ProCaliberTraveler
Well-Known Member
This is Second Lake in the Inyo National Forest, CA, yet another gem in the eastern Sierra. I hiked up here this past weekend. The trail follows Big Pine Creek and a chain of lakes; There are seven lakes in the chain. The first three of which are delightfully colored this greenish turquoise hue, perhaps from melt from the nearby Palisade Glacier.
Temple Crag towers over Second Lake. It is well known in the rock climbing community, and it creates an excellent reflection in the lake water. I had to walk through a campsite filled with some young backpackers who were all too happy to let me pass down to the shore.
This is First Lake. It has the same color water as Second Lake, and it’s so calm that it creates excellent reflections of shoreline trees. On my first attempt of this trail, I only made it as far as First Lake. However, that was in the spring of last year when the lake was still frozen over, and plenty of snow and ice remained on the ground.
I don’t know exactly how far I hiked this past weekend, but I estimate it was at least 11 miles with 3,000+ feet of elevation gain. My turnaround point was Fourth Lake at approximately 10,800 feet in elevation. It was a tad underwhelming, as the water didn’t have the same color as the first three lakes, nor did it have the same awesome views. It was, however, quiet, and I spent a bit of time on a peninsula refueling, resting and watching the trout in the water.
Just below Fourth Lake, I stumbled across an actual mule train. The Big Pine Creek pack station is close to this trailhead. I had never seen a working mule train on a day hike before.
Temple Crag towers over Second Lake. It is well known in the rock climbing community, and it creates an excellent reflection in the lake water. I had to walk through a campsite filled with some young backpackers who were all too happy to let me pass down to the shore.
This is First Lake. It has the same color water as Second Lake, and it’s so calm that it creates excellent reflections of shoreline trees. On my first attempt of this trail, I only made it as far as First Lake. However, that was in the spring of last year when the lake was still frozen over, and plenty of snow and ice remained on the ground.
I don’t know exactly how far I hiked this past weekend, but I estimate it was at least 11 miles with 3,000+ feet of elevation gain. My turnaround point was Fourth Lake at approximately 10,800 feet in elevation. It was a tad underwhelming, as the water didn’t have the same color as the first three lakes, nor did it have the same awesome views. It was, however, quiet, and I spent a bit of time on a peninsula refueling, resting and watching the trout in the water.
Just below Fourth Lake, I stumbled across an actual mule train. The Big Pine Creek pack station is close to this trailhead. I had never seen a working mule train on a day hike before.
