Ted's Hiking World Island Lake Loop
Desolation Wilderness

June 19, 2015

I cannot think of a better way to spend a birthday than this one.

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Wrights Lake outlet

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We did get a permit, eventually *
The Carmichael Elks Scout Troop

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Pussy Paws, Mountain Pride, and Woolly Sunflowers

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South Silver Creek is alive and well

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"Square" Falls

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In the meadow *
The Twin Lakes outlet

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Lower Twin Lake from its dam *
Boomerang Lake

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White Mountain Heather *
Newberry Penstemon

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Monte Marmot

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It is said that "No two flowers clash colors"

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Island Lake Basin and the Gray Wall.  Desolation Valley is just on the other side

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The Crystal Range

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There used to be a snow bank here *
Peak 9382

Ted's favorite place north of Yosemite:

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Silver Dagger Lake, looking south

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Silver Dagger Lake, looking north at Little Pyramid Peak

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Lunch time at Shangri-La Lake

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Shooting Stars *
Red Mountain Heather

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The Old Man in the Mountain

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Shangri-La Lake *
The Bathtub

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Twin Lakes and the Sacramento smog

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Side view of the big cascade

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Creek crossing *
Dikes crossing

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Campers at Twin Lakes

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Back at Boomerang Lake (it is shaped like a boomerang)

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Leaving the trail has its advantages

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I see a lake down there

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Umpa Lake, named by a ranger's grandson about ninety years ago

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Starting down the "Sierra Highway"

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Warm enough for swimming

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South Silver Creek spills into Upper Enchanted Pool

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(same)

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Middle Enchanted Pool

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At Lower Enchanted Pool

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Stonecrop garden

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Dripping through the moss

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Finishing up on the wrong trail

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Behind Wrights Lake

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Everybody likes the water


§: Waterfalls, marmots, Eagle Scouts, signing the first permit of the year, cross-country exploration, and exceptional flower displays — this trip had it all.

Scenery *
Difficulty *
Flowers *
Personality *
Adventure *
Solitude *

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Notice how we just missed the shortest route, just below the "28"

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