“And balanced on the precipice the moment must reveal, naked in the face of time, our race within the wheel; as we hang beneath the heavens and we hover over hell, our hearts become the instruments we learn to play so well.” Dan Fogelberg (Nexus)
Last July I took a hike up towards Mt. Tallac. Had I made the entire journey to the top of the mountain, it would’ve been an 9.6 mile trek roundtrip. But on this day, I decided to bring my canine companion, Adobe who is eight years old and a very large Australian Shepherd. As such, he is starting to show signs of slowing down with achy hips. As a result, when I take him with me, we only go about 5-6 miles. I love taking him with me because he exhibits so much joy and freedom! So I saved the journey to the top of Mt. Tallac for a future date and we ventured out to the two lakes.
To get to the trail head, take highway 89 for 3.5 miles north of South Lake Tahoe. Look for the Mt. Tallac trail head sign across from the Lake Tahoe Visitor Center and turn left. Follow the road about 0.3 miles where you will reach an intersection. Turn left and go about 1.2 miles to the trail head. There is a dirt lot to park in or you can park off of the side of the road where there is room. It is best to get there early as this trail is extremely crowded during the summer! Since this trail is in the Desolation Wilderness, a permit is required, which is provided at the trail head.
The trail begins with a gentle ascent which leads up to a ridge that offers tremendous views of Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe! At about the 1.7 mile mark, I reached Floating Island Lake which was surrounded by pines and very serene. This lake alone, is worth the hike! Adobe and I relaxed and took in the beauty before heading on to the next lake. Cathedral Lake is at the 2.5 mile mark and overall, this section of the trail is easy to moderate in terms of difficulty. The actual difficult part of the trail is the climb to Mt. Tallac which begins after reaching Cathedral Lake. So on this day, I avoided the steep climb! Cathedral lake was much smaller and easier to navigate around. It is quite a contrast from Floating Island in that it is more rugged and rocky. Adobe and I found a nice lunch spot on a rock and enjoyed the breezes that had begun to flow through the pines, creating ripples along the lake.
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One of my favorite sounds is that of the wind blowing through pine trees. It is as if they are beckoning me to a softer, more tranquil place. It is in the mountains that I am reminded of the constant balance of life. We are continually making decisions that we hope will make our world a better place. Part of that process is understanding and navigating through the hard times and the many changes that take place over our lifetime. It takes diligence and self awareness to find and keep a good balance with reality. And it is safe to say, that we have all experienced how easy it is to be swept into the busyness and constant demands of life. So it is out here, that I am reminded to take time to feel and listen to the wind…this, is where I find balance.
