The Benson Lake Loop

One last look at Smedberg Lake.

Leaving Smedberg Lake

The Benson Lake Loop, August 2002

Day 4: Monday, September 2nd, ~6 Miles, 1111 foot gain, 2837 foot loss.

Clear, calm and sunny, as expected. I wasted little time drying out and packing up and I was expecting a great but short day on the trail. Not a lot of miles, but a heck of a lot of climbing and descending.

After an uneventful stroll along the lake granite apron, I found the trail and began the short climb (~55 feet) to the shoulder of a tributary ridge of Volunteer Peak. At the top was a good view of rocky Smedberg Lake as well as some of the country that lay ahead.

On the unexpected 360 foot climb to the next trail junction, there were a lot of nice views, like this morning view of Volunteer Peak.

The trail dropped about 165 feet in a most charming way along switchbacking ledges and joints amidst an alpine garden of stunted tress and probably a multitude of flowers early season. Those attempting the tri-state PCT in one year would hit this section and find deep compacted Sierra-Cement and probably not even see the trail at all. The lucky ones would see a path pounded through the snow by the early birds and follow it down through this deep north-facing canyon. I had the luxury of a dry trail, which at this point began an annoying 360-foot climb through tall forest and arduous steep slopes.