To Grouse Lake and Back
In my previous blog I wrote about hiking up the trail to Grouse Lake in the Desolation Wilderness. Where last I left off I had left Hawk off. Her back was aching just from the first mile or so of the ascent. She waited atop a set of rocks near a small waterfall while I continued onward.
About 10 minutes up the trail I crossed the wilderness boundary. 10 minutes beyond that I reached a signed junction.
Twin Lakes or Grouse Lake? Both are right answers!
To the left, the trail to Twin Lakes and Island Lake. Which we've hiked before. At least three times, in fact. To the right, the trail to Grouse Lake. And, beyond that, Hemlock and Smith Lakes. None of which I've visited before. I go right.
The trail ascends over granite slabs before darting back into the woods. We're not high enough to be above the treeline. ...Which is nice as the trees provide welcome cover from the sun during the ascent. Also under the cover of these trees are lingering snow banks. Yes, it's late July and the air temperature is 82° F (28C) but there's still snow here.
Just below Grouse Lake the trail becomes very steep. Basically it climbs over a granite ledge that walls in the lake.
Grouse Lake at elev. 8,140' in the Desolation Wilderness of Eldorado National Forest
Grouse Lake is everything I hoped for, a sapphire gem of a lake in a glacial cirque. At the back are not one but two waterfalls, flush with the drainage from lakes even higher up in the Crystal Range.
I had hoped to get to at least one of those higher lakes but it just wasn't in the cards for today. After ascending 1,200' at altitude just to get here, I was worn down enough that it was time to turn back. Plus, based on my agreement with Hawk waiting halfway down the trail, it was literally time to turn back.
Paddlers on Wrights Lake below the Crystal Range
Back down at the trailhead we stowed our packs in the car, changed into our lighter shoes, and walked back out to the edges of Wrights Lake. Paddlers were still out and about in the warm evening- in canoes, kayaks, and even standing paddle boards. We could only wish we had enough energy left to do things like that as we hobbled back to the car, spent and tired from the day but still happy with everything we'd done.
About 10 minutes up the trail I crossed the wilderness boundary. 10 minutes beyond that I reached a signed junction.
Twin Lakes or Grouse Lake? Both are right answers!
To the left, the trail to Twin Lakes and Island Lake. Which we've hiked before. At least three times, in fact. To the right, the trail to Grouse Lake. And, beyond that, Hemlock and Smith Lakes. None of which I've visited before. I go right.
The trail ascends over granite slabs before darting back into the woods. We're not high enough to be above the treeline. ...Which is nice as the trees provide welcome cover from the sun during the ascent. Also under the cover of these trees are lingering snow banks. Yes, it's late July and the air temperature is 82° F (28C) but there's still snow here.
Just below Grouse Lake the trail becomes very steep. Basically it climbs over a granite ledge that walls in the lake.
Grouse Lake at elev. 8,140' in the Desolation Wilderness of Eldorado National Forest
Grouse Lake is everything I hoped for, a sapphire gem of a lake in a glacial cirque. At the back are not one but two waterfalls, flush with the drainage from lakes even higher up in the Crystal Range.
I had hoped to get to at least one of those higher lakes but it just wasn't in the cards for today. After ascending 1,200' at altitude just to get here, I was worn down enough that it was time to turn back. Plus, based on my agreement with Hawk waiting halfway down the trail, it was literally time to turn back.
Paddlers on Wrights Lake below the Crystal Range
Back down at the trailhead we stowed our packs in the car, changed into our lighter shoes, and walked back out to the edges of Wrights Lake. Paddlers were still out and about in the warm evening- in canoes, kayaks, and even standing paddle boards. We could only wish we had enough energy left to do things like that as we hobbled back to the car, spent and tired from the day but still happy with everything we'd done.