Jump in, swim around, crawl out an lay in the sun, lather, rinse, repeat. We spent all afternoon in and out of the lake. The water was an absolutely perfect temperature for swimming. Just next to this ramp was a nice cliff with enough height to allow for some fun jumping into the deep cool water. On the shore of Sword Lake, just below our campsite, there was the most wonderful little spot where the granite sloped gently into the water, providing a perfect place to lounge around and have easy access to the water. I had originally planned to spend the afternoon exploring the area and possibly heading down to Spicer Reservoir to fish, but my plans were quickly squashed when I sighted our private ‘beach’. Though they were bad in the evening they would have been worse closer to the lake. Upon reaching the lake I let my campsite mojo take the lead and found us a great site above the lake that would keep us as free from mosquitoes as possible. The hike to the lake was a short jaunt through the wildflower strewn meadows and forest and we arrived quickly. The six dirt miles lasted a dusty eternity thanks to the horse trailers and parade of other vehicles heading up the road ahead of us, but we eventually reached the County Line trail head. Simply along for the ride, I wasn’t sure what to expect – I just was hoping for a nice weekend in the mountains with some friends.Īfter picking up the permit in Pine Crest, we headed to the trailhead off of the Clark Fork turnoff from 108. Therefore I was looking for something else to do and at the last minute I jumped in on this trip to Sword Lake that Laurent was busy planning. I had originally planned on starting a big week long trip out of Pine Creek this weekend, but the late snow melt led to a postponement. However, this is a well known place and there is a lot of information out there (including several YouTube videos and a few mainstream media profiles) so I have no qualms in sharing the details here. If I’d discovered this lake unspoiled and rarely visited, I’d keep it a secret. What Sword Lake does have is the best swimming conditions I’ve found. ![]() ![]() ![]() Nevertheless, this is one of the best lakes I’ve backpacked to in the Sierra. There are mosquitoes and noisy boyscouts. It is surrounded by forest so the views are minimal. It’s not above treeline or filled with pristine glacier-fed waters. It is a popular lake, not a place to go for solitude. On paper, Sword Lake does not fit my definition of a great destination.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |