A Hike in the South Lake Basin

This is the drive out to South Lake in the Sierras.  More gorgeous scenery abounds everywhere we look.

 

According to the GPS, today's hike started at 9,034 feet.  My lungs would have to agree with that!  There is much trout fishing in the high mountain lakes.  If you look carefully you can see the wily trout in the water among the rocks. 

 

This is the dry part of South Lake.  There has been drought so it's really low.  The lake was formed by damming the middle fork of Bishop Creek, which was done both for hydro power and for the insatiable demands for water on the part of LA.

 

The upper part of the lake is looking a little better, but it's still very low.

This is our first creek crossing.  That would be snow on the right side of the photo.  I am happy to report that no one put their feet in the water.

 

The trail as it headed inexorably up.

 

This stream crossing defeated us.  On the other side of that boulder is water, with no stepping stones.  We were 90 minutes out and probably a thousand feet up at this point, so I was really happy with the idea of turning around and going back.

 

The winter damaged the bridge up to the parking areas.

 

It's down to one lane where the bridge is being rebuilt.

 

Looking down the hill on the way back in to town.  It's really steep, there's a 2 mile 8% and a couple of long 7% sections.

 

So that was today.  Ninety minutes up, 65 minutes down, approximately a thousand feet of gain starting at 9,000 feet.  I did pretty good, kept my heart rate under 130, but was definitely trudging faster than last week, and at higher elevation.