The L&T Nancy and I headed for the high country again on Sunday – this time a short hike to tiny, jewel-like Heart Lake (above Castle Lake). Castle is a beautiful lake – and a fun float tube destination – that can be overrun by visitors on weekends. Still, a short hike leaves the crowds behind, and you find yourself on the tall cliffs overlooking a truly stunning mountain cirque, a sheer, 150-foot drop only inches from your toes.
I left my point and shoot digital camera at home in favor of my fancy new 8-megapixel Canon DSLR. Let’s say there are still a few bugs to work out, but for the bored Undergrounders out there, I present a few images from the trip…
Clouds and cliffs – a pretentious writer’s view of the cliffs surrounding Hart Lake.
The view from the sheer cliffs overlooking Castle Lake. Those dots are kayaks. And those rocks in the foreground are all that stand between you and a 150 foot dive…
Heart Lake – a tiny little body of water nestled atop the cliffs overlooking Castle Lake.
A long, long ways off – a fly fisher talks to a kayaker. Bet they’re talking about the Underground.
The very zen waters of Heart Lake. Even the Wonderdog couldn’t be anxious up here.
Speaking of Wally the Wonderdog, he’s had enough hiking for one day.
[tags]Castle Lake, outdoor photography, alpine[/tags]
Nice pics there, Tom. Just think, all that hiking Sunday morning/afternoon and you still had enough energy to do a float-tube-sprint to capture the sunset photo Sunday evening.
You done Wally proud!
Smellslikefish(Quote)
Nice pics! Which 8mp Canon DSLR did you get?
Troutnut(Quote)
Geesh, look at poor Wally. “Oh, the humanity!”, I mean dogmanity, nope, “Oh the pooch-o-sity!”
- rrover :)
rriver(Quote)
Yes, I did hike all afternoon and then fish all evening. I am extremely manly. So manly that the crippling soreness of the next day barely even registered with me as I staggered out of bed and hobbled around like I’d run a marathon in bedroom slippers.
Manly is as manly does.
As for the camera, I got the basic Rebel XT. I’ve got a bag full of my old Canon F1 bodies and lenses, but after some research, decided the Rebel was the best way to ease into this digital stuff. The 20D seemed like a lot to pay for a PC connection, and – unlike my old film bodies – these things will be obsolete in a couple years.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
Don’t cry for Wally. The corpulent canine lives a better life than the rest of us…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
That looks like a nice lake. I’ve been to nearby Tamerac lake in the past, but it sounds like this is an easier place to get to. Does the trailhead come out of the state park?
Michael Rasmussen(Quote)
Michael; I think you’re to far south. You drive to Castle by going over the Box Canyon dam (Lake Siskiyou in Mt. Shasta). The trailhead to Heart Lake is to the left of the parking lot, and while it has its steep pitches, it’s not very long.
Is Tamarac in the Castle Crags State Park? If so, I’ve heard of it but haven’t been there…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
I scoured the web and only found this link for the lake. The directions sound right, but it was a long time ago.
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/trailfinder/trail_details.tcl?trailid=713
We drove to the lake, but it was pretty much 4WD only.
I’m guessing from your description that Castle Lake is the one at the end of Castle Lake Rd, and Heart Lake is the one at the top of the mountain south of Castle Lake?
Michael Rasmussen(Quote)
Michael; from your description, Tamarac is pretty far from here – sounds like it’s over by Reno. Too far to go when I’m surrounded by lakes here – including a bunch I haven’t yet been too… 8-)
Where are you from?
Tom Chandler(Quote)