[Photos: Two photos of Ann Marie Leimer carrying a full pack while hiking above Lake of the Woods. Third Photo: The author poses at a rocky trail near Echo Lake. Click on any of the images for a larger version.]
My wife and I enjoyed an exhilarating backpacking trip to Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe in September.
Ann and I trekked to an elevation of 9,000 feet and still saw plenty of snow. The trail was rocky and dangerous so we had to be careful where we stepped while carrying our heavy packs. The hike was made more difficult because we over packed. Next time we know better. The dehydrated food we selected was horrible. Yuck! The best tasting food didn't need to be reconstituted such as chili, jerky, bars and trail mix.
Nights at the higher elevations were bone chilling and my wife and I had to snuggle to stay warm, even though our sleeping bags were rated to 20 degrees. At Aloha Lake, the freezing night winds made a sound similar to a race car as they swept through the trees. One night, Ann and I wondered what that snorting sound outside was. In the morning we found mountain lion tracks everywhere. And we were worried about bears!
I tried my hand at fishing but didn't get a bite. I only saw one trout (jumping or in the water) while at Lake Aloha and Lake of the Woods. We should of taken the advice of other hikers and fished at lakes at the lower elevations. Next year I hope the hike will be shorter and the fishing better.
We also visited Mammoth Lakes. The various lakes near this resort community were quite beautiful and offered excellent camping and fishing. The town offered excellent amenities and great restaurants. You couldn't help but notice that condos were sprouting up everywhere, like oil profits during the Bush administration. We highly recommend a visit and look forward to coming back soon. Feel free to contact us should you have any questions about our trip.
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