#desolation wilderness

[vintagecamping]

A night under the stars...

Desolation Wilderness, California

1960

[trophobolene]

Desolation Wilderness | June, 2026

Canon Rebel T6 | 18-135mm

[iqwest]

Explore The Great Outdoors

Every day is a good day when its being spent in the Desolation Wilderness. The outdoor photo above is the march up the trail to Lake Aloha (heading up to it from Heather and Susie Lakes located just to the East of Lake Aloha and lower in elevation).

Lake Aloha

Here's the expansive view across the lake. You can't make it out, but to give some perspective, South Lake Tahoe sits in the far distance (under the "thunderhead" cumulonimbus cloud to the left in the photo). Trust me, pictures don't do this open space justice.

Hikers And Backpackers - Be Prepared!

If you've never been here before, it's a place you want to go. Whether you are a backpacker looking to stay overnight or a day hiker wanting to explore, rugged beauty will be found throughout the Desolation Wilderness in the expansive Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Keep in mind, if you haven't spent much time in the outdoors, these hikes can be moderate in intensity, so make sure you are prepared.

Water and snacks are a must. Bring close you can peel off and quickly throw back on.

Temperatures vary throughout the year and the one constant is that the weather is always changing. Afternoon thunderstorms are a regular occurrence during the summer (which can lead to strong winds, thunder, lightning, hail, and brief heavy rains).

It's not likely you'll find yourself getting snowed on during the summer months (when the trails are typically fully open and accessible after the spring snow melt), but these elevations are pushing 7,000 - 10,000 feet plus, so it can never be ruled out. By all means, you'll run into patches of snow. Fun for the kids as they don't expect to get treated to a snowball fight during the summer!

Backpacking With Your Companion!

Going with your best companion is a must too, but make sure the trails are dog friendly. Bring plenty of food and water for them too.

Even though water is everywhere (you don't need to worry about treating their water like we need to do ours!), there are desolate areas along these trails where you'll find they need a drink on the longer, hotter, days.

Best Backpacking Shoe

For the best footwear, I transitioned from traditional hiking boots to the Altra Lone Peak. It's labeled as a "running shoe", but I use them for day hikes and backpacking.

The open toe box lends towards a wider shoe up at our toes. Don't think it makes a big difference? It does! No more bruised pinky toe because your toes are so scrunched in that narrow hiking boot you've been wearing.

They're so light weight they relieve stress on your legs too, so there's more fuel in the tank when you get to where you're going and you feel better when you get there. I'm 48, so I feel it from time to time!

They grip. There's a ton of loose chunk rock in the Desolation Wilderness, along with a lot of granite slab, so the inner sole rock guard blunts the sharp edges with each step and the grippiness keeps you on your feet.

They're not waterproof and that's actually a feature! They don't trap water on your feet like a traditional waterproof hiking shoe will after you miscalculated the stream crossing and got water in them, so your feet don't stay waterlogged. They dry out remarkably quick, so with the right pair of wicking socks, there's no need to shy away or worry about any water you encounter. It's truly unreal and was totally unexpected.

The only "slight" negative with these backpacking shoes is that you don't get the ankle support found in high top hiking boots, so there are times you feel like you're going to slip out of your shoes. This is mostly mental. However, if you don't have strong ankles, work these new hiking boots in. Make the long treks in your traditional hiking boots and trade off to these for your day excursions. The Altra's break in quickly, but you want to make sure you can handle the change.

Again, there's more than a lot to like about Altra's hiking shoe! They've made all the difference in the world for me and I'm glad I learned about them after stumbling across Jessica "Dixie" Mills online.

To find out more about her backpacking journeys check out her blog at Homemade Wanderlust - she's got a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things backpacking and has through-hiked the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail), CDT (Continental Divide Trail), and the Appalachian Trail (just to name a few of her major accomplishments).

Cheers to exploring Lake Aloha and the great outdoors. It does wonders for the mind and body, so get out there!

[spin4trout]

Susie Lake - Part 3

Last week on Wednesday, we went on another day hike, this time up to Half Moon Lake. On the way, we got a nice view of Susie Lake from a higher elevation.

When we got back to camp that afternoon, I did my last fishing of the trip, and caught two nice brook trout. The wind really whipped up in the evening to the point we estimated a steady 40 - 45 mph with gusts stronger than that. We turned in early because of the cold and wind, but it was tough to sleep when the whole tent kept shaking violently with every gust.

On Thursday, things settled down and we went on a final day hike to Gilmore Lake. In the afternoon back at Susie I just sat and took in the views instead of doing any more fishing. I wish it was a requirement for senators, congressmen, and others in government to spend time in beautiful places like this. Maybe there would be a little more acceptance of measures to preserve public lands and to protect the environment.

It was our last night in the wilderness and it was calm and reasonably warm so we stayed up for a while stargazing and attempting to get some good pictures of the sky. I managed to get the photo below of Sagittarius and the Milky Way, including the very center of our galaxy, despite fumbling with my camera controls in the dark.

I'd rate this backpacking trip as one of my best.

[illbedancingwithmyself]

Shots of me by my literal biological 31 year old son on our Father’s day hike

[confrontthefamiliar]

Desolation Wilderness / CA / June 2020

[a-wandering-raccoon]

Desolation Wilderness backpack; 40 miles; 6,400 gross elevation gain Day 1: Rockbound Trailhead to Maud Lake Day 2: Maud Lake to Middle Velma Lake Day 3: Middle Velma Lake to Fontanillis Lake Day 4: Fonatanillis Lake to Half Moon Lake Day 5: Half Moon Lake to Rubicon River Day 6: Rubicon River to Doris Lake Day 7: Doris Lake to Rockbound Trailhead

June 2021

[pcttrailsidereader]

Seven Must-See Spots Along the PCT

Words and photos by Danielle Alling

Many PCT hikers produce their equivalent of this list. Each list tends to be similar yet different.  One’s experience of the PCT is not only influenced by the scenery itself but the weather, how you are feeling physically and mentally, and who you are with . . .  But, it is hard to argue with Danielle’s list.  What is on your list?

One of my most memorable trips was my thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile footpath that boasts an incredible variety of landscapes. From the dry and windy deserts of Southern California to the lush and forested slopes of Washington’s North Cascades, the PCT affords hikers the opportunity to see some of America’s most breathtaking landscapes. Whether you’re thru-hiking, backpacking a short section, or just looking for a stunning day hike, here are seven of my favorite panoramas you won’t want to miss.

1. Mount Laguna’s Foster Point

This viewpoint affords hikers one of Southern California’s most stunning panoramas, and it’s just a short distance off-trail. The real beauty of the desert below opens up at dusk when the sun touches the mountain tops and the shadows stretch across the valley floor. Foster Point boasts views of San Jacinto and San Gorgonio, the two highest peaks in Southern California.

2. Forester Pass

Named for the Forest Service employees who tirelessly work to protect and preserve our country’s natural spaces, Forester Pass is the highest point along the PCT and marks the boundary between Sequoia and King’s Canyon National Parks. At 13,153 feet the trail is well above tree line and there’s no sign of plant life. The barren landscape has almost a moon-like aura, leaving hikers to feel like they are traversing a different world as they approach the pass.

3. Kearsarge Pass

Before climbing to the pass, this spur trail skirts the sparkling Bullfrog Lakes which look more like infinity pools as they drop off to stunning views of the jagged peaks of the High Sierra in the distance. The views only get more dramatic after reaching the high point and the eastern edge of King’s Canyon National Park. Even the hike down to Onion Valley is studded with alpine lakes, unforgettable landscapes, and a handful of prime campsites.

4. Desolation Wilderness

Just west of Lake Tahoe is one of Northern California’s most ethereal landscapes. Aptly named and situated in the El Dorado National Forest, this landscape of alpine lakes and glacier-scarred rock is the where the granitic Sierra Nevada transitions towards the volcanic Cascade mountain range. It’s open, sun-exposed, and rugged, but the beauty doesn’t disappoint. Lake Aloha is one of the area’s most picturesque but in these parts the trail skirts lake after lake as the barren rocks give way to wildflowers and lush, old growth forest.

5. Jefferson Park

Affectionately known simply as “Jeff Park,” this stretch in Central Oregon is a local favorite and popular with day hikers, photographers, families, and weekend warriors. For the most part the terrain is smooth and easygoing and the open plains provide a colorful contrast to the steep, rocky slopes of glacier-covered Mount Jefferson. Hikers that arrive after the snow melts in late summer may find themselves walking through meadows that have burst to life with indian paintbrush, lupine, and a plethora of magenta, purple, and pink wildflowers.

6. Goat Rocks Wilderness

A long-time favorite among hikers, the Goat Rocks Wilderness has it all: pristine lakes, flower-filled meadows, precipitous edges, and 360 degree views. The trail meanders through grassy fields, scrambles up rocky hillsides, and crosses streams of snowmelt before arriving the west face of Old Snowy and traversing a sketchy scree slope. Once across, hikers are rewarded with one of the trail’s most photographed panoramas: an impressive view of the Devil’s Backbone where the trail balances along a ridgeline before disappearing into the wide open valley below, all with the beloved Mount Rainier looming in the distance.

7. The North Cascades

It’s difficult to name any must-see place in particular in Washington because the entire northern half of the state is one endless breathtaking vista. One particularly awe-inspiring location, however, is found just north of Snoqualmie Pass. The trail climbs for nearly six miles into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness then opens up into a vast expanse of jagged peaks. Hikers who get an early start may see a gorgeous colorful sunrise over the Stuart Range to the east, the enjoy the shimmer as the sun glistens on a series of tarn lakes to the west.