November 6, 2013
Dog Lake, Yosemite National Park
Total distance walked:  2.8 miles

Driving along the curvy county road not far from home, I realized with a shock that I had forgotten the camera! Instead of turning back to retrieve it, Andrew suggested we use his cell phone to take photos, which we did.

Traffic into Yosemite National Park was non-existent, and we were making good time until I got behind two out-of-state, slow-moving vehicles. I was anxious to get to the trail since we left home an hour late, and it had been more than a month since my last hike. Remembering that the sightseers ahead of us might be experiencing the area for the first time required patience. At last, we arrived at the snow-covered Tuolumne Meadows.

Our plan was to make a loop by first climbing Lembert Dome then hiking on to Dog Lake.

The trail was laden with ice and snow, making the ascent of a potentially icy granite dome seem unsafe. We opted to skip that segment and continued on the trail towards Dog Lake.

Encountering 30-degree temperatures on summer mornings in the high country prompted us to dress for cold weather. Even though snow blanketed the area, it was only in the low 50’s. The 750-foot ascent kept our hearts pumping and bodies warm.

Since Andrew had advanced much farther up the mountain, he left a note at a junction pointing “that way.”

The trail was steep and empty except for the two of us. At one point I heard Andrew call down to me, “This is steep! I can feel my heart pounding!” I stopped to catch my breath and thought, “This comes from the boy who has climbed Half Dome three times,” a feat that involves a 4,800-foot elevation gain.

Upon reaching the secluded lake, we found ourselves at an elevation of 9,250 feet. The lake was blanketed with a thin layer of ice.

As we trekked to the sunny side, our feet sunk deeply in shoe-sucking mud. We continued until we found a dry, sandy beach where we stopped for lunch.

Dog Lake got its name in 1898 after Robert Marshall from the U.S. Geological Survey discovered a dog and her puppies there. We skipped stones across the ice, then explored the area in search of flora and fauna. It became apparent that nature was shutting down for the season.

We found dried stalks on the lakeshore, remnants of summer’s wildflowers. Even though we could peer deeply into the crystal-clear water, the fish were elusive. The area was unusually quiet. The absence of birds and critters chattering in the trees was noticeable. The sole sound was that of our voices as they reverberated off the ice, their echoes spreading effortlessly across the lake.

We scoured the pristine snow for animal tracks and discovered dried bear scat, mountain lion droppings, and an unusually shaped snowman sitting atop a log.

We gathered our belongings and circled back to the trail. Another beautiful day had passed!

Feeling grateful for the time spent with my son at Dog Lake.