We have just returned from our first proper wilderness backpacking trip with the kids and as David and I got organized we realized it had been many years since either of us had done this kind of hiking. Contrary to our usual style of last minute impulse trips we did a fair bit of planning for this one (and spending) making checklists and pre-cooking meals to take! We had a fairly extensive choice of places to go what with the chain of the Sierra Nevada mountains nearby. We wanted a challenge and also to get to some place away from the crowds. David was also keen to see some alpine vistas in the Sierras. So we decided upon Eagle Lake in Sequoia National Park.
Its not in the main part of the park and has a seriously twisty hour and half drive on a narrow road with drop offs so we hoped it would be quieter. However we we're surprised by the number of folks out there and were lucky to get the last campsite (we spent the first night at a regular campground). However out on the trail the next day we mostly encountered day hikers.
We set out around 10am and began on a fairly flat-ish stretch through a lovely valley. This didn't last long however (the flat aspect-there were still stunning views) and we began our climb, quickly realizing that we would be going pretty slowly. I should add that we started at 7800 feet and would reach 10,000 by the end of our 4 mile hike.
So we were already feeling the altitude and having huge packs on made it all the more apparent! So we took our time and stopped often to control our bursting hearts. The kids were amazing and didn't do any whining.....Sage did insist on talking the whole way up even though the rest of us had no breath left to answer him!
After being passed by the day hikers (only carrying water and snacks I may add) we staggered (or David and I did..Sage was charging ahead at this point so we gave him something to carry to slow him down)... over the last part of the climb to our destination.
It was a welcome site....a pristine alpine lake in a bowl of boulders, flanked by the peaks.
We set about finding a good spot to camp on and finally settled on a site at the far end of the lake. There are various rules to be followed about picking a spot (like being 100 feet from water and the trail, not camping on any vegetation) and this made it a little hard to find something suitable as there wasn't much flat ground.
Our site was pretty rocky and we had to strategically place the tent so we could all lie with enough space to avoid rolling onto the bigger rocks!
After getting some things set up we had a refreshing swim in the lake and then a much needed dinner. Any physical efforts made at this elevation were a challenge at least for David and I. Again the kids seemed pretty unfazed and did some rock hopping in search of their latest favourite animals,marmots. There were plenty to be found!! Not all that comforting as they like to chew on hiking gear! (I should also mention that hikers are warned about these cute little fellows being able to do damage to parked vehicles...they like to get under the hood and chew on hoses...so some cars were wrapped up like giant birthday presents to deter them...we weren't that prepared so hoped for the best)!
We hit the sack early and had a fairly restless sleep (some of us getting a bit more sleep than others)....we all ended up out of the tent under the awesome night sky around 4am and after spotting some shooting stars we watched the sun come up. Apart from a few fishermen down the other end of the lake we were alone up there and it was very magical.
The altitude was still taking it's toll on us and we felt the need to get lower down in order to feel a little more normal again so we packed up early and slowly made our way out. After dropping a thousand feet or so we all felt a lot better and managed to eat a proper breakfast! Going down was a lot faster but being so steep it had it's challenges too....my legs will attest to that! Going down made us pretty impressed with how well we had done on the way up....it seemed a lot steeper and longer than we had realized!
Now we could feel a little smug (only a little) passing those on their way up...we were the intrepid hikers, tired and dirty, on the home stretch! We returned to a non-marmot afflicted car and after dropping off our rented bear canister (which we had used to store our food) to the ranger station and a quick soaking of sore feet in the river, we headed out on the winding road dropping more feet and gaining more degrees in temp with every mile.
Despite still feeling exhausted (shoulders in serious need of massage and legs not able to walk without a waddle) we had a great experience and have already talked about where to go next...perhaps not at such a high altitude!
The Marmot Hunters! (spot them in the boulder pile)
Maya refined her art skills and read many books. Gudrun became a knitwear designer with a global reach. And David headed off into a fantasy world of massed nudity, giant swine and warrior princesses. There's been some heartbreak, too. We'll never forget Girlie, just like we haven't forgotten Boy-Boy. (Here's an old photo of them and the kids.) But all things considered, it's been a good one. Take a look...
