Backpack Section
Loma Prieta Chapter
Sierra Club
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Backpack Section |
Five Lakes Basin Trip Leader: Nancy Barlow John's Report: The Five Lakes Basin Trip is a great trip for family and kids to go on. You can go hiking in the woods. There are lakes and ponds for you to get water from and swim in; however, if there is snow it will be an intermediate trip or an advanced and you will not be able to swim in the water. It is fun for the whole family snow or no snow. Our leader was Nancy. She was a very nice, thoughtful and generous woman. She was very amazing because we had pie, pudding, soups and other delightful foods for dinner. I would recommend it for a family who is starting to begin backpacking. I would recommend Nancy for your guide. If there is snow you have to bring a walking stick, otherwise you will probably not survive. We hiked over snow, ground, rocks and through forests. I really liked the trip. My name is John, aged 10 and this is my writing. Nancy's Report: The trip was originally planned with the thought that no snow would be present. When we arrived at the trailhead, we had a little problem: the road was closed due to snow. Several of us hiked to the Carr Lake campground on Thursday night and the rest slept by our vehicles. Friday morning, we gathered for a continental breakfast before heading out into the snow bound world of Five Lakes Basin. Hiking on snow is SLOW, and dangerous. Halfway to our destination, we decided to forgo going to Five Lakes and instead head to Crooked Lakes which was closer. Luckily we found a dry spot big enough for our six tents. Several people "dropped" into the snow, but no-one got injured or hurt. The next morning, we decided to day hike to the Five Lakes Basin, through the saddle of Sand Ridge and Haystack Mountain. As the area was forested, the snow was deeper and mushier, hiking was SLOW. We stopped at a rock outcropping overlooking Fancheria Lake for lunch and contemplated whether to continue hiking over to Five Lakes or head back. A group decision was made, HEAD BACK. This entire trip was cross country and map and compass reading. Now was the challenge! Would we find our tents? Navigating by two compasses, three maps and one GPS, we headed in the right direction, to Middle Lake. However, once we came upon a ridge, we saw not Middle Lake but a series of streams. We guessed at where we were. So off again in the approximate right direction towards Middle Lake and suprise, we came upon our campground. Not Middle Lake but one of the Crooked Lakes. The GPS had a user error. Oops. But we survived for the day. The next day, Sunday, we headed back to Carr Lake via a slight climb up Grouse Ridge. Just wanted a hill to climb. We all came out healthy and with a new appreciation of hiking in snow. This trip was an introductory trip for John Carroll, a 10 year boy. This was no longer a beginner trip, but a moderate trip for some and an advanced trip for others. The weather was excellent for the entire trip, bright sunshine and warm. This area of the Sierra Foothills is worth exploring. Ed Note: Middle Lake appears as a lake only on maps.
It's a meadow in real life. |