We normally go on an 8-10 mile hike to Shadow Lake, my second most favorite place ever, but this year we decided to up the ante and go for Garnet Lake and 10,000 Island Lake. We hiked until our critical turn around point and unfortunately turned around about 1/2 mile short of the hike, It took us almost 5 hours of hiking around 10k feet before the turn around and only 2 hours to get back . We surprised the crud out of a backpacker who couldn't believe that a group of day hikers had made it as far as we did. Oh well, next year we'll leave really early and get there, or just backpack it.

This is before the Shadow Lake trailhead a few miles from the starting point. We have basically the same picture in this exact spot every year. I even think some of us are wearing the same clothes .


Once we hit the higher elevations we ended up hiking through snow, rivers, and streams; the trail had turned into a perfect snow melt path. Here's one spot where the trail goes under the snow:


After we made it back to camp it was time to catch dinner. This spot was gold for me and I fed the group a couple of nights when others got skunked.


After Vince and I left the others did one last hike and their pictures really make me regret leaving, but I have to work to pay for these trips . Here's a couple of pictures of the Jem lakes, just a little further down from where we camped.




Can't wait 'till next year!