Hike: Ralston Peak, Lake Tahoe / July 2020

The crowning achievement of the weekend - Ralston Peak. Now I have to say we've done lots of hikes (and lots more to come, knock on wood) but the views from the top of this mountain are among the best in the entire Desolation Wilderness - part of the Sierra Nevada mountains that tower over the western side of Lake Tahoe.

Astounding views. End of story.

The top of Ralston peak gives you some views that are pretty unique and hard to come by at least without backcountry hikes, multi-day adventures, or brutal, thigh burning climbs.

For the 7.5 mile hike, with 2,791' of elevation gain ending at - you guessed it - the top of Mt Ralston at 9,407' - you get literal 360º views of the Desolation Wilderness and the vistas are absolutely breathtaking. Some of the best I've experienced yet. Alpine forests and lakes - a plethora of lakes, actually, and you ca actually see well over 50 miles away - and that includes the eastern shoreline of Lake Tahoe to the northwest.

This definitely rates in the Top 5 of most epic and majestic viewpoints of all my hikes in the last 10 years. Incredible and beautiful and captivating and, well, let's just say you don't want to leave. Amazing.

Length: 7.5 miles / Elevation gain: 2,791' / Highest Elevation Point: 9,407

Hike: Granite Lake and Maggies Peaks, Lake Tahoe / July 2020

Still up in Lake Tahoe which means there's always time for another pretty killer hike, this one almost 2,000' above Lake Tahoe (with, as you can see, epic views of much of the southern portion of the lake) into the Desolation wilderness. Alpine forests, mountain lakes, clean fresh air, pesky bugs, and majestic views. More astounding viewpoints, including from the top of Maggie's Peak - up around 8,700' - and slightly off the beaten path. You can see south west deep into the desolation wilderness - wild untamed mountain lakes and beyond into the lush alpine forests.

Length: 4 miles / Elevation gain: 1,761' / Highest Elevation Point: 8,772

Hike: Shirley Canyon, Squaw Valley / July 2020

Into the Granite Chief Wilderness, Eastern Sierra Nevada,  Western Lake Tahoe area. Let's see... Shirley Canyon, started off fairly quaint, along the babbling river, small waterfalls dropping smoothly down eroded granite rocks, where families and children gather at the small swimming holes. Following along the river, until the trail starts its gradual ascent up to the granite rock hills and up into the Granite Chief wilderness. Astounding views and a nice climb up the granite mountainside. The cool thing is you get to cross and travel along mountain streams and alpine forests to get to the granite peaks. Picturesque would be a good place to start. As for the hike itself, not too hard, but more than rewarding with the views you get even heading just towards the top.

Length: 5 / Elevation gain: 1,925' / Highest Elevation Point: 8,250'.

Road Trip: Lake Tahoe to Los Angeles / July 2020

The drive back from Lake Tahoe (see separate blog posts for those hikes - Granite Chief Wilderness/Lake Shirley Canyon, Stateline Overlook, Granite Lake/Maggies Peaks, Ralston Peak) to Los Angeles, about 8 hours - give or take (and traffic/construction/wildfire delays notwithstanding) is pretty epic - certainly in the northern area of the state. Down Route 89 from Tahoe, through the Toiyabe Wilderness, over Monitor Pass to the 395 and down... some awesome views of the Eastern Sierras and Sonora Pass.