Ice on Emerald Lake

L

lambertiana

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Jul 7, 2000
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I just had to get out today, so I drove up to Sequoia and hiked to Emerald Lake. It is a decent hike, and just what I need to start doing to get in better shape for some backpacking trips next month.

The trail goes through some nice forest:
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And crosses a few nice streams:
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I wanted to take the Watchtower trail because it goes along the top of a dramatic cliff (the one in Ray's hike report last week), but part of the trail is still steep snow and ice above a cliff, so I had to take the much harder (and appropriately named) Hump trail. But eventually at the top of the hump the effort is rewarded with good views to the north:
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After dropping down from the hump you get to Heather Lake:
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And then after going over another rise (going around a ridge) is Emerald Lake basin. First you can look down on Aster Lake:
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Then finally you get to Emerald Lake. It still has about 50% ice cover:
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Sorry about the picture quality, I wasn't using my regular camera and I was having problems getting the exposure right with a lot of snow in the image.

I also spotted this "Rock Fish" emerging from the ground:
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And for the fungus experts out there - can anyone identify this?
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It felt really good to get up higher, this is the first time this year. I have been waiting for the snow to melt and the raging streams to go down.
 
Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing. I'd love to hike that area, lovely terrain!
 
Awww. Man.
Looks great even on the phone. Can't wait to check out your pics when I get home in the morning, and thanks for posting them.
 
My father in law and I are going up to Sequoia tomorrow! We plan to go up to Emerald Lake later this summer when the Watchtower is opened. That's a great hike. How much more is Emerald Lake from Heather Lake? I think tomorrow we're just going to hike around the Giant Forest area among the big trees..
 
awesome pics John..:thumbup: we just got in from the eastern Sierra's a few hours ago.. there was a lot snow everywhere... it was cool...
 
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man i love your pics . it's been many years since i hiked the sierras but your photos made my heart twang .thanks dennis
 
Thanks for the amazing photos! I feel refreshed just looking at those mountain lakes.
 
Great pics and beautiful country...we've been there many times over the years...makes me want to go back this summer!
 
Thanks for posting! I got to stay in Exeter for a day and a half a few years back for work and was able to sneak my way up to Kings Canyon for a few hours between job sites. Definitely need to get back there someday and spend some quality time there.
 
Ray - Emerald Lake is about a mile beyond Heather Lake. It is well worth it. Make sure you go to the lake itself, you can't see the lake from the trail. You have to cross the stream to get to the lake.
 
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