Eldorado National Forest
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Hawkins Peak Trail & Crater Lake Eldorado National Forest |
June 28, 2020
Looking to knock another item off my bucket list, I drive 120 miles on the pavement, then as far up a forest road as prudence dictates, before setting out on foot.
Getting started
There's the destination — Hawkins Peak, 9688'
Burnside Lake is down there
Jeff Davis Peak to the south
Although the scenery is pretty nice, I am not particularly enjoying myself.
Spending all one's time on an unappealing roadway is not a deal-breaker,
for I knew what to expect; but a gale-force wind is threatening to knock me
over. After just an 800-foot climb, I elect to pass on the remainder of
this trek and find something else to do.
More hikers approach
Back on the pavement, I head for the other end of Hope Valley, and turn up another back road. Up here somewhere is another known attraction that I inexplicably never have visited despite have been up and down this highway countless dozens of times.
I'll be stuck on a roadway again, but there is no choice.
The climb is relentlessly steep. After about half an hour, two guys pass by in a pickup truck, then pause just ahead.
Waiting to ask me whether this is the right road
All I can tell them is that I have not been there previosly, but that I am headed there as well.
Two bikers don't seem to need directions
After a climb of nearly a thousand feet, the scenery suddenly improves considerably.
An unexpected treat
I will wait to explore that cascade, until I see what the remainder of the roadway shows me.
It can't be far now
Around the next corner the gradient levels out, for I am nearly there.
That cliff-side cascade must be above the lake
Made it!
Crater Lake, 8650'
It took me only sixty years of living around here finally to visit this place. Go figure.
That ridge top is the Mokelumne Wilderness border into Meiss Country
Continuing on a lakeside trail, I pause when a fisher appears directly in my path.
I'll not disturb him, or the fishies
A circumabulation of the lake looks problematical in light of the cliff and scree slope on the far side. I really should visit that inlet cascade, though; but I opt to pass on that.
The lake's inlet
The motorcyle-riding couple is exploring the accessible area lakes. When the
man mentions a bike tour of some kind, I mention that I am enjoying my new electric
bike. The white-haired gentleman says that he is sixty-two and is
about ready for one of those himself; but when informed that I have just turned
seventy-eight, he drops the subject.
Looking east toward Freel Peak
I must visit the lake's outlet, of course; perhaps a social trail will help me down past the cascade as well.
They are just leaving
The outlet is unusually well-defined
Leaving the cirque
Cascading down between Red Lake Peak and Stevens Peak
As hoped, there is a trail of sorts over here.
Starting down
Last look back
The route down proves steep and dangerous, necessitating much care and numerous
sit-downs. It would have been better to have come up this way instead
of down.
Hope Valley in the distance
A partial view of the cascade
Crater Lake Lower Falls
Paintbrush
Spreading Phlox
Hawkins Peak looms across the valley
It is rather interesting, knowing that I was up there just a short while ago.
Two hikers approach
Markleeville Peak and Jeff Davis Peak to the south
Appropriate care is required on the relatively steep descent; for this is the
kind of place that earned me a broken wrist six years ago — a
treacherously sandy jeep road.
Passing me for the second of three times
The walk is over none too soon, for it has become quite warm out and I'm beat.
The car always is a welcome sight
§: Well, altogether I climbed 2,000 feet today over just 6½ miles,
all of it on roads — not the stuff of memorable walking.
I am quite pleased, however, finally to have visited Crater Lake, which was
very nice as expected. Having not gotten up there previously had been a
nagging irritation for a long time.
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