A short 1.5 hour walk from the parking lot at Parks Creek brought us to the lake without much ascent.
Most trails in the area were cut on a mountain slope like this, some were much narrower than this.
Middle Dead Falls Lake (Elevation 7200 ft.). We camped for 2 nights and enjoyed day trips from the site on Friday and Saturday.
Beginning an afternoon hike to the top of Mount Eddy (9000 ft.)
Much easier without the backpack. A bottle holder on the waist pack would have helped.
Mount Eddy and hikers. The route will take us around to the right before the ascent.
After climbing about 700 feet., we passed the Upper Dead Falls lakes.
Mount Eddy
After ascending past 8000 feet, the Dead Falls Lakes could be seen through the trees
At the Junction with the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail). A brief rest for those who walked ahead. The slower ones kept on without stopping.
The exceptionally dry season brought down no fewer than 1800 lightning strikes in one night. Most of the fires in the Trinity Alps had been contained but certain areas were still closed for camping. One can see the effects in the smoky haze that hangs over the scenery.
The final set of switchbacks to the top of Mount Eddy
The Trinity Alps behind smoky curtains
On the top of Mount Eddy, the wind forces the eyes to close. While Mount Shasta (behind the white clouds) could be seen by the eye, the camera fails to capture it in this shot.
Top of Mount Eddy. Black Butte could be faintly seen in the background, peeking above the foreground mountain.
Top of Mount Eddy (9000 feet). One felt disappointed by the view after the spirited climb. Surprisingly, we found people camped there for the night having built a stone wall around their tent to keep the winds away. They would get a great view of Shasta first thing in the morning.
The Mount Eddy Climb profile. 2.2 miles one way with an elevation gain of 1800 feet. The peak is at 9000 feet.
Google Earth view of the Mount Eddy Climb seen from below.
Mount Eddy climb seen from the east with Mount Shasta looming over the peak
View of the Dead Falls Lakes (4 of them). Our campsite is the second farthest from the top and the largest.
Trinity Alps
Dead Falls Lakes
On the way back down : Another encouter with the PCT
At the campsite : Fetching the bear canisters from their storage locations to prepare dinner
At hand is the Garcia Bear Canister. It features two manually operated levers that requires a small coin to operate.
A swim in the cold waters of the lake.
Sunset at camp
Sunset made more beautiful by the smoky air
Saturday Morning: Woke up at 6 and decided to repeat the Mount Eddy Climb to enjoy morning views and the clearer air.
At the PCT sign
Top of Mount Eddy at 8 am : While the rest of the valley was covered in fog, magnificent Mount Shasta rises above.
Sharing the peak with the residents of the peak for the previous night.
The clearer air helps capture the 4 lakes much better
On the way back down - The Upper Dead Falls lake
...with clear reflections
Afternoon hike to Toad Lake : A brief 1 mile section on the trail featured views of Mount Shasta. If we had known, would we have bothered with the second climb in the morning?
Mount Shasta
Just a brief snow field to cross at the pass where the trail crosses over to the other side and continues on to the right towards Toad Lake
Toad Lake
Toad Lake - a few hundred feet below...after contemplating briefly, we decided not to go down but turn back...
After stopping for lunch (dried pasta cooked in boiling water with JetBoil) at the pass near the snow field, we continue on to camp. The trail is at left...
One more look at Shasta
Flowers on the trail
Thick moss on the tall trees
Sunday Morning: time to pack and go home
Mount Shasta and Black Butte (to the right)
Nearing the Interstate (I-5), a final picture of Mount Shasta
It was a hundred degrees at the lower levels fo the valley. Stopped at a picnic stop for lunch. Great spot to view the Osprey nest on a nearby powerline
Osprey and chicks
Overview of the area : The flags and colored tracks at left: The blue track is the one from the parking lot to camp. The yellow track is the climb from camp to Mount Eddy. The red track is the trail from camp to Toad Lake. Mount Shasta (top right) dwarfs everything else. The towns of Weed and Mount Shasta can be seen along the interstate (I-5) going N-S. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110529122321556086651.00045171c3390dd6d7158&ll=41.314176,-122.493267&spn=0.060728,0.150375&t=p&z=13
