Spooner Lake to North Canyon (Douglas County, Nevada)

My intention for the day was to hike from Spooner Lake to Marlette Lake via the Flume Trail, but it didn't work out exactly as planned. Starting about 9 AM, I headed down through Carson City and then up highway 50 towards Tahoe. Parking at the Tahoe Rim Trail head near Spooner Lake, I started getting my bearings to figure out how to get to the Flume Trail from here. As it turns out, the Forest Service is now charging $1 to access Spooner Lake. Not having the correct change on me, I opted for a different trail.

I started heading north on the TRT (Tahoe Rim Trail) and hiked through some of the more heavily forested areas on the eastern side of Lake Tahoe. The trail had a fair incline, but I made my way at a pretty steady pace as the trail bobbed and weaved through the trees and boulders. A couple of areas along the way had signs indicating vistas of the surrounding area, but all but one of these had its views blocked by the forest. That didn't stop me from scrambling up the granite boulders at each though to get to the very top and see if the view was worth it.

Continuing on, I began wondering where the switchback I had seen on the map was. I expected to see it at about the 2.5 mile mark, but I didn't come across it until I had hiked almost 4 miles. Taking the series of switchbacks down the mountainside and headed towards the North Canyon Campground, I found this trail and overall view much nicer than the what I had seen along the TRT getting to this point. It's difficult to describe the difference, but this area just seemed a little more 'lived in', where as the TRT was very dry and barren.

Finally reaching the campground at the bottom of the mountain, I looked around a little bit, but I was the only one there. A side trail lead out to North Canyon Road, which is not so much a road as a wider trail often used by mountain-bikers on their way to Marlette Lake. I decided to head back to the trail head, but to take this path instead of the way I had come. This being a Saturday in the middle of summer, I was joined by numerous mountain bikers and the occasional hiker along the way. All were friendly.

Just as I made a sharp right turn, I saw the cutest darn thing. A little marmot had apparently chewed trough the stalk of one of his favorite local veggies and was dragging it across the trail. When he saw me, he finished dragging it to the side and then ran for cover. 

Returning to Spooner Lake, I didn't see any signage indicating the $1 fee coming from this side and so, I decided I had a good story to use if I were to get stopped. I made my way around the small lake. Along the way, I noticed a sign indicating that swimming in the lake was not recommended as the lake water was home to leeches. Wow, first time I have ever seen that type of signage, but I'm thankful for the warning.

Returning to the jeep, I logged just shy of 11 miles today. Not an fantastically scenic hike, but not bad overall. Next time, I come up this way though, I will ensure I have a buck in my pocket.

Castle Peak (Nevada County, California)

More peaks! Driving Interstate 80 near Truckee, CA, it's difficult to miss the interesting Castle Peak, which sits just a couple of miles north of the highway. As you can see from the pictures, the top of the mountain looks very much like a series of castle ramparts atop the ridge - quite striking!

I have done a few hikes in this area that passed by this landmark mountain, including Paradise Lake and Warren Lake, but today I decided to actually hike to the top of Castle Peak. As we have plans this evening with friends, my time is limited and this out-and-back hike seemed about perfect for the time I had available.

Arriving at the parking lot just north of Boreal Ski Resort, I found dozens of cars parked all along both sides of the road, and while a rough dirt road lead further into the forest, I wanted the mileage. I found a tight little parking spot between some trees. Thankfully, my jeep is able to rock climb very easily and allow me to situation myself pretty well.

The first half of the hike follows the modest incline of the dirt road up the ridge. I pass a number of fellow hikers and I am passed by a number of mountain bikers. As I reach a clearing in the forest, the road ends and the trail begins . . . and the steepness begins. this is the large bend visible in the map and marks the point where the trail begins to get more difficult.

After passing the saddle of Castle Pass, where a couple of other trials split off, I continue curving around the ridge with a great view of my destination in front of me. From here on out though, footing the pretty unsure, as I scramble over rocks and slip on the gravel. The incline here has to be at least 45 degrees and makes for some slow going. I slip a couple of times, but manage to catch myself with no damage done.

The trail closer to the top also requires a bit of path-finding, as numerous secondary trails snake around the boulders and loose gravel on this stony western side of the mountain. Finally, I make it to the top and take a couple of minutes to admire the spectacular views available from up here. Thanks to the clear day, I can see probably 50-75 miles in all directions.

Making my way down this steep later half of the trail was pretty treacherous and required me to go quite a bit slower than I'm used to in order to ensure I didn't slip to my death. I eventually reach the trail head again and make for home. Nearly six miles to reach the highest point (9,109 feet) atop Castle Peak has made for a pretty strenuous, but rewarding hike.

Relay Peak (Washoe County, Nevada)

It's the Fourth of July and I thought a great way to start the day would be to do a 11-mile hike up to the top of the 10k Relay Peak overlooking Lake Tahoe. Getting a reasonably early start, I arrived at the Mt. Rose trail head at about 8:30 and started making my way to the Galena Creek Waterfall. This hike and it's alternate end point, the peak of Mt. Rose, to have some very nice scenery and provide a good workout, but the best thing about both of them is their proximity to Reno. It's easy to knock out 10 miles and be back around lunch.

At the falls, instead of taking the right turn toward Rose, I took, which follows the creek for a ways before eventually straying away from it on the ascent up Relay Peak. While it was pretty warm start, the wind and elevation quickly force me to put on a fleece, as I approach the communications tower on the peak just before Relay Peak.

This whole section is part of the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT), which I hope to thru-hike later this year (if I can get all of the arrangements made). As I approach the top, I stop to chat with some members of the TRT who are out doing some trail maintenance. I have a healthy respect for what these individuals do and without them, the TRT would quickly fall into ruin. 

A short bit further and I arrive at the summit. The view from here is significantly better than that from Mt. Rose, which is 400 feet taller, but can mostly only boast of a view of the city of Reno below on its resume. From Relay Peak, Lake Tahoe to the south, Mt. Rose and Slide Mountain to the Northeast, and the distant Lassen Peak to the north all compete for the highlight.

After chatting with the folks on the trail, I decided to take an alternate path back to the trail head, which follows a Forestry Service road as it passes by the tiny, but appropriately named Frog Pond. Gazing into the water, I spot countless tad poles. I would guess this pond will just resonate with frog sound effects later in the year.

Eventually, I return to the trail head and make my way home. It was a great way to start the day though and I got a decent workout to boot.

Lights on the Lake - July 4th Fireworks (El Dorado County, California)

Lake Tahoe is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful lakes of it's size in the world, but every year on Independence Day, the southern end becomes a mass of excitement as people gather to celebrate. The city of South Lake Tahoe puts on a spectacular fireworks display, recognized by NBC's Today Show and by the American Pyrotechnics Association as one of the top five in the country.

Most years, my wife and I make the hour drive up to the lake to witness this show, and since we missed it last year due to our Yellowstone trip, we made sure to return this year. Rounding highway 50 traffic was a nightmare as usual. Between the beach goers and those arriving for the fireworks display, the entire area was just a mass of congested traffic, both vehicle and pedestrian. We brought a cooler full of snacks, but decided to head into South Lake Tahoe first to grab a burger. Everywhere was packed, but we finally found a spot at Big Daddy's Burgers and enjoyed a pretty decent meal.

Heading back to our normal stop for the show, Nevada Beach, we parked the jeep on a Forestry Service Road and made the half mile walk to the beach, shoulder to shoulder with thousands of others wanting to see the show. It was still pretty early when we arrived and so we set up shop on the beach and kicked back to relax while we waited. Finally, at 9:45 on the dot, the show began.

Like past years, it did not disappoint. I'm always amazed at some of the engineering that goes into the spectacular designs. This year included cubes, hearts, mushrooms, and smiley faces. The show continued for about 25 minutes before ending in a magnificent finale that, which I was able to capture on video. You can see the entire finale here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc5D_b-aEpw

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.