Last Friday, we spent the night at the Crabtree trailhead with plenty of mosquitoes!
On Saturday we joined the hordes of people going up the trail. There must have been at least 100 people going to Bear Lake!! However, once we passed the Bear Lake junction, the crowds thinned substantially.
- Wide, sweeping views reward you on the way to Piute Lake
Piute was beautiful as ever and NO mosquitoes. I mean none!
Going up to Buck Lakes was beautiful.
- Deer Lake
We met rangers checking permits. They told us that they were burying people's waste- GROSS. Really? Backpackers don't know to bury their waste? We picked up a ton of trash along the way. Bottles and various other trash along the trail and at the campsites. I usually pick up and haul out any trash that is not completely disgusting.
There was some water running at most of the streams that were dry last year.
Buck Lakes were spectacular!!
- Morning at Buck Lakes
Almost no one there and the lakes just BEG for exploration!
- Exploring Lower Buck Lake
- More around Lower Buck Lake
- Lower Buck Lake
The next day, we hiked back to Piute via Wood Lake and then cut over to Gem Lake and down to Piute. It was a lovely, scenic, mostly shaded trail.
- Leaving Buck Lakes, a lovely unnamed lake
- Hiking along Wood Lake feels more like hiking along a river than a lake!
Buck creek had water, enough to filter if necessary.
Also, NO mosquitoes at Buck or Gem or anywhere on the trail in between!!!
Hope this is helpful.
