A Break in the Mountains - CA, Week 1

Kirkwood, CA
Scott's Lake NF


After a hectic month we are going to boondock in one of our favorite places along Hwy 88 near Kirkwood Ski Resort in Hope Valley and just relax and recharge.  Along the way up you pass several lakes. Much cooler and almost no wildfire smoke.

Silver Lake

 

Caples Lake

Red Lake as viewed at the top of the Carson Pass, 8652 ft elevation.

Ah, our spot that sits between a meadow and the pines and aspen.

Until a couple of weeks ago there were cattle grazing this meadow. It's pretty dry out this year.

Steve's office for the next 3 weeks.

There are a few others, all spaced out along the meadow.

The first week we just relaxed, walked the rivers, and hiked a little.

The West Carson River

 

 

Nice deep pools among the large boulders.

We drove some back roads and cached a little too.

Besides settlers coming to the goldrush, this area was home to Snowshoe Thompson.

Steve got a picture of me fishing in one of the pools.

I loved how the beams of sun made layers in the wildfire smoke that would settle in, in the evening.

 

 

On the weekend our son, Brennan, wanted us to meet his Girlfriends father who happened to be camping in Donner, not far from Lake Tahoe.  So we drove the 1-12 hours away and drove along beautiful Lake Tahoe.

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe.

There is so much to do all around Lake Tahoe you could stay busy for weeks.  Especially if you like outdoor activities, winter sports, gambling, concerts, etc.

They were all camped at Donner State Memorial Park.  In case you didn't hear this part of California's history, The Donner Party was a group of pioneers that set out for California in a wagon train in May 1846. Departing from Independence, Missouri, they were delayed by a series of mishaps and mistakes, and spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada. Some of the pioneers resorted to cannibalism to survive. Besides the campground, they have a nice museum here.

Brennan and Alex

One of the guys here makes the most amazing Mojitos.  I don't care for them usually, but this one was pretty amazing!  And tasty!

Hurley found a new girlfriend.

Brennan had set some games up for everyone.  So we played girls against the boys and The Girls won 3 out of 5.

We kicked butt in Bocce.  The pallino (the little white ball) is thrown at random and you then throw your teams balls as close as you can.  Closest team's ball, wins.  So, it was pretty amazing that I was able to get our (Red) ball the closest to the pallino considering it was thrown between two stumps.  I threw it 30 feet and made it right between the stumps for a win!  Go Girls!!

Brennan, Alex and Alex's Dad, Sebastian.  Thanks guys for a  great time and BBQ!

 

We drove another day to Tahoe, about 20 mins, to renew Steve's drivers license and had a nice breakfast on the way out at the Hope Valley Café.  We ate at this cute little spot along the river a couple of times while here. We also saw the movie, Crazy Rich Asians.  It was pretty funny.