Caribou Lake

"I was hoping to get there and find you at camp Tom. No joke."

If I had known, I might have showed up. No joke. I didn't know it was happening.

Not my caption ( or capture) :

"A small woodland creature poised to dart in and rummage through an unattended food bag."

I'll keep that in mind Tom.

"I'll keep that in mind Tom."

Thank you, Ken.

My commute to the Trinity Alps was long, though only an hour or so longer and as easy as those coming up from the Bay area. Straight I-5 south on a bright sunny day and then Highway 3 from Yreka. For those in OR and WA who are looking for a Sierra-like experience that's closer and with less people, the Trinity Alps are a great option.

Some photos:

After driving up to Big Flat TH, we started hiking. I had to run back to the car for sunglasses (doh!) and then hiked the first part with Ken. This isn't a great photo, but it does show his very cool new Camo ULA pack.

Ken, Doug and Jeremy.

Burn Area on the hike in to Caribou Lake

Snowslide Lake comes into view.

Snowslide Lake

Massive granite bowl above Snowslide Lake.

Tony Wong. Player.

This is what the sky looked like all weekend.

Jeremy eating at our granite "table". Someone had left three camp chairs at the campsite, which was absolutely awesome.

Ken, Tony, Jeremy & I went up to the Sawtooth Ridge above Caribou Lake. Fantastic views into the adjacent valley; here's looking roughly east, with Morris Meadow visible at center.

Part of the jagged Sawtooth Ridge.

Yours Truly at the Sawtooth "saddle." This is the high point and a steep switchbacking trail heads down into the valley below, where Jacob, Sandra and David would wind up.

Another view across the valley.

Ken, lord of all he surveys!

Jeremy takes in the view. The lakes below at are the upper end of the Stuart Fork river. Sapphire Lake, Emerald Lake and Mirror Lake, hidden in a bowl to the right above Emerald.

After returning back to Caribou Lake for a very cold swim (Jeremy boldly dove in, followed sheepishly by myself and Tony, who would have preferred the "inch-by-inch" method), we went back to Snowslide Lake for hanging out. Here is the granite bowl in early evening alpenglow.

Strangely, I only got a few pics of Kat and Matt. For Matt, I think it was because he hiked in later, but for Kat, I think it was because every time I started to take her photo, I would think about French men and goats and my hands would get too shaky.

Kat was taking the picture.

I've had a lot of trouble sleeping since this trip. Every time I close my eyes I see the beginning of Bambi but all the animals are on crutches and have IV drips. And the goats, the goats are all so nice.

Camping with Doug sounds like a terrifying experience.
Nice pics.
Catch any fish?

Justin,

No one brought any fishing gear.

Camping with Doug is like a Baptist sermon; you're certain you're going to hell.