July 16, 2024
Lukens Lake, Yosemite National Park
Total distance walked: 4.24 miles

My sister and I set off for a day of hiking and photography in Yosemite. We parked at White Wolf Campground and headed out on the trail leading to Lukens Lake.

One of the first hikes Andrew and I tackled in the high country was to Lukens Lake from this trailhead. It was July 7, 2010, and the trail was blanketed in snow.

My sister and I headed into the forest through a meadow bursting with wildflowers. This July, there was no snow in sight, only relentless mosquitoes biting every bit of exposed flesh.

In the meadow we saw a variety of interesting sights, including a fresh pile of bear scat—I’ll spare you the photo!

When we encountered severe blowdowns and an impassable Middle Tuolumne River, we retraced our steps to the car and drove to the lake’s easier route off of Tioga Pass.

Upon arriving at the lake, we settled on a log as our lunch spot. Imagine summertime in Yosemite and being alone at a lake.

It seemed unlikely, but there we were. It was so quiet until the arrival of two families. The kids plunged right into the lake undeterred by its chilly water.

Since they chose a spot right next to us, we decided to move to another location. It was quiet once again.

We walked by a set of logs that have been in the water since Andrew and I first visited this place. They are still there, appearing almost unchanged.

We remained on the far side of the lake until the families started to approach. That’s when we chose to return to the car.

Despite the nuisance of mosquitoes, fallen trees, and noisy people, it was yet another idyllic day in Yosemite.