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Friday after work at 6pm, Brian called and asked if I wanted to go Backpacking. I asked what time we were leaving- to which he replied "meet me at my house tomorrow morning at 6am!" Thats how it was for all 6 of us who went, a last minute trip to Desolation Wilderness that turned out to be a really nice way to spend the Fall Equinox. Desolation Wilderness outlines the giant granite peaks and lakes that sit at the southwest corner of the Lake Tahoe high country. Here is the last holdout of the Sierra Nevada, where a shimmering granite landscape sculpted by Glaciers gives way to crystal clear lakes surrounded by ancient endemic California trees. The hike was a bit too long for my tastes- 7.5 miles and 1500 feet uphill, one way! We could have taken the ferry across Echo Lake, but unfortunately it had stopped running this season. I suppose the hike was pleasant enough: huge juniper trees hugged the south facing, dry granite slopes while the lake sparkled blue from the sun. It was quite beautiful, and Ropi Lake itself seemed much higher than the 7500 feet elevation it sits at. I could tell all the trees were very old, the thick trunked dwarf junipers are trees that grow where it is sunny and dry, something the south facing lake basin had going for it. Pyramid Peak loomed above us, permanant snow patches letting us know winter isnt that far away. All in all, it was a quick overnight backpack that delivered on scenery and fun. We even spent 27 hours in the wilderness- satisfying my personal belief that one should spend at least 24 hours in any wilderness, minimum! Sorry there aren't more people pictures here, with all that hiking I wasn't really in a people picture kind of mood! :D


Stephen Hayden Photography
http://www.sphaydenphotography.com

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