I thought I had already written about this one, but I couldn't find it, so here goes.
After the Mount Whitney hikes, the Mount San Gorgonio hikes and the hike on the Pacific Crest Trail that began on September 11, 2001, one of the guys suggested doing a hike in which we established a camp and then did daily hub and spoke type hikes. This way, we did not have to make and break camp every day and carry a heavy camping backpack while we were exploring.
I started looking for a location where we could do that. I had several books that suggested various hikes in California and chose Glacier Lake, north of Lake Tahoe. It is located near the Black Buttes and can be accessed by hiking from the Grouse Ridge Campground.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/evCkWcgbAPd6CDZn9
The hikers would be Lloyd, Jon, Darin and myself. We were all UPS pilots. Lloyd, Jon and I had worked together at Florida Express and Braniff 2, then got hired at UPS. Darin was Japanese American, had flown in the Navy and lived in Davis, just west of Sacramento. I flew with him when I was a captain on the 757 and 767.
The 3 of us flew into Sacramento and met Darin there, at our layover hotel. He had a big Suburban, with 4 wheel drive and would provide our transportation.
On the morning of the first day, we had breakfast at the hotel, then drove to the Donner Memorial State Museum. There is quite a bit of history in that area about the westward migration.
From there we went to the appropriate Ranger Station to get our camping permits. The rangers had a plastic bag of fresh bear scat on the counter, that had been deposited behind the building. They told us it was still warm. I took their word for that.
The drive from Interstate 80 to Grouse Ridge Trailhead was about 16 miles, the last part of which required using Darin's 4 wheel drive.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eTStJdb6okrLjc2W8
The hike to Glacier Lake started out down a steep hill for about a mile. After that it was relatively flat until the last half mile. It climbed slightly to the primitive campground next to the lake. I'm guessing it was about 5 or 6 miles from the parking lot.
Jon was not experienced at camping and needed help setting up his bivy tent. Darin gave him a hand.
We set up all the tents, ate our evening meals and knowing it would not rain, did not put the rain flies on the tents. We were close enough to have a conversation, while in our sleeping bags, before drifting off to sleep.
Before the trip, I had told Lloyd I intended to bring a box of Folger's Coffee bags, then all we would have to do is heat water and pour it into the cups with the bags. Lloyd told me not to bother. He had a new coffee press and wanted to use it. He would bring the coffee.
We ate breakfast in the morning and Lloyd used his press. We decided to climb a chute to the ridge south and east of the lake, called Black Buttes. We had to go around the south end of the lake and do a hands and feet scramble.
As we reached the top of the first level, I began to feel as if I was getting a flu. I decided to stay there as the other guys continued climbing toward the top. I would take some photos. They are probably in that one, but too small to see.
I 80 is visible in the distance. We made our way back down the chute, around the lake, and relaxed a little before dinner. I was not feeling well. Another night without rain.
The next morning, during breakfast, Lloyd just happened to mention that we had been drinking decaf. I will add a video of this guy to give you an idea of how I melted down upon receiving that news and understanding why I had been feeling like crap for the last 24 hours.
