Four Lakes Loop (Trinity) From Stonewall Ridge
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 12:17 am
Heading into the Labor Day weekend, I decided to go on a relaxed trip over Stonewall Pass to the Four Lakes loop. There are several approaches to this popular hike around Mount Siligo in the Trinity Alps of Northern California, and I had chosen to start from the Stoney Ridge trailhead, hiking over both Stonewall and Little Stonewall passes. I expected warm temperatures and went with a light pack counting on my puffy, balaclava and rain jacket for extra warmth if things got a little chilly.
I left home around 8:30 on a Friday morning, picking up some breakfast along the way to the Ranger Station in Weaverville where I filled out a self-issued permit for that weekend. I didn’t arrive at the trailhead until 11:00. It was a late start, given that I planned to do 10+ miles before camping at Summit Lake. The temps were a bit cooler than the 100’s down in the valley, but still warm enough to work up a sweat climbing from the trailhead at 4,600 feet to Stonewall Pass at 7,200 feet. The views north included VanMatre Meadows, Little Stonewall Pass, and the mountains beyond. To the south I could see a bit of Trinity Lake and the green forested slopes I had just come up. Around 1:00 PM, I stopped at Echo Lake, just southeast of the trail and below Little Stonewall Pass. If you want to go to Echo Lake just look for a small tarn to the right of the trail just after crossing the outlet stream from Echo Lake. Echo Lake is just past a small rise on the other side of the tarn which was dried up when I was there. The views to the west and south were nice, but the ridge line to the northeast that separated Echo Lake from Billy-Be-Damn Lake was impressive enough to remove any thoughts I had of taking the off-trail route to that curiously named lake. After lunch, it was a quick hike up to Little Stonewall Pass at just over 7,400 feet, where I met a group of four hikers enjoying a bit of a rest and some wonderful views of Siligo Meadows, Mount Siligo, Gibson Peak, and Seven-up Peak. After another short break to chat and enjoy the views, I dropped down to Siligo Meadow at 7,000 feet before another short climb up to Deer Creek Pass at 7,600 feet. From there I had the option of dropping down to Deer Lake or turning west (to the left) to Summit Lake for that night’s camp and the start of the Four Lakes Loop. I stuck with my original plan and took the trail heading west traversing around the bowl holding Deer Lake. Around 5:00 I finally came to the short trail that led down to Summit Lake, situated at 7,500 feet on the south side of Siligo Peak. The camp sites were plentiful and I took a small one for my one-man tarp tent. After setting up camp I walked to the northern edge of the lake and enjoyed views of the deep canyon to the west that holds the Stuart Fork of the Trinity River and the white granite peaks to the north. While enjoying a epicurean feast of trail mix for dinner, I donned my down puffy to fight off the cold evening that was descending on Summit Lake as the sun dropped below the mountains. I was beginning to wonder about my decision to only bring a light blanket to cover me. Despite highs in the 100’s down in the valley, despite the fact that I was still well within the summer hiking season, September 4, despite having little need for a sleeping bag in my previous trips in June and July, I was freezing (at least figuratively). By 11:00 I had seen several shooting stars but no sleep as I had already put on all of my clothes and was still shivering under my light blanket. Around 3:00 AM I finally drifted off. When I woke up a couple of hours later, I was somewhat worried by the fact that I had stopped shivering when I knew the temperature had certainly dropped even lower.
Part 2 to come
I left home around 8:30 on a Friday morning, picking up some breakfast along the way to the Ranger Station in Weaverville where I filled out a self-issued permit for that weekend. I didn’t arrive at the trailhead until 11:00. It was a late start, given that I planned to do 10+ miles before camping at Summit Lake. The temps were a bit cooler than the 100’s down in the valley, but still warm enough to work up a sweat climbing from the trailhead at 4,600 feet to Stonewall Pass at 7,200 feet. The views north included VanMatre Meadows, Little Stonewall Pass, and the mountains beyond. To the south I could see a bit of Trinity Lake and the green forested slopes I had just come up. Around 1:00 PM, I stopped at Echo Lake, just southeast of the trail and below Little Stonewall Pass. If you want to go to Echo Lake just look for a small tarn to the right of the trail just after crossing the outlet stream from Echo Lake. Echo Lake is just past a small rise on the other side of the tarn which was dried up when I was there. The views to the west and south were nice, but the ridge line to the northeast that separated Echo Lake from Billy-Be-Damn Lake was impressive enough to remove any thoughts I had of taking the off-trail route to that curiously named lake. After lunch, it was a quick hike up to Little Stonewall Pass at just over 7,400 feet, where I met a group of four hikers enjoying a bit of a rest and some wonderful views of Siligo Meadows, Mount Siligo, Gibson Peak, and Seven-up Peak. After another short break to chat and enjoy the views, I dropped down to Siligo Meadow at 7,000 feet before another short climb up to Deer Creek Pass at 7,600 feet. From there I had the option of dropping down to Deer Lake or turning west (to the left) to Summit Lake for that night’s camp and the start of the Four Lakes Loop. I stuck with my original plan and took the trail heading west traversing around the bowl holding Deer Lake. Around 5:00 I finally came to the short trail that led down to Summit Lake, situated at 7,500 feet on the south side of Siligo Peak. The camp sites were plentiful and I took a small one for my one-man tarp tent. After setting up camp I walked to the northern edge of the lake and enjoyed views of the deep canyon to the west that holds the Stuart Fork of the Trinity River and the white granite peaks to the north. While enjoying a epicurean feast of trail mix for dinner, I donned my down puffy to fight off the cold evening that was descending on Summit Lake as the sun dropped below the mountains. I was beginning to wonder about my decision to only bring a light blanket to cover me. Despite highs in the 100’s down in the valley, despite the fact that I was still well within the summer hiking season, September 4, despite having little need for a sleeping bag in my previous trips in June and July, I was freezing (at least figuratively). By 11:00 I had seen several shooting stars but no sleep as I had already put on all of my clothes and was still shivering under my light blanket. Around 3:00 AM I finally drifted off. When I woke up a couple of hours later, I was somewhat worried by the fact that I had stopped shivering when I knew the temperature had certainly dropped even lower.
Part 2 to come