Thursday, June 6, 2013

Leavitt Meadows Trailhead to Fremont Lake

Despite being sick I decided it would be a good idea to get out and do some backpacking this past weekend. I felt like I was starting to get better and I thought that lots of fresh air and exercise would help me to recover.

Group Photo


Maybe not the best idea, or maybe I just underestimated this cold virus (I think it was a cold). I ended up having a great time but I came back feeling worse than when I left. The headache was gone, but the sore throat persisted, the hacking cough intensified and I got pretty stuffed up. Real rest was probably the better solution.

Phlox caespitosa Nutt. - Tufted Phlox   (AKA Phlox douglasii)


Part of it was that this "easy" hike ended up being more stressful than I anticipated. A few of our group members ended up getting lost on two different occasions, we had to do some cold water crossing, the truck kept overheating both on the way there and the way home, and I tossed and turned at night.

We had to wade across this, fortunately, where we crossed was a little less intense


But, I don't regret going, I had never been in the Hoover Wilderness before and I haven't been backpacking for a couple of months, so I was getting impatient!

Juniperus occidentalis subsp. australis - Sierra Juniper


Nice group of people, most of them were new to me but everyone seemed to be in good spirits despite the set-backs.

Sunset at Fremont Lake


Here is a little video of me crossing a side stream, it looked like it was going to be more dangerous than it was (Thanks Jacob):