I'm Going Outside: Spooner Lake to Marlette Lake Oct 10 09

On this hike, I went with the group once again to yet another stunning glacial lake, well, two really: Spooner Lake to Marlette Lake. I realize now that I didn't get a glimpse of Spooner Lake, but I'll have to do that next time. Marlette Lake, however, was, as usual, unbelievably beautiful.

Weather: beautiful--low 60's at start to mid-70's and bright sunshine, minmum wind, no clouds. You can't design a more perfect weather day for a Tahoe hike.

Hike: Spooner Lake to Marlette Lake is 9.6 miles; I went on to the slightly further Marlette Overlook, which added on perhaps two more miles. Probably the entire hike was around 11.5 miles. Spooner Lake trailhead is at junction of Hwy 50/28, just before Glenbrook; we went via 80, so it was about 9 miles past Incline Village (80-267-28)--probably about two hours from Roseville.

Below: As usual, the trail was well signed. It was a popular trail too, with plenty of hikers, on weekends at least, to keep you company if you're a solo hiker.

Below: For the mileage to Marlette Lake, below, add on 0.8 mile to move you from the parking lot to the actual trail head.

The trail starts out with a pretty flat dusty fire road, shared with mountain bikers, for the first 0.8 mile to the trailhead. At the trailhead, hikers can choose to use the single-track hiking/horse trail off to the left of the biker fire-road. I recommend using the single-track hiker option; it's inherently more interesting and includes several historical items with interpretive signs. Plus you meet only occasional horses and no bikers.

Below: Fairly quickly, you come to your first historical marker--Spencer's House--a mid 18th century house that belonged to a rancher in charge of the land-owner's cattle. In these pictures, you can get an idea of the purpose of the hike to this area--the magnificent turning colors of the alpine aspens.

Opposite Spencer's House is a strangely large carved chair. Intriguing in a puzzling kind of way--no interpretive sign to explain its presence.

Below: Here you see more of the wonder of the aspen's fall colors:

Below: A view from the single-track hiker trail through a wonderland of chrorophyll and fresh air:

Below: The trail leads also through glacial meadows (or at least clearings):

Below: There were several patches of snow on the side--remnants of last week's early storm:

Below: And some intriguing little bridges over small creeks; I imagine they're pretty strong streams with the spring snow-melt:

Below: Our first glimpses of Marlette Lake--what a beauty!

Below: More aspens turning colors:

Below: Finally at the lake, with a wonderful, stunning, National Geographic lunch spot:

Below: A view of Marlette Lake, with Lake Tahoe in the distance, from Marlette Overview. It's a view you earn with some stiff uphill, but it's only a mile or so, and it's a beautiful walk:

The rest of the group stayed on the lunch rock, but I wanted to do some 'sploring, so I went further up and found the overview. I knew that I'd have some quick hiking to do to catch up with the group with this additional hike, so I applied what I'd learned about hiking strides (long steps, use your poles), and booked it back along the trail, past the lunch rock, and up onto the trail toward Spooner Lake.

I learned that I can hike really quickly with this method, but I learned also that speed-hiking means that you miss much of the scenery, that you miss much of the serenity, and that you pass many other hikers. It's not a method I plan to adopt full-time anytime soon, but it's good to know that that's how you do it.

Below: The sign back to Spooner Lake:

Below: Pix of my stuff and some tired dogs--that speed-hiking was quite the three mile workout: