Day 1, 10/20/08 - 6.9 Miles, 1200' Climbing
            Drove up to the Tahoe area from the bay area, picking up a wilderness permit on the way.  On the trail around 11 am.  Rather uninteresting around Lower Echo Lake, nicer in Haypress Meadow and getting over into the Desolation Valley area.  Lake Aloha is as pretty from its own shore as from the peaks above.  Headed along the NE shore looking for campsites, finding a campable area just past Lake LeConte.  Amazing weather, sunny, clear and warm.  The lake was very calm.  Lost the sun behind the Crystal Range a little after 5, quickly cooling off.  Dark by 7, playing cribbage and finishing off the wine before heading to bed.  Clear skies so we slept out under the stars, lots of dew in the early evening. 

Day 2, 10/26/08 - 11.4 Miles, 2500' Climbing
            Cool night, difficult to be in our sleeping bags for almost 12 hours.  Getting light around 7:15, sun on our camp a little after 8.  Beautiful sunrise, lake very still with lots of nice reflections.  Dew frozen on sleeping bags.  Pancakes for breakfast, not on trail until 10 am.  Headed down to Heather and Susie Lakes.  Heather is mostly rocklined, but has some trees and a few islands.  Susie is mostly surrounded by trees, but still fairly rocky shored.  Down into forested areas and then up to Gilmore Lake.  Plenty of good camping in this area, nice big round lake surrounded by trees.  Trail climbed up from Gilmore Lake onto the grassy slopes of Mt Tallac.  Trail turned rocky at the very end.  Good 360 views from up top, Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay, and Fallen Leaf Lake to the North and East.  Desolation Wilderness, the Crystal Range, and the Lake Aloha Basin to the southwest.  Hung out on top and took in the view, a number of day hikers on top.  Back to camp by the same route, getting back before the sun dipped behind the mountains.  Set up the tent for this night, a little cooler.  Another very calm evening on the lake with great reflections. 

 Day 3, 10/27/08 - 6.9 Miles, 400' Climbing

            Another great sunrise, the light on the Crystal Range was amazing.  Got moving a little quicker this morning and hiked out by the same route.  Back to the car by noon and down to Placerville for lunch.