Gary-Summer: June 24, 2022 - Weaver Lake to Jennie Lake

Friday, June 24, 2022

June 24, 2022 - Weaver Lake to Jennie Lake

Title: June 24, 2022 - Weaver Lake to Jennie Lake
Hike Info : Description : : Menu : Extra Photo's : Animals

Hike Info:

Type: Backpacking

Trail head: Weaver Lake

Trail: Cross-Country, Jennie Lake Trail

Destination: Jennie Lake

Distance: 4.42 miles

Start Time: 11:19

End Time: 4:40

Travel Time: 5:20 (0.83 mph)

Moving Time: 3:28 (1.27 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,505'

Descent: 1,158‘

Maximum Elevation: 9,282'

GPS Tracks

Morning Light

Description:

Last night was interesting. I was sleeping pretty well when I realized there was a flashlight shining through the tent’s vestibule. After a short dialogue, I found out that the hammock was not working out for someone-too cold. So I now have company in my three person tent. I think it is Rachel since she had expressed concerns earlier. But I am assuming since she is snuggled in her sleeping bag and has her back to me.

Discussion around a non-lit fire pit

I slept in until 7:00am. Even at home that is pretty late. Out backpacking, almost unheard of. I go off up the ridge a short distance and read for a while. A little while later, Korra comes up and greets me. I return back to camp and find Andrea and Steven in the eating area. We talk for a while and Andrea talks about sleeping in the tent. But I am convinced she is talking about Rachel. She finally gets it through my head, she was the one who was in the tent with me. You would think I would know my own daughters.

Start of going cross-country

When Rachel gets up, we have our breakfast. We have a group discussion. One thing which I am interested in is if they are seeing anything which says I should not solo backpack. The concern is as I age, I may not be able to respond as well. We came up with several things:

Get a PLB to let Sherri know my status
Stay on trail, the more popular the route, the better. This is just in case something does go wrong
Do not push or approach my limits, but leave something in reserve

Rachel and Mitchell Peak

When we started our trip, We did not really have a plan for today. But we decided to go on to Jennie Lake. I had talked about a cross-country route, which all seem to be interested in. I show them on the map how we will be going.

We get packed up and ready to leave Weaver Lake by 11:30. Seems a bit late, but today should not be too strenuous.

View from a break area

Instead of returning via the trail, we head more along a diagonal of our imaginary triangle for about a third of a mile. Walking is pretty easy until we meet the trail. It looks like a bit of a water run off. But Steven asks the key question: how do I know this is the trail? I had spotted a log which had been cut.

We go along the trail just a few minutes when we meet a couple of hikers-the father from Missouri and the son lives in California. The latter is the first time away from his wife and one year old child. We talk about Weaver Lake. They are appreciative when I tell them they can get cell service from on top of the ridge on the west side of the lake.

Clouds over Goddard

Korra watching over the resting travelers

We continue on, to a little saddle and then take off cross-country again. This time, we will travel a bit further. Our first task is to climb up the present slope. While our route has a pretty good slope, it does not present a problem. Korra just takes to going up it without breaking stride.

We reached a nice place to stop and have lunch. As Babs says, On a clear day, you can see forever. And that is how this spot is. We spot Mt Goddard, Mt Reinstein and many other far away peaks. We take this opportunity to take many pictures.

Looking eastward

But Jennie Lake is not getting closer, so we thow on our packs and start going up. We have been aiming for a gradual shelf about a hundred feet above us. So it is up, up and away. We hit the shelf and it is even above where I think we need to be. The shelf is a bit above Poop Out Pass. So just walk on some fairly even ground and head south to where the trail should be. I do not want to go east yet as there is a bit of a drop off.

We hit the trail and take a break. Then we follow it east. We actually have come out a bit east of Poop Out Pass. So we will save going over that until tomorrow. And now I know why I never really liked this trail, even though there is a lot of beauty. We drop, according to the map, about 300’-pretty much the same 300’ we climbed cross-country. But the climb has a lot of rocks which I have to let my old legs gently lower down. I wonder how it will be tomorrow going up? I really slow everybody down now.

More clouds

When we come close to the bottom of the drop, I need to rest a few minutes. After that, I tell Steven and Rachel to go on ahead and find us a spot to camp. Andrea is stuck with the anchor. Fortunately it is not far now to Jennie Lake, about a third of a mile and a hundred foot climb. When we get to the lake, Andrea and I stop and wait for Rachel and Steven to lead us to a campsite.

Rachel resting in comfort

They have found one on the west side of the lake which looks comfortable. It is warmer, so Andrea will try the hammock.I pitch my tent. And we all get to rest for a little while. Well almost. Steven’s hammock experiences a failure. So Steven and Korra will sleep with me tonight.

Tonight’s feast is Beans-Rice with Fritos & Cheese. Sherri did real good as we had very little in the way of dehydrated beans. So she did a couple of different types. Mixed together, quite tasty. After that I think we are ready for bed. Korra is not quite sure what to make of a tent. She marches back and forth, but eventually settles down. By now it is about 9:00pm. I read for a bit and then close my eyes.

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang.	Ritz Crackers, Tortillas, Peanut Butter, Nutella	Beans-Rice with Fritos & Cheese	Clif Bar, GORP, Propel, CytoMax, Scratch, Coffee Candy, Jelly Belly