Sometimes you plan on a really long day out. Sometimes those plans get cut short because you’re captivated by the beauty around you.
That’s what happened to me this weekend. I set out to hike up Horsetail Falls into Desolation Wilderness backcountry and out to Lake Aloha. Ropi Lake cut me short.
Hike: Five Finger Falls
Where: Forest of Nisene Marks
Trailhead: Porter Family Picnic Area
Level: Moderate
Duration: 5 hours
Length: 10.2 miles
Gear: Icebreaker Women’s Tech T Lite T-Shirt, Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Socks – Women’s
, REI Flash 18 Pack
, Ahnu Sugarpine Boots, Outdoor Research Contour Shorts, and Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Poles
Cost of Parking: $8
The Forest of Nisene Marks in Aptos, CA is one of those little known gems in the Bay Area. Trails wind through the Santa Cruz Mountains under second-growth redwoods, next to trickling creeks.
I set off to explore Five Finger Falls here after hearing many great things about it. The trail was long and semi-strenuous. I started at the Porter Famil Picnic Area and headed up the Aptos Creek Fire Road for a little over a mile. From there, there was a sign to Aptos Creek Trail out to Five Finger Falls. The hike begins off fairly mellow, but around 4 miles out, it begins to wind up some steep switchbacks.
The falls and Aptos Creek were flowing, but barely! The falls were just a small trickle into a basin of water. It was beautiful, but a little disappointing. This is a hike I will want to do again after torrential downpour to really experience the magnificence of the falls.
Hike: Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake
Where: Desolation Wilderness
Trailhead: Eagle Falls
Level: Easy
Duration: 2 hours
Length: 2.5 miles
Gear: Icebreaker Oasis Crewe long-sleeve, Camelbak Aventura Pack, Arcteryx Women’s Alpha SL Hybrid Jacket, Triple Aught Design Artemis Hoodie, REI Sahara Convertible Pants
, Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Poles
, and Ahnu Sugarpine Waterproof Boot
Cost of Parking: Free off Emerald Bay Road or $3 at the trailhead
A few weeks ago the boyfriend and I hiked up the Bayview trail and peered down onto Eagle Lake. The next day, we decided to hike to Eagle Lake and peer up to where we were standing before.
This is a fairly mellow 2.5 miler out and back hike with views of Upper Eagle Falls, granite walls, and a clear blue Eagle Lake.
Hike: Pyramid Peak via Rocky Canyon
Where: Desolation Wilderness
Trailhead: Highway 50 between Twin Bridges and Strawberry
Level: Strenuous
Duration: 7 hours
Length: 6 miles
Gear: Icebreaker Women’s Everyday LS Crewe, Outdoor Research Women’s Helium Hybrid Jacket
, REI Sahara Roll-Up Pants – Women’s
, MSR Lightning Ascent Women’s Snowshoes 25″, Black Diamond Raven Pro Ice Axe
, Arc’teryx Bird Head Toque Beanie
, Outdoor Research Longhouse Gloves, Camelbak Aventura Pack, Sierra Designs Tov Down Jacket (not needed), Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Poles – Pair
, and Ahnu Sugarpine Waterproof Boot
Cost of Parking: Free off of Highway 50
The boyfriend and I set off this past weekend to conquer Pyramid Peak again, this time in more wintry conditions. Not really sure what to expect, we equipped ourselves with snowshoes and an ice axe. In a worst case scenario, we’d need them. In a best case scenario, we could practice some mountaineering skills and get a good workout in with the additional weight.
Hike: Bayview Trail and Cascade Falls
Where: Desolation Wilderness
Trailhead: Bayview Trailhead
Level: Moderate
Duration: 3 hours
Length: 4.9 miles
Gear: Icebreaker Oasis Crewe long-sleeve, Camelbak Aventura Pack, Arcteryx Women’s Alpha SL Hybrid Jacket, Triple Aught Design Artemis Hoodie, REI Sahara Convertible Pants
, Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Poles
, and Ahnu Sugarpine Waterproof Boot
Cost of Parking: Free
Headed up to South Lake Tahoe this past weekend to spend some much needed time in the mountains. First stop was up the Bayview trail. Originally intended to head to Fontanillis and Dick’s Lake but got a late start. With snow up on the ridge of the Bayview trail and dark clouds rolling in over Eagle Lake combined with unpreparedness for that weather, we decided to head back down and over to Cascade Falls instead. Snapped a few photos looking out into Desolation Wilderness and down into Eagle Lake. The beauty of the Sierras never fails to blow me away. I’ll come back for you, Fontanillis, yes, I will.