Lake Aloha--Desolation Wilderness, January 2000
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The cabin ski trip was coming up that weekend but on Tuesday evening I
decided Douglas's backcountry trip to Lake Aloha in the Desolation Wilderness
was the trip for me. Friday evening Douglas, Lizzy, Mike T and I filled
Douglas's car with gear and then people and drove off into rain that 
gradually turned to snow as we climbed towards Echo Lake snow park, just below
8000 feet. Douglas and Lizzy decided to sample the comforts of the back of
D's car; it looked a little cramped for 4 so Mike and I (ahem!) illegally
pitched our tent right next to the car by the light of the blazing full moon
then crawled in. A snow plough clearing the snow park woke us early in the
morning but kindly avoided squishing us or hitting the car; a few zzzs more
then we rose to blue skies and set to melting snow to fill bottles and make
breakfast. All porridged up we set off towards Echo Lake--which I'd skiied
to a little over a week ago with Sarah--D, L and M on skis, me on snowshoes
cos my skiing isn't quite up to carrying a full pack...Echo Lake was
inconveniently only half frozen so we had to make our way round the edge;
Upper Echo Lake was better behaved and we were able to cut straight across
then climb gradually up to the saddle at Haypress Meadows. Clear skies and
sunshine had us in rolled up sleeves and gloves off half the time but as
we dropped into the Lake Aloha basin gathering clouds threatened to give
the lie to the forecast of 0% probability of precipitation that evening. Tents
pitched we were soon inside, stoves in vestibules turning white stuff into
water. Mike's and my dinner was of course Couscous and Stuff (in this case
ginger sauce and marinaded tofu), after which we popped next door for a spot
of cards, Douglas and I teaching L and M 500. Victory went to D and L then at
the late hour of 8 or so we headed for bed. Falling snow ruled out peak
bagging or playing with the avalanche transceivers the next morning and as
soon as everyone was packed and had their boots on we left our portable homes
for the great white world, took them straight down and were off! following
our slowly filling in tracks of yesterday--here faint, here clear, here 
completely gone. Skirting Lower Echo Lake on the other side proved the 
easier route and shortly after we were back at the car, me wondering where
my wallet was cos I couldn't remember seeing it since Friday evening. Back
in Berkeley the first order of business was putting everything out to dry
--I haven't come home with so much wet gear from a trip in a long time!--the
second, replacing wallet and contents to become a card carrying member of
society once more.


(picture: two penguins, one pregnant, knocking on an igloo door, the sun
just below the horizon)