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The Saddlebag Lake Loop: A Dog's Paradiseby Dika Golovatchoff |
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If you want a gentle but truly exhilarating hike with
constantly varying scenery, try the Saddlebag Lake Loop beginning near
the Tioga Pass entry to Yosemite National Park. Since none of the trails
in Yosemite Park allow dogs this less-traveled route affords a marvelous
opportunity for you and your dog to experience the spectacular high alpine
scenery without exerting much effort at all. From Lee Vining on Highway
395 take 120 West toward Tioga Pass. Just before the park entry is the
right turn to Saddlebag Lake. Follow the partly paved, partly dirt, winding
road for two miles to its end. When you get off the boat, bear right following the sign to Lundy Pass. You will come to several small ponds leading to Hummingbird Lake. The photograph above shows the surrounding high mountains reflected in one of the smaller ponds near the trail. 
The photo on the left was taken looking back over the lake, where we found a couple fishing. The trail passes quite high over the next lake and access is steep and only at the far end. This portion of the trail becomes quite rocky until Helen Lake. A couple passing by with a nervous Rhodesian Ridgeback mix stopped and photographed us. I later learned that the dog had much more difficulty negotiating the rocks than Genevieve. Once we made the descent to Helen Lake Genevieve amazed the family fishing there with her energetic swimming in the ice-cold lake. Rather than walking on the rocks around the lake she followed the shore in the water. 
Shortly after you pass Helen Lake, which is usually partly surrounded by glacier, you will reach a fork in the trail. Do not continue to Lundy Lake but rather bear sharply left following the sign to Steelhead Lake. I generally find it necessary to help Genevieve climb up a short rocky stretch, after which it becomes rather confusing where to follow the trail. In fact, many people lose the trail and wander around among the maze of streams, tundra, and alpine flowers before reaching the glacier. On this occasion we chose not to negotiate the glacier, since we were entirely alone and were starting to hear thunder and feel rain drops. Made of Cordura nylon double stitched for strength
The image at the right shows an example of the high altitude tundra vegetation prevalent on much of this hike, while the image below of Shamrock Lake, which to me is the most stunning of the lakes is a wonderful resting point about halfway on this hike. 
The photo shown above of Shamrock Lake was actually taken on a previous hike, since on this occasion an impending storm caused us to take a different approach to Shamrock Lake, reaching it from a different vantage point. We had a liesurely lunch by the lake, retraced our steps, arriving at the launch in ample time for the return. We paused at the marvelous cafe near the boat launch for coffee and dessert and a delighful conversation with a woman painter who was camping nearby.
We encourage our readers to consider the fine quality natural dog and cat foods from Flint River Ranch. |
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This
hike begins at an elevation of about 10,000 feet and has an altitude gain
of only 400 feet. The entire loop is three miles if you choose to take
the motor launch to cross Saddlebag Lake, which I recommend, since just
walking around this large reservoir is tedious compared to the rest of
the hike. The boat runs every half hour and cost me $9 round trip for
both of us. Be sure to allow enough time for the walk when making the
return trip reservation. This trail can be walked rather quickly, but
each vista is more beautiful than the preceding one, so it is best not
to be pressed for time. I allowed six hours and was glad to have done
so. 
