I was quite happy when she decided after all these years that she wanted to join me on a short backpack. We looked at options and decided the Treasure Lakes trail from South Lake would be a good reintroduction to backpacking. It looked beautiful, fun, and not long or difficult.
We spent Friday night at one of the many campgrounds along the road on the way to South Lake. Saturday morning, we headed up to the trailhead. Unfortunately, all the overnight parking at the trailhead was taken. I dropped her off at the trailhead and found parking about a mile down the road. Hiking up pavement for a mile is not my favorite way to start a hike, but that's life on a peak season weekend in the eastern Sierra.
The trailhead at South Lake provides a nice view of the fun that lies beyond.
Ozzy the pack dog along the trail.
We set up camp at lower Treasure Lakes. There were a few groups already there, so we crossed the creek and skirted the lake until we found this site. It was away from the others and offered more solitude.
After setting up camp, I headed out to explore the upper lakes while my wife cooled her feet near our camp. There is no clear trail all the way to the upper lakes, but the route follows this beautiful creek for a while.
The route to the upper lakes.
The first of the three upper lakes.
Napping in the sun next to a beautiful alpine lake. It doesn't get much more relaxing than that.
On the way back to the lower lakes. Ozzy is crossing the creek here but is hard to see. He blends in with the logs.
One of the two lower lakes.
Shortly after I got back to camp, clouds rolled in and we had about 20 minutes of rain with some small hail. We dove into the tent and napped it out.
Ozzy at camp after the rain. I think he looks somewhat presidential in this photo.
Morning light on Sunday.
Not my favorite picture... It would be better with a wolf on that ridge. Even a coyote would do.
A self-portrait after we packed up camp before heading back down.
The hike back to the trailhead was quick and easy. It left us plenty of time to pick up lunch at Great Basin before driving back to San Diego. Treasure Lakes is a nice weekend backpack if you don't want to wander too far from a trailhead. If I go there again, I'd camp at the upper lakes. I thought they were prettier, had fewer people, and had some great tucked away campsites.
