tahoe
Looking for Handouts
Another Yellow Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) looking for handouts from us. We’re not the type of hikers that feed the wildlife but I suspect that this guys got some treats later in the day when the trail got busier. At the summit, I think there were 3 or 4 of these guys.
Up in the Clouds
From the summit of Mt. Tallac you feel like you’re up in the clouds. You can almost touch them. That’s Cascade Lake at the base and Emerald Bay flowing into Lake Tahoe.
Good Morning Lake Tahoe
This photo was taken around 6:09 AM, we reached the summit and the view was stunning of Lake Tahoe.
Still Standing
The terrain as we hiked up to Mt. Tallac is pretty barren as you get closer to the summit. Most of it is exposed rock and a few old trees. This cluster of Junipers has probably been hit a few times by lighting but it’s still standing.
Above the Range
The ascent to the summit of Mt. Tallac is about 1.5 mile from where we camped at Gilmore Lake. As we gained in elevation, it seemed like we were above the mountain ranges. It’s an optical illusion. Pyramid Peak in the distance, is at 9983′ while Mt. Tallac is only 9735′ in elevation.
A Look Back at Gilmore Lake
It was another early morning wake-up call on our last day of backpacking. In this shot, it’s about 5:15 AM and I needed to increase the ISO to 400 for more light. It was a look back at Gilmore Lake and the Crystal Range from the day before.
Gilmore Lake
Day 3, our campsite for the evening before tackling Mt. Tallac the following morning. Before the thunderstorm came in, I had the chance to relax and explore this popular lake.
Day 3 Campsite Gilmore Lake
Day 3 and we arrived at Gilmore Lake. It took a bit before we found a suitable location to pitch camp. But the views of the lake were stunning.
Susie Lake
We hit Susie Lake about mid-morning, about 6 1/2 miles from Tamarack Lake. This stretch of the hike was not lacking in spectacular views!
Snapshots by Kats 