• Miles 8.7
• Elevation Gain 697 Feet
• Highest Elevation on Trail 8,813 Ft / Lowest Elevation 8,322
• Total miles so far for the 54 for Dave pledge 54.2!

With the 2016 Spring and Fall hikes I have done combined with last summer's hikes I had only had eight miles left to finish the 54 for Dave quest. I wanted to get it done this trip. In my planning I figured I needed two hikes to finish the quest. Seven miles to Shadow Lake and a quick mile and half to McLeod. It was going to be tough fitting these in around attending Bluesapalooza (multi-day Blues Music, Beerfest, and potential hangovers.)

We traveled up on Thursday. On our travels north there were some awesome afternoon thunderstorm clouds and God's rays.

For a lot of reasons I usually hike alone. However, on the night before the hike one of my best friends daughter, Anna, said she wanted to go. I thought she might politely decline when I said I was leaving at 4:30 AM. Bless her heart she was still willing to go. Her hiking the entire 500 mile Camino de Santiago may have gotten her use to early rising! So this hike would have pleasant company and awesome views.

Shadow Lake is different than most hikes in the Sierra. The annoying draw backs to hiking in the Eastern Sierra is that almost all the trails start at the bottom and right from the get go head up. The trails give you no time to warm up thank you, just jump right in and start climbing. The hike to Shadow Lake is different. You start off on a flat rail, walking on the skirts of a classic alpine meadow. In fact, there is minimal altitude gain until you are more than a mile in. Plenty of time to warm up. Awesome!

After passing Agnew Meadows you continue on the River Trail with a gradual creep up to the canyon's rim. It is along this stretch you enter the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The view along this part of the trail provides beautiful views of Mammoth Mountain down the valley and other mountain peaks up the valley.

Continuing on the River Trail you gradually drop down to the forest floor. This section of the trail is flat and a pleasant walk in the soft light before sunrise. Other than trail junctions Olaine Lake, at just over two miles, is the first landmark you reach. Surrounded by granite walls it's green still waters provide a wonderful sense of serenity. Unfortunately. it is the calm before the storm.

In less than half a mile you turn left on the Shadow Creek Trail. After a short time you come to a bridge that crosses the Middle Fork of San Joaquin river. I tend to think of this bridge as the “two faced” bridge. Up to this point the trail has been flat and pleasant. After crossing the bridge the trail immediately goes into mile plus long set of a switchbacks. These switchbacks take you up 750 feet to Shadow Lake's outlet. So this side of the bridge is the gate to yucky up!

I say “two faced” because on the way back crossing the bridge means you are done with the switchbacks and will be on a flat trail for a while. Yea!. So bad bridge, good bridge!

The first time I did this hike I started later in the day. That meant I did the switchbacks in the mid-day sun. It is much more pleasant to do them in the pre-sunrise shade!

While I am not fond of the switchbacks the views during the ascend are stunning. Plus you are in for a wonderful treat as you near the top. The trail takes you closes to Shadow Creek cascading down the steep canyon walls.

My previous visit to Shadow Lake the wind had kicked up on the lake and the water was choppy. No reflections. This time I wanted to get there while the water was still. This, in fact, was the main reason for our early departure. Having Anna along also helped big time. Her youthful pace sped my normal leisurely “old man” pace up significantly! We had success. When we reached the lake the water was perfectly still with gorgeous reflections.

After taking a few pictures we continued along the entire length of Shadow Lake to its inlet. We had made it just in time. By the time we got to the head of the lake, the wind had come up and the water was choppy and the reflections gone.

When I looked at my GPS I was ecstatic. Instead of showing we had walked the expected three and half miles miles it showed we had actually walked four and half miles. That meant the total round trip would be nine miles not seven. The total distance over my 54 mile goal. The other short hike to finish the 54 miles for Dave quest would not be necessary!

After a short rest Anna and I hiked back the way we came. There is just one other thing other than the switchbacks that I do not like about this hike. On the way back there is an ascend up to the rim of the canyon. No fun when you are tired and just want to get back to the trail head.

The hike to Shadow Lake is a lovely hike full of beautiful scenery. It was a fitting end to my 54 for Dave quest. To top it off Anna provided very pleasant company and someone to share the end of a long quest with.

54.2 miles in the books. I have walked the 54 miles for Dave to fulfill the quest!  Here is to you Dave!

Thank You(s)
Thank You - Rick and Lori Jackson, Thank You - Mike and Monica Barnett, Thank You - Ed Nash, Thank You - Pam Eye, Thank You - Emily Aguto. Thank You - Rob Wynner, Thank You- Matt Garelik, Thank You - Jim Langlois, Thank You - Brad and Karen King, Thank You - Anita Sobel  -Thank You -Jeff and Brenda Bissett

We have already reached $795 of our $2,500 goal.  Awesome!  Feel free to share this blog link to anyone who would enjoy the images and stories. Maybe enough to donate!  If yes click here: donate!