A Peaceful Lake in the Woods

August 25 – 26, 2015
Camping trip and hike to Lukens Lake, Yosemite National Park
Total distance walked: 2 miles

Hiking was on hold this past summer. Besides planning our daughter’s wedding, my husband and I spent three months building our backyard living space. In August, I took a break from the work and hot summer days for an impromptu camping trip with our son, Andrew.

Andrew and I headed to White Wolf in Yosemite National Park, a first-come/first-served campground. Arriving late in the afternoon, I questioned whether or not there would be an empty space for us. There was! Site #37 included a fire pit, picnic table, bear box, and was near the restrooms.

After setting up the tent and placing all scented items (lip balm, PowerBait, coffee, etc.) into the bear-proof locker, we drove to Tuolumne Meadows Lodge. We checked in and they called us for dinner at 6:00.

We were escorted into the dining tent and seated at one of the round tables set for eight—a surprise to us since we were only a party of two. We were soon joined by a gentleman from Pennsylvania, and a married couple from Maryland. Also present at the table were a middle-aged mother and her daughter from the Bay Area, accompanied by a septuagenarian woman from Tennessee. The three of them had met in the 1980s at one of Yosemite’s High Sierra camps and have continued to reunite annually in Yosemite. After ordering our meals, the conversation turned to hiking. Dinnertime was an enjoyable experience, and the beef stew was excellent. As we drove back to camp, the setting sun lit the sky on fire.

After a good night’s sleep, we woke to a crisp morning. The heat of the campfire warmed us while we ate cold breakfast rolls with hot coffee. We tossed our belongings into the car and drove to the Lukens Lake trailhead.

This was our third visit to the lake. Andrew has always done well fishing there.

While sauntering through the forest, I noticed many unique trees.

We reached the lake after a short, one-mile walk.

It was breezy and cold. I set my chair in the fickle sun while Andrew rigged his fishing tackle.

Shivering, I stood up and did jumping jacks to warm myself. Andrew floated in the water, bare-chested. He said it was warmer there than on land.

There was an atmosphere of peace at the lake. I heard birdsong in the nearby mountain ash, and the scratchy squawk of Steller’s jays.

Echoing across the water were the taps of a woodpecker drumming a tree. Unseen frogs croaked. Pinecones broke from their branches and tumbled to the ground.

The only man-made sounds were the whip of Andrew’s line, and the splash of water as he paddled.

Delicate dragonflies chased each other at the water’s surface. I brought a book to read, but instead gazed at the water, the meadow, and cloudy sky above: the beauty of God’s creation.

Hours passed and it was time to leave. Although it was cloudy and cool all day long, both Andrew and I were mildly sunburned.

This quick trip to the peaceful lake in the woods was a welcomed reprieve from the heat of summer’s days and the backyard work at home.