TR OGULs Rubicon and Phipps 9/19 2014
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 11:05 am
9/19/2014 1 day 12.56 miles 4289 elevation gain 4579 elevation loss
Had a Friday off due to the ironman lake Tahoe so decided to do a OGUL adventure, peaks on list for the day Rubicon, twin, and ellis. Made my way to Rubicon Peak Trailhead? In the Rubicon properties area followed petethousandspeaks directions, only car there. Took off hiking 8:30 up a steep use trail all the way to the base of the peak, looked around for a good way up and tried a few but being solo finally chose the easiest (more to the southwest) and also scouted for ways down to Stoney ridge lake as decided to go over to Phipps peak instead of driving to Twin and Ellis like originally planned if the smoke stayed decent. Found a decent way down to the lake much steeper and longer than expected to the Meeks bay desolation trail on the other side of the creek. At this point also decided I would go out Eagle falls trail and hitch hike back to my car did not want to go back up what I just came down and had not been in that part of Desolation in 10+ years. Took off on the trail to Phipps pass and peak passing by Rubicon Lake where I had camped on my Tahoe to Yosemite trip years ago. At Phipps pass just took off to the right up towards the peak looking to the north at Phipps lake, worked up to a sandy bench and started wondering where is the peak? walked a little further to a rock pile/peak area very windy could not find a register so off I went pretty much straight down towards Middle Velma Lake found the trail but decided to just head straight for Velma as I knew the trail went around quite a ways. Not sure if it was quicker but I enjoyed it, met up with the trail on the west shore and followed it all the way out to eagle falls trailhead. Done at 3 took my time due to the smoke in the air. Went across road to Vikingsholm parking lot and tried to hitch hike no one would stop as all turning in parking lot finally well only about 15 minutes a nice girl said she would take me even though it was the wrong way for her, the hike back up to the car from the highway was brutal I live on Donner Summit and I have no idea how these homeowners can make it up these paved switchbacks in the winter. Awesome day saw only 1 person on the way up to Rubicon peak then no one till almost all the way to Eagle Lake.
Thanks Kristine 2 more OGUL peaks done 30 now for me.
Had a Friday off due to the ironman lake Tahoe so decided to do a OGUL adventure, peaks on list for the day Rubicon, twin, and ellis. Made my way to Rubicon Peak Trailhead? In the Rubicon properties area followed petethousandspeaks directions, only car there. Took off hiking 8:30 up a steep use trail all the way to the base of the peak, looked around for a good way up and tried a few but being solo finally chose the easiest (more to the southwest) and also scouted for ways down to Stoney ridge lake as decided to go over to Phipps peak instead of driving to Twin and Ellis like originally planned if the smoke stayed decent. Found a decent way down to the lake much steeper and longer than expected to the Meeks bay desolation trail on the other side of the creek. At this point also decided I would go out Eagle falls trail and hitch hike back to my car did not want to go back up what I just came down and had not been in that part of Desolation in 10+ years. Took off on the trail to Phipps pass and peak passing by Rubicon Lake where I had camped on my Tahoe to Yosemite trip years ago. At Phipps pass just took off to the right up towards the peak looking to the north at Phipps lake, worked up to a sandy bench and started wondering where is the peak? walked a little further to a rock pile/peak area very windy could not find a register so off I went pretty much straight down towards Middle Velma Lake found the trail but decided to just head straight for Velma as I knew the trail went around quite a ways. Not sure if it was quicker but I enjoyed it, met up with the trail on the west shore and followed it all the way out to eagle falls trailhead. Done at 3 took my time due to the smoke in the air. Went across road to Vikingsholm parking lot and tried to hitch hike no one would stop as all turning in parking lot finally well only about 15 minutes a nice girl said she would take me even though it was the wrong way for her, the hike back up to the car from the highway was brutal I live on Donner Summit and I have no idea how these homeowners can make it up these paved switchbacks in the winter. Awesome day saw only 1 person on the way up to Rubicon peak then no one till almost all the way to Eagle Lake.
Thanks Kristine 2 more OGUL peaks done 30 now for me.
