Dates: August 18-19, 2012 Duration: 2 days, 1 night Mileage: ~8.3 miles Group Members: Nick McGuire, Amanda Eberle, Michael Ahlmann, Marybeth Ahlmann Pack Weights: Between 15 & 40 lbs Notes: Stopped at the CAL Fire station in Colfax (opens at 8AM on Saturday) to get a campfire permit. The guys there were super friendly and gave us permits good through mid-2014 which was quite generous. Grouse Ridge road was in pretty good condition; no need for 4WD and we saw some cars out at the campground...quite a few cars parked at the trailhead and a few people camping. Overcast but pleasant with forecast of 20% chance of thunderstorms temperatures in the low 70s during the day and high 50s at night. Rained a bit on the hike in but clear skies the rest of the day. Light rain very briefly at night once. Outbound Travel: Folsom, CA to Colfax CDF Station = 45 minutes Colfax CDF Station to Bowman Rd = 45 minutes Bowman Rd to Grouse Ridge Trailhead = 30 minutes Day 1: (~ 4.5 miles) Grouse Ridge Campground/Trailhead to Five Lakes Basin Left the trailhead around 10AM. Headed out towards Glacier Lake and the 5 Lakes Basin via the same trails in the Summer 2008 trip. Followed Trail 13E28 from trailhead to 13E13 to Glacier Lake and then 13E50 to Five Lakes Basin. Trail somewhat disappears after heading north to the first set of lakes north of Glacier Lake. At the south end of the first big one we headed off trail to the North-East to head down into the basin and attempt to make camp at the same campground I'd found back in 2008. Arrived at 12:15 PM and luckily no one was camped there and we were able to setup camp. Some mosquitoes on the hike in before Glacier Lake but none in this area. Relaxed all afternoon (Mike & MB fished without any luck). Large dead tree I had photographed in 2008 had fallen down. Someone has also placed a large tuperware container with a log for the campsite, a few trinkets and a deck of cards that has seen better days due to some water damage.
Day 2: (~ 3.8 miles) Five Lakes Basin to Grouse Ridge Trailhead (via Sand Ridge) Woke up around 7AM and left camp by about 8:30AM. Headed west from the campsite to the north end of the lake where we had headed off trail the day before. Skirted its northern edge and followed its western shore to the south until almost reached its south end. Just before that there are some woods with some campsites where is where you can pick up the trail to Sand Ridge. Hiked back to the trailhead via Sand Ridge (shorter and very scenic but obviously more exposed) which made for a nice loop.
