Well, I couldn’t quite let the sierras slip away for another year without trying to squeeze in that one last trip…
For companions I convinced my father to come out of backpacking retirement (he has been lost to the creature comfort crusted allure of car camping since the mid 90s). We also brought along our 10 year old dog for his first ever backpacking trip! Given the somewhat advanced years of our hound we took advantage of off season tranquility and opted for the short loop of 20 Lakes Basin out of Saddlebag Lake (reservoir).
The food lay out is always one of my favorite parts of the trip.
Setting out!
Car was very low on battery by the time we climb all the way up to the 10,000ft trailhead but by our calculations we should be able to recharge them enough on the long decent back down 120 to get to a charger.
Dino and North Peak: a majestic duo.
We camped two nights between cascade and steelhead lake, no one else around although I imagine this area must be crawling with people and or mosquitoes in other months. First night we woke up to frozen water bottles but the second was significantly warmer. Saw one solo alpanist heading for an accent of north peak and some day hikers but no else camped anywhere in the basin.
What was left of my fishing confidence was utterly shattered on this trip. Looking down into the deep water along Steelhead’s cliffs I could easily see at least a dozen large trout circling. They seemed to appreciate the entertainment value that my Panther Martin being retrieved through their midst provided and would gather around and follow it. But. Never. Ever. Bite.
Sighhhh. Perhaps I need to learn to fly fish…
Nice steep day hike up to a very snowbound Secret Lake.
This solar charger is one of my favorite and most reliable pieces of gear and also cheapest!
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Specifically thank you to @Harlen for the renateralization work out here!
