June 28, 2012 – Middle Velma Lake to Bayview Trailhead

Title: June 28, 2012 – Middle Velma Lake to Bayview Trailhead

Trail head: Bayview Trailhead, Emerald Bay

Hike Info:

Trail: Maggie's Peaks

Destination: Bayview Trailhead

Distance: 6.6

Travel Time: 5:35

Moving Time: 3:13

Elevation Rise: 982'

Maximum Elevation: 8,437'

Description:



Woke up this morning around 6:45 and there was no wind, unlike last night. Nice crisp and clear morning. Breakfast is served and we leave around 8:45. We decide to make a little side trip up to Upper Velma Lake. Middle Velma Lake is only connected to Lower or Upper Velma Lake by name, not drainage. It is a pleasant walk—Sherri and I do it without our packs, but Andrea has hers. We spend some time around the lake—Andrea and I walk out to an island to claim it for our Capture California effort. We name the land, Cat in the Hat Island. There is a nice waterfall coming into the end of the lake.



We come back and pick up our packs and then trot off down the trail. We get to see the three Velma lakes as we climb. While the climb is not bad, the sun is on us and the altitude is a bit for us sea level creatures—how are we to handle the high Sierra's? We stop for lunch in the shade. Then round one of the peaks.



As we round the peak, we start to see Lake Tahoe and then Emerald Bay. In the foreground is Cascade Lake, right next to Emerald Bay. The trail is steep going down—glad we are not going up. As we come down, we meet a couple PCT'ers. There pack is having a problem. We offer some assistance, or at least a ride to town. They said that would help. But about half an hour later when we got down, they found a ride into town already. So we got down around 2pm.



We stopped by the Taylor Creek Visitor Center and did a nice walk around. Met a couple of rangers. Then we were off. Sherri rode with Andrea to Placerville. We wound up following a person who was going 25-35mph, then would speed up when there was a passing lane. Finally passed him and made it to Placerville. We thought we were eating Mexican, but the place had turned in Bricks. Food was good. Keep this on the list of places to stop. Andrea parted ways with us and went on back to El Ceritto. We stayed the night at a National 9 Inn. Pretty basic, but the price was good. Treated ourselves to a dish of ice cream before going to bed.