Lake Loop: Island, shotgun, Rock Penner, Island

Eight of us got more than we bargained for, hiking 13.25 miles on a long, hot hike. The elevation gain was about 1500 feet. Starting at Carr/Feeley, we hiked up in a counterclockwise direction, stopping at Shotgun for lunch. At the Sawmill, Rock Lake junction, we discovered that the trail up to Rock Lake has been rebuilt, making the ascent easier but adding some length to the hike. Instead of going up steeply through the Mules Ears, the trail is a series of gentle switchbacks until it meets up with the old trail near Rock Lake. Finally arriving at Penner, on a trail which also has been rerouted, we took a break, some of us swimming, some just soaking their feet in the cool water.  Due to our late arrival back home, this group will now meet at 7:30 when anticipating such a long hike. The first time for that will be July 8, when we circle around Castle and Basin.

On Round Lake Trail. Island lake

Shotgun

Penner

Island

Lake Sterling and Mossy Pond Loop

Eight of us and 2 dogs endured the grueling road up to Lake Sterling from Cisco Grove exit. This is a high clearance vehicle road only.   Other than that, the area is magically beautiful. The trails are now well marked with plastic colored arrows. We think that the nearby Boy Scout camp placed them. At 6.5 miles, the hike is not too long.  It is tiring because of the need to climb over numerous dead trees blocking the trail. At least at one point we had to walk between some rocks on a downed log lying in a lake. The recent rains have probably raised the water level in each lake. 

One of the 13 lakes we passed. 

Step away!  This dog would shake off half the lake!  

Another beautiful lake

Tired of lakes. 

Salmon Creek Campground

Three camping rigs and six hikers camped at Salmon Creek, just north of the Sierra Buttes and south of Gold Lakes. The first day we walked across the road bridge to Sand Lake and Lower Sardine Lake. A really nice rustic resort was up there with people resting in hammocks and fishing. 

On Wednesday we hiked up in the Gold lakes area from the Elwell Lodge up around Long Lake and up to the PCT. we returned by Round and Silver Lakes. The loop was almost 9 miles with at least a 1500 ft elevation gain. The trail was mostly on rocks so we found it tiring. The views were fantastic as usual.

PCT

Thursday we hiked north on the PCT from Packer Pass. The view of the buttes down to Packer and Deer Lakes was spectacular. The PCT was mostly level so the going was easy. We hiked to the Deer Lake overlook but returned due to rain threatening. We met a thru-hiking couple from Japan which was fun for everyone , especially Akiko.   We had hiked 6.5 miles. 

Everyone else left on Friday but we wanted to hike up to Upper Sardine Lake. The road was rocky and quite a few vacationers from the lodge and fisherman were hiking at the same time. We found out that there is a trail that ascends towards Tamarack Lakes near the Sand Lake campground. So we made some lunch and hiked up a couple of miles to the Sardine look out. This trail is on a south facing slope and could be scorching hot. Luckily for us, the clouds were intermittent as were the rain drops and we were rewarded with a spectacular view of Upper Sardine and the Buttes looming at the end of the valley. We had hiked 6 miles all told. 

Tamarack trail head

We took the alternative route home, 49 and 89, and the down 80 from Truckee. The time was about the same. And we finally hit rain: about an hour after we arrived home.