The Will and the Way

“The higher you climb, the more that you see;  the more that you see, the less that you know;  the less that you know, the more that you yearn;  the more that you yearn, the higher you climb”  Dan Fogelberg (The Higher you Climb)

 The Loch Levens Lakes hike is very popular in the summer time, so it’s best to do during the week.  It is considered moderate and 6 miles round trip.  My dog, Adobe, and I did this trek on a Wednesday late last June, and I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t in very good shape.  Having said that, It felt more like a strenuous hike than moderate, and both Adobe and I were stiff and sore the next day!  The trail begins off of Highway 80 going east towards Lake Tahoe,  and then exiting at Big Bend road.  About 0.8 miles east of the Big Bend Visitor Center, there is a little lot to park in and the trail head is across the street.

The trail is mostly uphill and the terrain is largely granite boulders and dry rock beds, which can make footing a little more precarious.  To stay on the trail, you have to look hard for the trail ducks, to show the way.  Trail ducks are man made stacks of rocks that indicate which way to go when travelling over big boulders and rocky terrain.  This can make the hike a little tricky.  Once you get a little more than halfway, there are railroad tracks to cross, which of course, you have to be careful with.  Beyond the railroad tracks the trail is pretty shady.  So it’s nice on a warm day…plus you can always cool off in one of the lakes.

My intention was to get to the lower lake which would make it a four mile trek.  But if you read my earlier blog, The Sky Knows No Limit, you know that I ALWAYS want to go farther.  So of course, when I got to Lower Loch Levens Lake, I saw that the other two lakes were just a short walk ahead and then HAD to see them all.  The result was definitely worth the work!!  These lakes are absolutely beautiful!  Adobe and I spent about an hour exploring, but I could’ve stayed all day.  The first body of water that I came upon was a small pond, that Adobe instantly went in to cool off.  As we made our way to each lake, they each had their own beauty and sense of serenity.  It is definitely a place I would go back to and also recommend for a short over night backpacking trip.

Because this hike was strenuous for me, it made me think back to the days when I played college basketball.  There were a lot of days of hard work, and times that I didn’t think I could make it through, both physically and mentally.  And during those times, I had to keep focused on what I wanted to accomplish.  And I was fortunate that all of that hard work resulted in a national championship…this doesn’t happen very often for athletes, and I am grateful for that experience.  Yet, what stands out the most, is what it took to get there…the journey, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.  Through the process, I learned that being present, doing my best, making mistakes and learning from them, and taking on challenges are what makes me grow and be a better person.  I also learned the value of the relationship between preparation and results.  Had I been better prepared physically for the hike, I would’ve not been as sore and probably would’ve have thought this more of a moderate hike.  But the bottom line is that I will take the soreness any day if it allows me to connect with such a beautiful place…