Emerald Lake (Sequoia NP) July 2024

[wsp_scott]

I wanted to take my daughter on a "real" backpacking trip when she finished 8th grade. That did not happen, but we got a little trip in SEKI after her 9th grade year. I had planned for something bigger than this, but she wasn't dealing with the altitude very well so we set up a base camp at Emerald Lake (near Pear Lake) for a couple nights.

Here's a couple photos.


Tons of flowers along the Lakes Trail

Great views from The Watchtower (my original goal was to get up to the horizon "The Tablelands")

The marmots have been spoiled by idiots, not afraid of anything. My daughter said she wants to be reincarnated as a marmot at Pear Lake

Emerald Lake

Dayhike to Aster Lake (not far away)

And then Pear Lake

Great sunset

and then stars

We did a short off-trail hike towards the Tablelands before the rain/lightning came in

The next day we hiked out, got showers at the Lodgepole campground and drove to SFO for a red eye flight back home. Not what I planned, but a great trip with my daughter.

lots more photos (no ads) here - https://backpackandbeer.blogspot.com/2025/06/sequoia-np.html

 

[RyanP]

Nice photos! How have I never backpacked the Sierra...

 

[zionsky]

Time spent with your daughter is worth more than gold. I hope to do one with my daughter before she graduates.

 

[wsp_scott]

Nice photos! How have I never backpacked the Sierra...

I think you might have said that before

 

[scatman]

It's wonderful that you get to spend time with your daughter doing what you love. Cherish the time my friend.

Marmots are kind of cute.

 

[wsp_scott]

It's wonderful that you get to spend time with your daughter doing what you love. Cherish the time my friend.

Marmots are kind of cute.

I've turned into one of the old parents who tell new parents that "they grow up fast". You don't believe it when you have a 3 year old, but it is true. Glad that my kids still want to spend time with me.

 

[balzaccom]

I still manage to get in trips with my younger daughter, but she is a grown woman now, and outhikes me easily. There are advantages--she carries more of the weight, too!