Hiking Hanging Lake

Saturday was a hike to Hanging Lake.  It was just named one of the six new National Natural Landmarks in the United States.  Once you get to the top it's easy to see why with the shoreline composed of travertine rock giving the water a spectacular color.  The 1.2 mile climb is a short, steep scenic trail called a "more difficult" trail by the Forest Service.  It's quite steep in some areas, especially near the top and you have to traverse very rocky areas.

When my friend Kim and I started out it was 10:30am and already very sunny and warm.  Within 15 minutes we're both drenched with sweat.  But as we climb higher and get in more shaded areas we don't sweat as bad.  It's definitely a workout climbing the rocky trail.  In the shady spots right by the stream the temperatures drops as much as 5-10 degrees.  On the way up I'm shooting video and stills so it takes us about an hour to do the climb.  On the way down, only 35 minutes.  But going down was just as much a workout as going up.

It starts at an elevation of 6387 feet and ends at an elevation of 7323 feet so it's an elevation gain of 936 feet..  But the trail meanders alongside a stream originating from the lake and the waterfalls at the lake and the higher Spouting Rock waterfall are refreshing after the strenous hike up.