking? No problem. Drop her in 4-low and just climb up that mountain a bit. I had to park a few hundred yards from the trail head, but it got the job done.

The trail is fairly steep at the start with a number of chiseled granite steps leading up to the Eagle Falls Overlook. A sturdy bridge gives hikers an easy path across the fast-flowing thirty-ish foot waterfall. Many tourists simply stop here, but I wanted to go on and see the lake above. Another mile or so through the woods and scrambling over granite and I arrive at a serene, though much-visited, sub-alpine lake. Minuscule by comparison to the mighty Tahoe below, but still beautiful in its own right.

I spot an extension of the trail leading around the south side of the lake and decide to explore. The trail gets more rugged, but eventually leads to a clearing on the south side of the lake. I ask some fellow trekkers whether the trail loops around the lake, but they confirm that it does not. I turn around and head back to the jeep. Just a short journey today; only about 4 miles, still a fantastic time.

Sierra Buttes (Sierra County, California)

A coworker of mine, Kent, had told me of a very scenic area north of Truckee, CA called the Sierra Buttes. For a few weeks, I have been debating on checking it out and today was the day. Though short, the trail climbs rigorously up the 8,587 mountain, which oversees the valleys 5000 feet below and everything to the horizon in all directions.

The drive to the trail head is incredibly scenic as highway 49 and then the Gold Lake Highway wind around the valleys. Eventually, I reached the turn down Packer Lake Road, which isn't wide enough for two cars. There were several cars parked at the trail head, but I didn't see nearly as many hikers on the trail.

The trail starts on a fairly steep incline and only gets steeper from there. The first section is covered with wild flowers and very little shade. The views from either side of this ridge line are spectacular and surveying the Buttes above me, I spot the Fire Watch Tower that is my destination, atop the highest peak. Wow . . . that is a long, long way up there.

Continuing, the trial wanders through a lightly forested area in and around house-sized boulders, but still straight up, with not much of a break from the climb. I pass a few other groups coming down the trail and offer a greeting, which is always returned.

Further up the mountain, the trail joins with a fire service road before finally reaching the top. While it would extremely precarious, I bet it would amazing fun to drive the jeep up this rugged road. 

Crossing a small, but deep patch of snow, the steep staircases come in to site. As I read, the watch tower and dangerously steep stairs were constructed by a group of five fire-fighters in 1964, making the entire project 50 years old this year. I carefully climb the several sets of stairs, holding on to the railing carefully with each step. Once I reach the top, I find the view completely breathtaking. I can see for 50+ miles in every direction. To the North, I spot the snow-covered Lassen Peak, which I saw yesterday from a completely different angle. I carefully make my way around the platforms which go all the way around the watch tower. I see lakes below me. The Tamarack Lakes to the northwest and Upper and Lower Sardine Lake to the northeast. I'm also able to see a wide trail in the distance valleys, which I presume is the Pacific Crest Trail, I know it runs near here. 

After easing my way back down the steep staircases, I begin the trek back to the jeep. Downhill is always so much easier, but more strenuous on the toes and knees. Nearing the end of the trail, I encounter a couple inquiring about the view from the top. We get to talking a bit and the gentlemen reveals to me that he had made a failed attempt to hike up Mt. Shasta two weeks prior. At 11k, he started showing signs of altitude sickness. As I will be climbing to an even higher elevation when I climb up Mt. Whitney in a couple of months, I take a few minutes to acquaint myself with the symptoms he displayed. Learning about this now could be very helpful in the near future. I thank him for his advice and finish out the trail.

Reaching the jeep, I stop my GPS tracking app and find that I have hiked just a little shy of 5 miles, but the elevation gain was about 1750 over the first half of that distance. That is pretty steep. I would definitely recommend this hike to anyone, as the panoramic views are outstanding, but if you are fearful of heights, it may not be for you.

Butte Lake to Snag Lake Loop (Lassen Volcanic National Park, California)

As the season moves on, I'm trying to find longer and longer, harder and harder hikes to do in the general area. A couple of years ago, I hiked up the Cinder Cone volcano in the north eastern corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park. From the top, I could see several lakes in the distance and since then, I've wanted to explore the area a bit more. After researching a little bit, I chose a nice 14ish mile loop that passes Cinder Cone, the Fantastic Lava Beds, and circles two of the larger lakes in the park, Butte Lake and Snag Lake.

As I had the top down on the jeep and didn't want to freeze on the way over to the park, I didn't leave until about 8:30. The drive through Susanville, CA and to the Butte Lake entrance to he park takes a little over two hours. After checking in at the ranger station and getting set up, I got on the trail right at 11:00.

The first three or so miles of trail has a slight uphill climb as the trail skirts its way around the base of Prospect Peak and sneaks past Cinder Cone. The difficulty of the trail in this section relates to the black volcanic ash that covers the entire landscape like a fresh snowfall. After passing Cinder Cone, the trail hugs the Fantastic Lava Beds nearly all the way to Snag Lake. This lava flow covers the landscape in sharp black boulders that lay over the land like a thick blanket. In addition, several sections are colored with a magnificent palette of reds and yellows - quite striking. In the distance, the mighty snow-covered Lassen Peak looms over the park. I intend to hike to the top of this 10k'er later in the year.

Continuing on, the lava flow stops at the northern end of Snag Lake. As I reach the shore, I stop to hydrate and have a small snack. I found some chili lime beef jerky from a company called Krave, and I think it may be the best jerky I have ever tasted. While taking my rest, I chat with a group of three backpackers that have stopped to take a break here in the shade as well. As I have stated many times before, the friendly nature of people on the trail is always amazing to me. I say my farewells and start on my loop around the lake.

The section just beyond has been obviously devastated by fire in recent years, as the landscape is littered with fallen and charred trees. The loop continues on around the lake and intercepts a couple of other trails along the way. At one of the intersections, I encounter another fellow outdoors-man who is a little confused on this directions. He has come from one of the higher, smaller lakes and is looking to do a 25ish mile loop. We pull out our maps and get him back on the right track heading back the way I came in. We part ways with a 'safe travels' and I'm back to my trek.

The next several miles of the trail are fairly uneventful, and unfortunately, a little boring. The trail meanders through the forest, with very little deviation to catch one's attention. The rangers had mentioned that they had yet to do this trail this year and weren't sure of the conditions. There are several felled trees blocking my path that require me to either go around or climb over.

As I come to about the halfway mark of the hike, I encounter a small creek that obviously feeds Snag Lake. A small bridge has been constructed to allow the trail to pass over it. I continue a couple more miles through the  forest along the eastern side of the lake. Signs of the drought that the Western United States has been in for a few years now are painfully obvious as the shore of the lake has receded several dozen yards form where it once was.

I had hoped to pass along the eastern side of the lava beds through this section between the lakes, and while I know they are there looming in the distance, they really can be scene for the forest. Finally, I reach the southern end of Butte Lake. While the trails haven't been overly populated today, I encounter a number of hikers and kayakers through this section. 

The trail continues to run right beside the blue lake as it wanders over and through volcanic stones. Finally, I reach the northern end of the lake and begin the crossing back to the trial head. Generally speaking, the trail has been pretty flat the entire distance (other than the first section through the Cinders), but now, it works its way up several switchbacks to climb a small conical peak. 

Finally, I return to my jeep. All in total, the hike was just short of 15 miles and was the longest distance I've covered in several months. While several sections of the trail offers some really beautiful scenery, the long stretch of unremarkable forest makes me think I probably won't do this entire loop again. Not that it was a bad hike, but most of the scenery can been seen doing the trail as an out and back.