TR: Long Canyon & 4 Lakes in Trinity Alps 5/27/14-5/28/14
Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 1:13 pm
Second solo trip ever. I hiked up Long Canyon and did the Four Lakes Loop, camping at Summit Lake and returning back down Long Canyon. Mostly this was a training trip (I'm hiking the High Sierra Trail in August), but it was beautiful! The first day was 8 miles and 4200 feet ascent, 400 feet descent, which I hiked in 5.5 hours, taking about an hour in breaks. The second day was 10 miles and 1800 feet ascent, 5600 feet descent, which I hiked in 6.5 hours, taking about 45 minutes in breaks. I thought about maybe going up Siligo either in the evening or the morning of the second day, but it was cold and windy both days and I've been up there before, so I skipped it this time.
Entering the wilderness about a mile in by snackronym, on Flickr
The first few miles are heavily forested by snackronym, on Flickr
The trail exits the forest and the views begin to open up to Gibson peak by snackronym, on Flickr
The trail follows the dramatic granite wall of Gibson before crossing the main stream in Long Canyon by snackronym, on Flickr
This area is at the confluence of many different types of rock, making it very colorful. by snackronym, on Flickr
The views are great atop Deer Pass. Siligo Peak and Deer Lake in the foregrund and the White Trinities in the background. by snackronym, on Flickr
Atop the saddle before Summit Lake. The orange peak on the left is Seven Up Peak. by snackronym, on Flickr
Summit Lake, my home for the night. Feeling pretty good about the time it took me to get here. I was on the trail at 10am and at Summit lake at 3:30pm. That's 8 miles and 4200 feet of elevation. by snackronym, on Flickr
Camp at Summit Lake. I had the lake entirely to myself. Actually, I had the whole loop to myself. After seeing a couple at the trailhead headed up like me, I passed a few parties leaving on the trail and then never saw another soul the whole trip. by snackronym, on Flickr
Sunset reflections at Summit Lake. by snackronym, on Flickr
The pass above Diamond Lake offers the first up close views of the White Trinities and Stuart Fork way below. by snackronym, on Flickr
Diamond Lake and the White Trinities. This spot was spectacular. by snackronym, on Flickr
White Trinities seen from the Four Lakes Loop between Diamond and Luella Lakes. by snackronym, on Flickr
Luella Lake by snackronym, on Flickr
Finally down to the Deer Creek Valley. To complete the loop, I've got to ascend that saddle way off in the distance. by snackronym, on Flickr
Deer Lake looking up at Deer Pass. I'm a little worried about those clouds, so I move quickly. by snackronym, on Flickr
But I can't stop taking pictures of this view. by snackronym, on Flickr
Unnamed peaks, Upper Siligo Meadow, and my feetsies. by snackronym, on Flickr
The view is great and always changing with the clouds casting shadows here and there. by snackronym, on Flickr
Headed across to Bee Tree Gap, the granite walls of Gibson loom above. by snackronym, on Flickr
At Bee Tree Gap. You can barely see Shasta in this photo off in the distance on the right. I'll get to look at this view for the whole way down until I enter the forest. by snackronym, on Flickr
Unnamed peaks to the south of Bee Tree Gap. by snackronym, on Flickr
Looking across at the granite of Gibson from the hanging meadow. by snackronym, on Flickr
Lots of this on the way down. It's a knee buster for sure! by snackronym, on Flickr
Yellow Lupine makes up for the lack of rocky peaks. by snackronym, on Flickr
And I'm back! by snackronym, on Flickr
Entering the wilderness about a mile in by snackronym, on Flickr
The first few miles are heavily forested by snackronym, on Flickr
The trail exits the forest and the views begin to open up to Gibson peak by snackronym, on Flickr
The trail follows the dramatic granite wall of Gibson before crossing the main stream in Long Canyon by snackronym, on Flickr
This area is at the confluence of many different types of rock, making it very colorful. by snackronym, on Flickr
The views are great atop Deer Pass. Siligo Peak and Deer Lake in the foregrund and the White Trinities in the background. by snackronym, on Flickr
Atop the saddle before Summit Lake. The orange peak on the left is Seven Up Peak. by snackronym, on Flickr
Summit Lake, my home for the night. Feeling pretty good about the time it took me to get here. I was on the trail at 10am and at Summit lake at 3:30pm. That's 8 miles and 4200 feet of elevation. by snackronym, on Flickr
Camp at Summit Lake. I had the lake entirely to myself. Actually, I had the whole loop to myself. After seeing a couple at the trailhead headed up like me, I passed a few parties leaving on the trail and then never saw another soul the whole trip. by snackronym, on Flickr
Sunset reflections at Summit Lake. by snackronym, on Flickr
The pass above Diamond Lake offers the first up close views of the White Trinities and Stuart Fork way below. by snackronym, on Flickr
Diamond Lake and the White Trinities. This spot was spectacular. by snackronym, on Flickr
White Trinities seen from the Four Lakes Loop between Diamond and Luella Lakes. by snackronym, on Flickr
Luella Lake by snackronym, on Flickr
Finally down to the Deer Creek Valley. To complete the loop, I've got to ascend that saddle way off in the distance. by snackronym, on Flickr
Deer Lake looking up at Deer Pass. I'm a little worried about those clouds, so I move quickly. by snackronym, on Flickr
But I can't stop taking pictures of this view. by snackronym, on Flickr
Unnamed peaks, Upper Siligo Meadow, and my feetsies. by snackronym, on Flickr
The view is great and always changing with the clouds casting shadows here and there. by snackronym, on Flickr
Headed across to Bee Tree Gap, the granite walls of Gibson loom above. by snackronym, on Flickr
At Bee Tree Gap. You can barely see Shasta in this photo off in the distance on the right. I'll get to look at this view for the whole way down until I enter the forest. by snackronym, on Flickr
Unnamed peaks to the south of Bee Tree Gap. by snackronym, on Flickr
Looking across at the granite of Gibson from the hanging meadow. by snackronym, on Flickr
Lots of this on the way down. It's a knee buster for sure! by snackronym, on Flickr
Yellow Lupine makes up for the lack of rocky peaks. by snackronym, on Flickr
And I'm back! by snackronym, on Flickr