Ted's Hiking World Mount Tallac
Desolation Wilderness

August 9, 2015

Mount Tallac was named by the Wheeler Survey Party of 1887, after a Washo Indian word meaning "big mountain".

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Trailhead sign

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The burned area to the right is recovering nicely *
First view of the mountain

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Water skiers on Fallen Leaf Lake    ⇔

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Cindy's sixth venture into this wilderness in two months

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Floating Island Lake unfortunately sports no floating islands today

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Cathedral Lake

Being somewhat out of sorts, I actually considered stopping here, just a third of the way up; but I sure am glad that I did not.

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Beginning the big climb *
The actual summit is out of sight

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There is plenty of activity on the upcoming switchbacks

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Bog Gentian *
Alpine Dusty Maidens & Mount Rose Buckwheat

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Trail workers *
We're about halfway up now

From the ridge top is a great view of last week's venue:

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Pyramid Peak, Mount Agassiz, and Mount Price — the three tallest in Desolation

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False summit

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Fireweed *
Former tree

Meanwhile, Ali's camera already has reached the summit:

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Working on his tan *
Carrying her own weight all the way

In contrast, I seem to be the slowest hiker on the trail today:

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All those guys were behind us a minute ago

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Susie Lake in the middle, Lake Aloha in the distance

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The true summit finally appears *
There is a bit of scrambling to do

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It was expected to be a zoo up here, what with all the folk that passed us en route

Of course, the views at the top are what this hike is all about:

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Pope Beach and the Tahoe Keys

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Gilmore Lake, Susie Lake, and the Crystal Range    ⇔    my favorite shot of the day

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Middle Velma Lake to the north

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Andy hams it up for a photo *
This guy hams it up for a handout

This is why I go hiking:

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Cascade Lake, Emerald Bay, and the incomparable Big Blue are 3,500 feet below.

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Local hiker Lynn shoots some group photos for us

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Ted, Andy, Cindy, and Ali on Mount Tallac, 9735'

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Starting down

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Fallen Leaf Lake and South Tahoe

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Nice clouds over Freel Peak, the area's highest at 10881'

Perhaps that one should be out next outing, assuming that I survive this one.

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Enjoying the level going while it lasts *
Cindy leads the downhill charge

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Swimmers in Cathedral Lake

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An unlikely design for a speedboat

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Mother and son — how nice *
It is mercifully over

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