Lakes Trail - Sequoia National Park

The time changed one hour back today. The amount of light at 6:00 am made it feel as though we were running late. On the drive up the "hill", we stopped to see a Momma bear and two cubs walking along the side of the road. Momma bear had an ear-tag, I'm told this means she has been in trouble (mischievous) before . This beautiful Sunday morning, Mike and I hiked the Lakes Trail in Sequoia National Park. There is a junction where you can take  the Hump Trail or the Watchtower Trail, they both meet on the opposite side of the ridge. The Hump Trail goes over the ridge and the Watchtower Trail goes around the ridge. I've hiked this trail before and took the Hump route because the Watchtower Trail was closed due to ice and snow. This time the Watchtower was open, what a view. You hike along the edge of a cliff part of the way looking down at Tokopah Falls 1400 feet below. We ate lunch at Heather Lake then continued on to Aster and Emerald Lakes. The weather was in the low 70's F with clear skies, it was much cooler in the shade and in the blowing wind. Light was fading quickly on the last mile back to the trailhead. Just as we returned the car, a full moon rose over the tall pines and lit up the parking area like a searchlight to see us on our way.


Aster Lake 9200 feet
Sequoia National Park
November 1st 2009