Mokelumne Wilderness from Upper Blue Lake in Alpine County, July 8-9, 2013

I visited Upper Blue Lake in Alpine County on July 8th and 9th, 2013.  The purpose of the one night trip was to test my fitness and backpacking/photography equipment.

I camped one night at Upper Blue Lake.  The morning of the 9th I hiked up to Lost Lakes, to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and up to the Mokelumne Wilderness boundary.  I had lunch and then hiked back down to Upper Blue Lake.  Endurance? Check! Feet? Check!  Knees? Check!  Heart Rate?  Check!  Equipment? Check!

I'm now good to go on future multi-night backpacking trips!  I haven't backpacked since the early 1990's so this is a big deal for me.  I'm cautiously excited that I can do more rigorous hikes.  (See the next trip starting on July 16, 2013.)

Here are some photos. Enjoy!  Click on them to enlarge:

Sunrise at Upper Blue Lake in Alpine County

I camped here overnight prior to my day hike.

This is the Forestdale Road (4WD only) from the campground up to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)

Heading North on the PCT

View looking West down Summit City Canyon.  I will be hiking out of that canyon next week up to the PCT.

View looking NW towards the peak of Round Top.  If you look closely you can see were the Summit City Canyon Trail ties into the PCT.

A watering hole along the PCT.