TR: Lake Aloha (4/23-24)

[pakoR]

I was hoping to get one more snow camping trip this year, and couldn't have wished for better conditions. After the snowfall on Friday, there was plenty of fresh snow on the way to Lake Aloha and amazing scenery. The temperature through the day on Saturday was around the mid-50's, and it was clear and sunny skies. We traveled along the west shore of the lakes following the trail of a pair of skiers who had left the parking lot earlier that morning. Along the shore, the snow was about 8" deep over 3-5" thick ice.

It was a long day, but worth the views at Lake Aloha. Towards the evening, the clouds began rolling into Lake Aloha from the south, eventually obscuring the night sky. The good weather remained on Sunday with a somewhat overcast sky. It did snow and hail for a few minutes by the time we reached Echo Lake on the way out, but it was temporary. By the time we reached the trailhead parking lot, all the snow which accumulated on Friday had melted away.

And to end the trip on a good note, as we were walking up the hill to the road/trail, a pair of AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters flew over Lower Echo Lake heading north, followed shortly by a pair of UH-1 Hueys.

Some photos below. Enjoy!

Echo Lake Sno-Park


Lower Echo Lake




Upper and Lower Echo Lakes


Lake Aloha






Snow-covered slopes


Cabins along Echo Lake


Lower Echo Lake


Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters


All other trip photos.
https://picasaweb.google.com/1144784403 ... y_aVx4zYAQ

[tim]

Wow, that's quite a contrast to our trip to Lake Aloha the same week last year (4/20/15) when we had no snow at all until Haypress Meadows: http://highsierratopix.com/community/vi ... =1&t=12607

Echo Lake, Apr 20, 2015

[maverick]

Thanks Pako for the TR and pictures, and thank you Tim for adding the picture, that is quite difference.

[Tom_H]

A....W....E....S....O....M....E!!! Wish I were still young enough to do that again.

[GioClimb]

Great photos. I'm bummed I missed the trip.

-G

[Wandering Daisy]

[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... lohaLk.jpg[/rimg]

July 12, 2011. Lake Aloha in a high snow year.

[Vaca Russ]

pakoR,

I kept reading this report and I couldn't get this picture out of my head.

I had to get up to that summit to see things for myself. Here is a picture (taken from the summit of Pyramid Peak) to juxtapose what things look like from each position.

Look for my full report here: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=14309


Thanks for a great report! It really did inspire me.

-Russ

[bbayley80]

thanks for sharing!
wow. those are some great shots of what looked to be a killer time..amazing

[Tom_H]

[rimg]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg23 ... lohaLk.jpg[/rimg]

July 12, 2011. Lake Aloha in a high snow year.

Oh my gosh! I was in that same spot on July 11, 2011.