Week 12: Yosemite - Echo Lake (Lake Tahoe)
- scarlson51
- Jul 27
- 5 min read
Approximately Mile 980 through Mile 1,093
Sunday, July 6th - PCT Day 71
The amount of mosquitos today was messed up. Had ~40 swarm me as I took a dump this morning. Climbed up and over a ridge first thing. Several very pretty lakes, including Wilma Lake, where I got water and was swarmed by mosquitoes again. Some 98% Deet solved that.
problem for a time though. Wilma Lake was extremely pretty—a deep alpine blue, bordered by Bailey Ridge to the north and east. Forded Falls “Creek”; with the snowmelt running however it was more like a river. For the next 11 miles I followed Falls Creek up to its headwater at Dorothy Lake. On the way up I walked through Grace Meadows, almost a solid mile of springtime alpine splendor with great walls of metamorphic sedimentary rocks to the west and great walls of granite to the east. Ran into the blonde young woman who I had met on her first day of her Sierra to Canada PCT hike, joined by her best friend, brother, and father for the first two weeks. Unfortunately, she had seriously injured her knee and needed an evac of some kind. The dad asked my advice, knowing I’ve been on trail awhile. Gave my advice and continued on. Feel bad for her, she seemed so excited to be out here – saw her several times, always with a smile on her face. Crested Dorothy Pass, a measly 9,500 feet. Soon after I surpassed 1,000 continuous unbroken miles walked – whoopee! Made camp, mosquitos still sucked. Goodnight.
Monday, July 7th - PCT Day 77
Bad mosquitos for the first few miles before I climbed above the tree line at the head of Kennedy Canyon. The trail was an old road that went God knows where. The landscape was an amazing assortment of igneous rocks. The U-shaped valley at Kennedy Canyon opened to the east and was flanked by two magnificent ridges. The north ridge appeared to be basalt lava flows from its stair-stepped shape. The southern ridge may have been rhyolite or some kind of welded tuff. After the head of the canyon the trail wound first on the western slope of the towering 10,000 foot ridge then to the eastern side where I saw some very interesting looking caves above two alpine lakes. Finally the trail found its way back to the western side of the ridge before it descended to Sonora Pass where I had to run to catch the shuttle to Kennedy Meadows North. KMN was an awesome place. I ran into Fruitloop, a girl I started with in the lobby of the store/restaurant. It was awesome to see her again. Had a few gin & tonics at the saloon with the General before we went to dinner. I had steak, soup and salad. Very good. Headed back to the saloon where I ran into Super-Max, Salty, Baby Yoda, the General, and several more men and women. Had some healthy glasses of whiskey which got me swing dancing to Johnny Cash & singing sea shanties. It was amazing to let my hair down a little and have a good row. Rather drunk but full of spirit, goodnight.
Tuesday, July 8th - PCT Day 73
The whiskey and gin had their revenge this morning, but oh well. Had chicken fried steak, eggs, hashbrowns, and sourdough toast for breakfast with a glass of orange juice and four cups of coffee to wash it down with. Had a good time talking to the General over breakfast. Talked with Mongoose and the General while I waited for the ride back to the trail. Saw Tiny Tim & the girl who had hurt her knee a few days ago. Good to see it wasn’t that bad after all. Very pretty views as I climbed away from Sonora Pass. Called Carley, G&G and dad – very nice to hear their voices. Got into camp, goodnight.
Wednesday, July 9th - PCT Day 74
Windy all day today but warm and comfortable. Hiked down from the saddle where I camped and up over a saddle. There was a very strange basalt butte that was in the form of horizontal columns. This butte was seemingly disconnected from its logical place, since it rose 100 feet above a plateau of granite. The view from the top was very nice. Walked through wildflower meadow after wildflower meadow the rest of the day. Using a picture I took of a poster of the Sierra wildflowers that was hanging up at Vermillion Valley Resort, I got to teach myself the names of all the flowers I was seeing. I was able to see and learn the Yellow Mule’s Ear, the white, black, and yellow Mariposa lily, the white Corn lily that grows almost chest high, the Spreading Phlox, an extraordinarily good smelling little white, purple or combination ground cover. The burnt yellow Butterwort, the pastel pink and blue Languid Ladies, bright red and orange Indian Paintbrushes, purple Mat Lupine, purple-white horse-mint, Red Sky Rockets, and reddish-purple Pride-of-the-Mountains. I still have many more to learn as well. Nice campsite in the forest near Wolf Creek, goodnight.
Thursday, July 10th - PCT Day 75
More meadows this morning as I slowly climbed towards an unnamed pass. I saw and learned the Yellow Sierra Wallflower, Silver Mint, the Sierra Shooting Star, and the Sierra Primrose. Ran into some great trail magic ~10 miles in at Ebbetts Pass on Hwy 4. Met Ryan, Princess, and two women from the UK, all hikers. Had a cold glass of cranberry juice, a cold Coors, a blueberry bagel w/ cream cheese, a white chocolate cookie, a brownie, and a slice of watermelon. Very thankful for that. Some beautiful lakes and miles of meadow crowned by massive volcano-clastic breccia cliffs and spires made up the rest of my day. Zucchini casserole for dinner. Goodnight.
Friday, July 11th - PCT Day 76
Very pretty morning today as I watched the sun rise through the trees. More craggy igneous peaks, mountain meadows bursting with flowers today. Ran into trail magic around lunchtime. Had two hot dogs, a beer, a mango, and some chips. Incredible views heading up to Carson Pass, the vistas now more forested rolling mountains rather than snow-clad peaks. Sketchy pond water @ camp & dinner with some other hikers. Goodnight.
Saturday, July 12th - PCT Day 77
Pretty easy day (~15.5 mi) into South Lake Tahoe. Took a bath & washed my pants/shirt in the South Fork American River and ran into some more trail magic. Had a turkey & cheese sandwich and two beers. Met Dan and Julie at Echo Lake Chalet. Very nice to see them after all these years. Met their friends who were hosting – very friendly people. Had ribs for dinner. Goodnight.
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