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.

June 27, 2012 -Cragg Lake to Middle Velma Lake

 

Title: June 27, 2012 -Cragg Lake to Middle Velma Lake

Trail head: Meeks Bay/Cragg Lake

Hike Info:

Trail: Yosemite Tahoe Trail

Destination: Middle Velma Lake

Distance: 8.6

Travel Time: 7:58

Moving Time: 4:18

Elevation Rise: 2,090'

Maximum Elevation: 8,844'

 







Description:

Got up before sunrise at Cragg Lake. All still. Mountains reflect off of the lake. Clear and beautiful. Saw that there was a control valve which governs the flow from the lakes in this area.

Andrea and Sherri gets up around the arrival of the sun. Normal breakfast. A bit slow in getting off. Leave camp around 9:30. But the day is cool and the grade is moderate, so we make good time. We stop at Stony Ridge Lake. It is pleasant enough-actually a really nice lake. Andrea and I claim a rock as our Capture California island. We wade/swim to it. Water is a bit cold, but the lake bottom is nice to walk on. Also we do a picnic lunch for CC as well. Oh yeah—and we were visited by a friendly little snake. But this pleasant time comes to an end. We start hiking again and it is up, up and up. The view is pretty good of the lake. We cross over a ridge which separates the drainage between Meeks and Emerald Bay. The scenery changes dramatically from forested, to rock. Both are pleasant, just a contrast.

We continue on toward Phipps Pass, 8800'. The pass itself is not impressive. But it does mark the end of a long uphill, we descend for a couple of miles, regaining some of the trees. I take time off and read more of Dracula, getting too engrossed. Sherri takes a head start. In my effort to catch up, I take a spill, scrapping my shin. More blood than pain. But a reminder to not rush, enjoy.

I catch up with Andrea and Sherri at the PCT junction. Mosquitoes are attacking me with full force and become grumpy towards Sherri lack of speed. We finish the next two miles to Middle Velma Lake. Andrea does some exploring and comes up with a campsite. Wind is blowing pretty strong. At least it diminishes the number of mosquitoes.



After dinner, Andrea hits the sack. Sherri and I are not too far behind. Long day, but I am glad to be with Andrea and Sherri.

June 26, 2012, Meeks Bay to Cragg Lake

Trail head: Meeks Bay

Hike Info:

Trail: Tahoe-Yosemite Trail

Destination: Cragg Lake

Distance: 6.0

Travel Time: 3:27

Moving Time: 2:42

Elevation Rise: 1,549'

Maximum Elevation: 7,523'

Description:
Last night getting packed after hosting House Church potluck. Got to bed at midnight, then got up at 6:15. We packed up and left at 7:40. We met up with Andrea at the Emerald Bay Bayview parking area. She had gotten the wilderness permit at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center. We then moved down the road to Meeks Bay. We had lunch and leaving around 2:20.

The first 1.4 miles is along a blocked off service road. When we reach the Desolation Valley Wilderness Area. The road is an easy uphill. Then the Tahoe-Yosemite Trail takes off uphill. Our pace does slow down, but we get some good views of Tahoe.

The trail follows Meeks Creek. It goes up good, then levels off and goes up good again. Three or four shelves likes this brings us to Lake Genevieve. This has all been forested area. We drop our packs and rest for a few minutes. Andrea and I go to the next lake and see if campsite pickings are better. We find a place and come back for Sherri. So on the trail, it is five miles and and another mile to find a campsite.We did find a pretty decent place at Cragg Lake, just a short distance up the trail. The camp spot is up on a small rise, but pretty flat.



First time, putting up the tent which Andrea gave me. Pretty good. It is easy to put up and has lots of room. Good choice by her. Thank you.

Andrea makes a noodle/peanut butter/turkey combination. Lots of it. Mosquitoes have come out so it is time for us to go in. But we did stay out. First we play a vigorous game of Frisbee. Then we took a walk down to the lake and just enjoyed the dusk light, watching as it darkened. When it gets cold enough, we turn in. Lights out around 10,

Places: CA-Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe-6,227' (Meeks Bay) (39.0959954, -120.0334329)
Lake Tahoe Dam-6,237' (Tahoe City) (39.1669058, -120.1438250)

Description:
Lake Tahoe, once called Lake Bigler and as such is on your maps, is the largest sheet of fresh water in the state.7  Recent measurements in connection with the boundary survey make it twenty-three miles long and ten wide, but it has always before passed for much more. It has been recently sounded; its greatest depth is 1,523 feet, and most of it is over 1,000 feet deep. It lies at an altitude of over six thousand feet, while around it rise mountains four thousand feet higher. Its Indian name, Tahoe, was dropped and it was called after Governor Bigler, a Democratic politician. He was once of some notoriety here, but since he has turned “Secesh” all the Union papers have raised the cry to have his name dropped, and the old Indian name has been revived and will probably prevail. The purity of its waters, its great depth, its altitude, and the clear sky all combine to give the lake a bright but intensely  blue color; it is bluer even than the Mediterranean, and nearly as picturesque as Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Its beautiful waters and the rugged mountains rising around it, spotted with snow which has perhaps lain for centuries, form an enchanting picture. It lacks many of the elements of beauty of the Swiss lakes; it lacks the grassy, green, sloping hills, the white-walled towns, the castles with their stories and histories, the chalets of the herders—in fact, it lacks  all  the elements that give their peculiar charm to the Swiss scenery—its beauty is its own, is truly Californian. The lake abounds in the largest trout in the world, a species of speckled trout that often weighs over twenty pounds and sometimes as much as  thirty pounds! Smaller trout are abundant in the streams. An Indian brought some into camp. I gave him fifty cents for two, and they made us two good meals and were excellent fish. He had speared them in a stream near. We were eating when he came; when we finished he wanted the remains, which I gave him. Rising satisfied, patting both hands on his stomach, he exclaimed, “Belly goot—coot-bye.” Many of these Indians, like the Chinese, cannot pronounce the letter R, substituting an L.  Beautiful as Lake Tahoe is from the south, it is yet more so from the  north—from having a finer background of high, rugged, black mountains, some of them eleven thousand feet high, or near it, their dark sides spotted and streaked with snow. This end will eventually become the most desirable spot for persons in pursuit of pleasure.              Lake Tahoe was discovered in 1844 by Frémont, who called it first Mountain Lake, later Lake Bonpland. In the early fifties it was given the name Lake Bigler, for John Bigler, Governor of California (1852-58). In 1862 the name Tahoe, said to mean “big water” or “water in a high place,” was proposed and soon became generally adopted. An attempt to revive “Bigler” was made in 1870, when the California State Legislature passed “An act to legalize the name of Lake Bigler” (California Statutes  1869-70, chap. lviii, p. 64). This act has never been repealed.    From Up and Down California by William Brewer, Book 4  Chapter 5

with the lovely Lake Tahoe (once Bigler), finer even than Lake Thun or Lake Geneva. Night came on, clear and cold, long before we crossed the eastern summit...    From Up and Down California by William Brewer, Book 5  Chapter 4

From GNIS:

• Tahoe is a Washoe Indian word for "much water". Lake Bonpland is an early name Fremont gave Lake Tahoe.
• Other Names:
• Bigler Lake: Original township survey plats, published in the 1800's. 1869
• Bonpland Lake:
• Daow aga: Lekisch, Barbara. Tahoe Place Names: the Origin and History of Names in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Lafayette, California: Great West Books, 1988. p129
• Lago Beergler: Lekisch, Barbara. Tahoe Place Names: the Origin and History of Names in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Lafayette, California: Great West Books, 1988. p129
• Lake Bigler:
• Lake Bompland: Lekisch, Barbara. Tahoe Place Names: the Origin and History of Names in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Lafayette, California: Great West Books, 1988. p129
• Lake Bonplan: The American Guide Series, Compiled and Written by the Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration. A state by state guide series published by various publishers, in the late 1930's and 1940's. Each book studies and describes each state's history, natural endowments, and special interests. Use code US-T125/Name/YYYY/p#. California/p589
• Lake Bonpland: #/YR - 'Biennial Reports of the Nevada Historical Society' Reno: Nevada Historical Society. Journals with articles on history and names. 3rd/p201
• Lake Teho: Lekisch, Barbara. Tahoe Place Names: the Origin and History of Names in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Lafayette, California: Great West Books, 1988. p122
• Lake Tehoe: Lekisch, Barbara. Tahoe Place Names: the Origin and History of Names in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Lafayette, California: Great West Books, 1988. p122
• Mountain Lake:
• Taa-oo *: Lekisch, Barbara. Tahoe Place Names: the Origin and History of Names in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Lafayette, California: Great West Books, 1988. p122
• Tah-oo *: Lekisch, Barbara. Tahoe Place Names: the Origin and History of Names in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Lafayette, California: Great West Books, 1988. p122
• Tula Tulia: 

Trips:

• 
  

References:

•  

Pictures:

•