Big Five / Little Five Lakes Loop

Near camp I admired the play of light through the clouds fighting their way into the canyon over lake WL10,214.

The Second Highest Big Five Lake

Big 5, Little 5 Lakes Loop and Sawtooth Pass, August 4th to 7th, 2000.

There was a very faint and sometimes useless trail of use, which I followed along the shore of the lake as I turned it to the left. Deadfalls and swampy areas forced me away from the "trail", while at the same time I looked for an established campsite. Nothing turned up till I reached the outlet, a charming little stream that squeezed past rocks, down small chutes, and through small pools on it way to the next lake some distance below. Somewhat above this outlet I found a seldom-used campsite, obviously used by the occasional packer and backpacker. I dropped my pack to look for something better. I was hoping to have a site with more granite and small trees, and with maybe not such a trek to the water. But the area was curiously devoid of camps of any sort, a mystery in such a popular place. As a matter of fact, the area had very little human impact at all, and the trail could have been game trail for all I knew. Certainly, the trail was un-maintained, if it ever was. Were gung-ho Rangers obliterating all camps in the area except one? Maybe, I don't know.

Looking back towards the col, on the right, as clouds begin to spill down into the canyon.

So, I gave in and set up camp at the spot I found. At least the ground was level and there was a huge log to scatter my belongings along. Lugging a bag of water up the small hill to the camp and log was no fun in my fatigued condition, but I managed. Soon, my camp looked like home, I was cleaned up and in comfortable clothes and sitting in my chair.
I could not sit for long, and after a short rest I explored the area. I found out that getting to the other side of the lake was more work than it was worth, so I gave that up. I walked along the shore and admired the billowing clouds that were now making their way over the cliffs at the far end of the lake. I examined the walls for routes to Lost Canyon, and saw two I believe would safely connect the two drainage's should I care to try those routes for some strange reason.

The last light of the day illuminates the unnamed peak to the south-east of camp near the outlet of lake 10,214.

The wind picked up and it began to get down right cool, so I put on my down jacket. I continued my walk, admiring the relief of the afternoon sun on the rocks and trees across the lake. I probably should have made my way over there to take a look, but I was feeling mellow and comfortable in my enjoyment of the remains of the day.
Back in camp at last I settled down to dinner and the evening chores in the shadow cast by the ridge holding the col above. A piece of the Sierra Crest could be seen when I looked for it, and I watched as its color deepened into shades of red as the alpen-glow grew. Finally, as the gloom settled in and the wind died, it was just a matter of reading my book in my chair until night fell. For a while I sat in the darkness and watched the stars, then finally retreated to my sack and the surrender to sleep.