Tahoe National Forest
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Loch Leven Lakes Off-Trail Loop Tahoe National Forest |
July 8, 2023
Still waiting for the snow to clear in my higher-country haunts, I opt for bit of
new exploration in a venue that I have been visiting for more than 50 years.
One big difference is that now I access it from the west on the Salmon Lake Tie, because
I so dislike the roughness and freeway noises of the main trail up from Big Bend.
Also, this alternate route is a mile shorter with much less overall climbing.
A minor drawback is the seven-plus miles of slow road to the trailhead, which sports
a dozen vehicles as I arrive — the most I have seen here.
After a mile of unexciting going through the forest, a slight detour at a high-point reveals the trail's namesake attraction.
Salmon Lake
And the salmon are there; over the decades, I have treated them to sunflower seeds several times.
Larry the Lizard points the way
This path intersects the main trail at Lower Loch Leven Lake. As expected, I immediately encounter traffic passing by, mostly backpackers.
She is carrying a full-size bedpillow
More water hazards
Half a mile farther south is the Middle Lake, which is as beautiful as any place in the Tahoe National Forest.
An interesting off-trail campsite across the way
I hope she knows what she's doing
At trailside, I must stop to pay homage to one of my half-dozen favorite flower varieties. I first fell in love with it in essestially this very spot back in 1972.
Spreading Phlox
At the bottom end of this lake is my planned detour, on which I will depart the main trail to High Loch Leven and remain as close as possible to the big lake, just to see what is there.
The adventure begins here
My favorite high-elevation swimming spot
My standard access to the water itslef is that sunlit slab on the other side.
There is a social trail over here
There are just three named Loch Leven Lakes, but there also are many ponds of various shapes and sizes. Off to the right is the biggest one of the bunch, which never is seen from the main trail.
I call this Periwinkle Pond, because that's what I saw there.
King of all he surveys?
Just below him is a 'hidden' three-tent campsite
Cross-hatched dikes are everywhere
The three women have just finished a dip in the pond
One of them waves at me as I pass by.
Periwinkle Pond and the swimmers' pond
No bathers in this one
Over the next bump in the path, I am greeted at another campsite by a big white and red dog, who stops in front of me, pokes his nose straight up, and demands to be petted. After a bit of mild roughhousing, I move on, although the guy would have been happy to play some more.
Multiple bathtub rings
Sulfur-flower Buckwheat
Royal Penstemon
Following the inviting passage
My excursion into new territory has been delightful, but it ends here as I approach a cliff that must be negotiatied.
There is no good way around it
Three or four times previously, I have ventured over this way from High Loch Leven
Lake, sometimes with friends. Each time, I concluded that the least unattractive
passage is a not-too-unfriendly downhill manzanita scramble located just a bit
north of here. Inexplicably, however, I ignore the fruits of my prior research today
and elect to descend the cliff in the middle of a little runoff stream.
Go figure.
Another 'idiot route' by Ted
This tricky exercise in extra effort requires about fifteen minutes to descend about fifty feet, but finally it is over. This is a good time to find a shady spot for a snack break.
From here, another relatively short up-and-down scramble gets me back to familiar territory.
Lower Loch Leven Lake
Now I must check to see whether my special shortcut still is available —
an old log lying across the water passage. Yes, there is is! After clambering
across it with the aid of several old branches that stick straight up, I take a photo
of my old friend.
The magic log still is ready for duty
I am so pleased to have come by here again after so many years. From here,
it is about a 5-minute scramble over to the main trail from Big Bend.
The noises of Interstate-80 are evident even way up here.
Back on a real trail for the rest of the day, I slow down to relax-mode; besides, it is rather warmer today than one would prefer.
What a life!
As I pause for an obligatory flower photo, a man stops and asks about the "pink ones"; of course, I am pleased to oblige.
Mountain Pride and Phlox
Phlox come in white as well
No swimming in the swamp
From here, there is little to do but to shoot some more flowers and clamber over some more logs.
White Fir cone
Lambstongue Ragwort
Western Wallflower
Bitter Cherry
My favorite trailside find of the day is a plant that tends to go unnoticed, because the flowers themselves are so tiny:
Branching Phacelia
Almost too big to climb over
Nearing the finish
§: Well, exploring the eastern cliffside of Middle Loch Leven Lake for the
first time was a lot of fun; but I did encounter more activity than expected over
there. Also, I did knock off another bucket-list item, bringing my total to
six for the year. I'm still a long way from my goal of twenty, however.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality |  |
| Adventure | |
| Flowers |  |
(counter-clockwise loop)
