On July 28 we headed on a three day backpacking trip into the Desolation Wilderness Area. In total, we walked 24 miles, 20 of which were on the Pacific Crest Trail. It was an amazing trip with incredible scenery.
Joining us on our Desolation backpacking trip were Dave Norvell, Christopher Robison, and Chris England. They were a great to have along.
We started our 24 mile trip at the Echo Lake trailhead just off of Highway 89 near Meyers, California.
A little over three miles after leaving the trailhead we stepped into the Desolation Wilderness Area.
Bob and Hannah enjoying some trail time.
Mom and daughter.
Caleb enjoying the beauty of God's creation at Lake Aloha.
Caleb coming up the trail as we search for our first night's campsite at Lake Aloha.
Lisa hiking through this amazing wilderness area. We started at Echo Lakes and hiked eight miles to Lake Aloha the first day.
Christopher got some great shots on the trip (using Bob's camera 😉).
Caleb hanging out at Lake Aloha.
Our Hannah girl, as usual, was a bit of an otter in the cold water.
Our first night we camped at Lake Aloha and the water was amazing.
Caleb filtering water for the group.
What a great place to be.
Bob enjoying a bit of reading downtime in camp.
Lisa and Hannah doing a little yoga class in the middle of an amazing Sierra backdrop.
Hannah was a great instructor.
Lake Aloha with Pyramid Peak (9,983 feet) to the south in the background.
Lake Aloha with Mount Price (9,975 feet) to the southwest in the background.
Chris England loving life.
The water of Lake Aloha was an amazing iridescent blue.
You can tell the wind blows here (which it did) by the stunted Krummholz trees on the shore.
A poster picture taken by Christopher Robison.
Old wood on the shores of Lake Aloha.
The Mayfly hatch made it a little tough to hang out filtering water, but at least they didn't bite and they added a bit of extra protein to our diet 😊!
Chris England's camp at Lake Aloha.
Lisa getting dinner ready.
There were wildflowers everywhere.
First colors of sunrise the morning of July 29th at Lake Aloha.
Caleb coming in for breakfast from the camp he and Hannah had set up the night before.
Morning sun lighting up the trees on the banks of Lake Aloha.
In the morning shadows, snow melt runs off the flanks of Mount Price.
A large glacial erratic in the shadows as morning sun hits Mount Price.
Pyramid Peak at dawn.
Lake Aloha sunrise.
Lake Aloha sunrise streaming through the wildflowers.
Hannah and Caleb's protected campsite on Lake Aloha.
Beauty from the large to the little.
What an inviting trail to walk up.
Bob out for an early morning look to the northeast and Heather Lake where we'll soon be walking.
Lisa had not been backpacking since a trip on the West Rim of Zion when she was pregnant with Hannah! She was a little concerned about how she would do, but she did great and had a great time.
Hannah and Lisa hiking along the shores of Heather Lake.
Our group at Heather Lake.
Our great kids!
One of the best things while backpacking is the occasional rest stop and a chance to take in the scenery.
Chris England navigating one of the creek crossings near Susie Lake.
Bob and Lisa coming up the trail from Susie Lake.
Taking a snack break at Gilmore Lake.
Chris England took this great picture near Dicks Pass.
Lisa, Hannah and Christopher Robison stop for a rest near Dicks Pass.
Dave Norvell took this picture of Caleb and Bob on the summit of an unnamed 9,579 foot peak about a half mile from Dicks Pass.
Amazing views to the northeast from the unnamed 9,579 foot peak near Dicks Pass.
Hannah enjoying a "refreshing" swim in Dicks Lake.
Beautiful wildflowers abound along the trail in this alpine paradise.
Indian Paint Brush
Blue Lupine at Dicks Lake.
Evening alpenglow in the Sierras.
Stopping to take pictures at Dicks Lake.
Panorama of sun setting on Dicks Lake with Dicks Peak (9,974 feet) in the background.
Lisa made a wonderful breakfast of pancakes and bacon on the morning of the 30th.
Another beautiful sunrise in the Sierra's.
Bob and Lisa at beautiful Fontanillis Lake. We both agree that Fontanillis Lake was the most beautiful lake on the trip.
Caleb on the trail. He did great!
Christopher Robison and Chris England. It was so great having them with us.
A highlight of our third day on the trail was the stream crossing where the water from Fontanillis flows into Upper Velma Lake. The kids followed Dad across without getting a boot wet, but Mom played it super safe and took hers off before crossing.
The beautiful water drop from Fontanillis Lake into Upper Velma Lake.
Hannah loves backpacking -- she was in her element.
Our hiking group at Fontanillis Lake.
Beautiful Fontanillis Lake with Dicks Peak to the south.
More stream crossings, but at this one Hannah didn't do so well. A rock rolled under her, she slipped in, and her boot filled up -- all part of the adventure...
The last lake we passed before the end of our trip was Granite Lake. It was a wonderful place to take a break and enjoy a refreshing swim while tiny fish nibbled at our feet.
Not far from Granite Lake we were welcomed by these amazing views of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe.
Caleb did amazingly well on his first true backpacking trip.
Our Hannah...
...and of course, Dad and Mom.
Our great backpacking group overlooking Emerald Bay.
With less than a half-mile left of our 24 mile, 3-day backpacking trip we stepped out of the Desolation Wilderness Area.
Bob and Caleb coming down the last steep and dusty stretch before the end of the trail at the Bayview Trailhead.
Christopher and Lisa a bit foot sore, but still all smiles.
The final trip stats. Three days, 24 miles and a great time with good friends.
For a map and stats of the trip, CLICK HERE.