Lake Tahoe

We had a long weekend because of the Memorial Day holiday so we thought it was only right that we should participate in the American way of life and join huge queues of traffic heading for cheap, tacky resorts... Neil found us a bargain hotel in South Lake Tahoe and we survived the traffic with only a bit over an hour delay, and it was VERY much worth the trip...

	On Saturday morning we were up bright and early to hike the Mount Tallac trail. Even a mile in to the walk the view over Fallen Leaf Lake to Lake Tahoe is quite spectacular. (Panorama - scroll to see more!)
	Neil at our first photo stop!
	Neil heads off up the trail with the vigor and agility of a hungry mountain goat who has just spied some lovely fresh grass up ahead, but two fewer legs.
	The peak of Mount Tallac appears from time to time through the trees.
	It's a beautiful day, so sunscreen is most definitely required, especially since we're 2.5km above sea level!
	Time for a wee rest I think.
	The trees tower above us providing some shade.
	Entering the wilderness - hiking permits required beyond this point!
	Floating Island Lake. The island appears to have floated off....
	We start getting to patches of snow alongside the trail.
	Another fantastic vista, so Neil takes a photo. I forget about the vista and photograph Neil instead - you guys have no idea what you're missing. Maybe you can ask to see Neil's photo of it?
	We're starting to break out above the treeline and get a decent view of the upper section of Mount Tallac.
	The view back towards Lake Tahoe is even more breathtaking as we ascend.
	At this point we're about 2 miles into the trail and not quite half way up in terms of altitude, but there is a lot of snow on the next section of the trail and I've just got walking shoes on, so I decide not to go any further (the plan was always that I would quit at the snow line).
	Still, now I'm on my own I can mess about with the camera and pollute lots of beautiful views with my presence.
	Odd shaped cloud.
	The forrest up here is pretty much unmanaged - dead trees lie where they fall...
	...even if it's into the lake.
	I make it safely back down and out of the wilderness.
	The bark on these pines is very rough and a beautiful red colour.
	In some places you can see evidence of relatively recent fires...
	...which encourages a new burst of life from ground-dwelling plants.
	I get back to the car park while Neil is still making his final assault on the peak.
	While I wait for Neil I have lunch and go to take a look at Emerald Bay.
	A little stream rushing down the mountain,
	Sunday morning at the Super 8 Motel in South Lake Tahoe. The central courtyard looks nice in the sunshine...
	...and the accomodation is perfectly acceptable, if not exactly luxurious.
	We head out on the twisty-turny mountain road along the side of the lake.
	Looking back over towards South Lake Tahoe. We're in California, but the far side of the lake is Nevada.
	The lake is teeming with pleasure boats and the shore is lined with jetties for them.
	Neil with the camera to his eye once again.
	Neil at the Emerald Bay vista point. Note he has considerable confidence in his balancing skills and looks unafraid balancing on top of a fence with a precipice behind.
	I display an appropriate degree of confidence in my own balance - none.
	Emerald Bay - really quite breathtaking.
	Trees cling on to the steep, rocky slopes...
	...not all survive though. Parts of the lake are littered with trees that lost their battle with gravity.
	The glorious beaches in the bay are really only accessible by boat...
	...leading to constant traffic in and out of the bay.
	Neil fills in yet another wilderness permit at the Eagle Falls trail.
	Eagle Falls.
	The water looks very inviting, but I suspect that it is very cold since most of it is snow-melt from the mountains.
	Cascading straight down...
	...catching the sunlight as it falls.
	A pleasure steamer heads out of Emerald Bay.
	Trees, rocks, lake, you already got the picture right? I don't need to try to think of anything original to say here?
	There is a real contrast between the grey rocks and luxuriant green spring growth.
	A beautiful day for the beach...
	...but I bet they have chilly feet!
	A man in a canoe chasing geese (I suppose it's harmless) against a backdrop of spectacular peaks.
	Time to head back down to Palo Alto, but it's been great to get up here and see some of the back country!