Cold Canyon

this weekend I went for a short hike at Cold Canyon. Cold Canyon is the closest place to go hiking from where I live and I go there about once a month or so, if it's not too hot. Unfortunately, part of the trail is off-limits to dogs. There is a 5+miles loop there which is surprisingly rugged/streneous in parts (rocks/bolders and1000ft elev gain in 1mi, etc.). It's great for conditioning and breaking in gear. This time, the top of the ridge was socked in with low lying clouds/fog, which didn't burn off until later that morning.

Ascending the ridge looking down the putah creek.







A little higher at the cloud layer looking through the gap towards the central valley.






Peak shrouded in fog/clouds.







Another foggy peak.







The colors actually show up really well with the diffuse light.

Star Lake

earlier last month I hiked a segment of the tahoe rim trail with dakota from kingsbury grade to star lake and back. star lake is a alpine lake on the carson ridge at about 9000ft, right below freel peak.

The view down into carson valley.







Dakota waiting for me on the trail.







Me chugging up the ridge.







Ah, the destination... went for a dip. it was "cold", polar bear club anyone...






looking towards freel peak from monument pass, I think.

Barker Pass to Tahoe City

this weekend I went on another segment of the tahoe rim trail. barker pass is a trail head between echo lakes 32miles) and tahoe city (16miles). around 7:00a dak and I were ready to go head out.

after a couple of false starts (forgot dak's leash, then my watch), we finally hit the road up to tahoe. my car's tranmission has been shifting a little rough all summer and was acting up on the way up, but my trusty navigator was helping me find the way, while I struggled with shifting going up the hills.

by the time I got the trail head, it was making funny noises... well, I was there and since the trail head is pretty much out in the middle of nowwhere, so might as well go hiking. about 9:45a we hit the trail.


here is a photo looking back at barker pass as we start heading up.

here is a shot of lake tahoe on the way up... still foggy.


granite outcroppings along the ridge, from both sides.



dakota relaxing in ward creek.



last view of granite peaks before we start descending into tahoe city.



traveling through page meadow...



some random shots from the trail.... the tree eating the rock, a pretty flower, and the obligatory self potrait.



jessica picked me up at the tahoe city trail head and we went back to get my car. at first my car would not go into reverse, once it did, everything was sort of ok. it was still shifting kind of rough and there were noises, but it was going. by the time I got home, things were not so good. now the transmission sounds like it has loose parts inside (which it might)...

I had a big bad blister on my toe. I haven't had a blister for years, so that was kind of novel. I was breaking in a new pair of boots on this trip. anyway, here is a picture of the blister...



kids don't let this happen to you !