Where are the people many say are in Desolation? Most I saw were between the TH (Eagle Falls) and Eagle Lake, by Emerald Bay. I did have to park a 1/4 mile away from the TH, mostly due to me getting a midday start. After that, I saw few people in my week long bp trip, which I had not done such a length there in over maybe 20 years since that one 'Backpacker' magazine article years ago, showing the elevation graph of the Sierra High Route. I started seeing folks again when looping around by Aloha, Susie, Upper Velma lakes, after visiting, Campers Flat, Buck Island, xc to Highland, up to Forni Peak, over to Lake #3, up to the ridge and down to Schmidell, then down the beautiful Rockbound Valley and over Mosquito Pass to Susie and Upper Velma. Also, that's when I started seeing some tp and illegal campsites/fire pits and even one campfire Wednesday AM at Susie Lake. Campfires have been banned in Desolation for something like 25 years now, I forget. I think the more remote areas are under utilized. Due to the campfire restrictions, I had to take a vintage MSR stove from my collection as the official word was no alky stoves. It was fun using the old stove, I checked boil times for water and I was very surprised how fast my old MSR MF stove was. I could have brought a isobutane stove, but chose the MSR for nostalgia.
Duane
