Dinkey Lakes

 Yosemite was overflowing, and even backcountry permits looked impossible. Nate saved the day with Dinkey Lakes, a chain of gorgeous lakes nestled into the rocky crags of Sierra National Forest. Our lake (Cliff Lake -- get there via the Cliff Lake trailhead at Cortright Reservoir) was particularly lovely: strikingly clear, reflective, and just warm enough for swimming. 

On our first day, we hiked the 5.2 miles in, each of us lugging our own impractical camping "needs" with us: eggs, bacon, beer, wine, fresh bananas, apricots, apples, oranges, grapefruits, onions... Anson was the most practical, leaving his treasured Dorritos and shrimp chips in the car for the ride home. The thousand foot  ascent made me almost regret the liter and a half of wine...but not quite. 

Arriving at Cliff lake was a triumph....

...as was dinner that night, which would be totally do-able even for more serious backpacking endeavors. We boiled couscous and added diced salami and green onion near the end. Seasoned with red pepper flakes, salt or soy sauce, and perhaps a drizzle of olive oil, it hit the spot.

Apricot crumble and a star-filled night sky followed for dessert. 

The next day, Nick and I had misguided plans of doing some marathon training, but the terrain was truly terrible: rocky, unpredictable, and often slippery. In fact, it proved tough to stay on-trail at high elevations, with poor markings and a universally sandy terrain. So we tagged along on our friends' day-hike. The "relaxing" hike they had planned turning into an all-day march through the chain of lakes, with occasional bush-wacking to get back on trail. 

Anson presciently dubbed the forest Mirkwood. It was always a mistake to leave the trail, however tempting the environs might be. But we were lucky to be in a group, and to have a water filter, a compass, and a map. Rescue patrols were searching for Larry Bishop while we were there, who (it turns out) spent two days alone stuck on a cliff face after losing his way down Dogtooth Peak. He survived in a fantastic rescue effort. 

Having hiked all day and seen most of the lakes at least twice (I liked Swede Lake best), we were once again hungry. After a swim and beer/wine hour by the lake, we cooked alpine pasta, boiling pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and freeze dried mushrooms and corn. We drained the water when the veggies were soft, and mixed in cheese, chorizo, and green onions. 

It was delicious. Banana boats with marshmallows and chocolate and peanut butter pieces for dessert. And more stars, along with a slightly fuller moon. Amazing. 

Hiking out the next day was much easier than in. We were less my massive bag of wine, eight cans of beer, and a dozen eggs. We washed the dust off in the reservoir, but not for long. There were the shrimp chips and diet coke waiting for us in the bear box at the trail head, ready to be devoured.