I recently got back from an overnight camping trip to Red Lake and Upper/Lower Blue Lakes off of Carson Pass Hwy 88 in Northern California just south of Lake Tahoe. It is someplace I have wanted to go camping since I first saw the place after returning home from doing the Rubicon Trail with a friend I have known for 25 years in his modified Jeep Wrangler. The trip home along Hwy 88 really captivated me and I vowed I would return someday to go off-roading and camping in my ’02 Volvo XC 70.
I found myself with a weekend to spare and I was not sure another opportunity would present itself this year before winter set in, so off I went for a weekend “get away” and “reconnaissance mission” to the area. I usually leave pre-dawn so I can enjoy the sunrise from the road and spend as much time as I can in my beloved Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in California. However, I decided to delay my departure so I could actually SEE the shores along the north side of Clear Lake on Hwy 20 in Lake County. It is very close to my home in Ukiah, CA and as I have only driven that way 2 times before, it seemed the right thing to do.
I was not disappointed with my choice.
The sun had only just cleared the local mountains when I drove past Lake Mendocino:
Here was a beautiful house on the shores of another lake in the golden light of morning:
Here was the view from Lucerne, CA along the shores of Clear Lake itself:
You can’t get to the “high country” of the Sierra Nevada’s without passing through the foothills. The drive always involves some sweeping turns along rolling golden hills it seems. Not a bad thing:
As you progress along Hwy 88 the terrain and foliage changes to classic Sierra Nevada:
As I hit the dirt trail from Red Lake which was actually somewhat technical for my Volvo (4wd or AWD recommended) I was struck by how sparse the vegetation was. I was definitely further east than I have been before and at an unusually high elevation:
As I descended back down here was my first sighting of Upper Blue Lake from the road:
Here is a view from along Upper Blue Lake on Saturday afternoon. The weather was absolutely perfect and in the low seventies:
Here is exactly what I could see from where I decided to lay down my ground tarp and place my sleeping pad and bag on. The weather was just too perfect to use a tent! I have come to prefer this sort of camping when I’m alone and it’s not excessively windy, cold or wet.
I had been collecting some large branches on the way in for firewood, and had made another trip for more wood. Thanks to my trusty saw I was ready for a good night and morning’s campfire!
I thought this view from just outside the trees of my camp site as the sun went down behind the mountains really captured the spirit of the whole trip for me, and it’s my favorite pic:
I had to leave Sunday morning as I had a long drive ahead of me. I woke up early, took some pictures of the lake, got the fire going again, and enjoyed a good strong, hot cup of percolated coffee as God intended. Later I made a hot breakfast of 4 fried eggs and a huge patty of breakfast sausage.
I continued down the road in a southwest direction along the shores of Lower Blue Lake:
As the trail I was on turned back into pavement into Hope Valley, I was thunderstruck by what a beautiful area it is. If you own a motorcycle and like to “motorcycle camp”, the way in from the other side of Hwy 88 (from Nevada) is smooth pavement and Hope Valley is just gorgeous and full of wonderful campgrounds. You could not do better, and this was not lost upon the many motorcyclists I saw on the way home that weekend!
The one picture that I am so sorry that I didn’t turn around and drive over again, just to take the picture, was along the eastern portion of Carson Pass that was full of Elm trees! White bark, yellow leaves in stark contrast to the BRIGHT greens just left me literally SHOUTING for joy! So very much like my favorite trips to Southern Utah through the Dixie National Forest. I drove the rest of the pass with the windows down, the heater on, and the sunroof open to enjoy the sights!
I stopped later for a view off the pass that paled in comparison to the elms but was also noteworthy:
If you ever have the opportunity, please take the drive over Carson Pass (named after one of my most favorite historical figures, Kit Carson! For the best biography on him, please read “Blood and Thunder” by Hampton Sides-a dang fine read!)
I have traveled and off-roaded over most all the passes of the Sierra Nevada’s and this is one of the very, very best of them!
Finally, I'd like to dedicate this one to Ganjiro as he's recovering from back surgery. Hope this helps to distract him.
-Tutt
