Backpacking in Sierra Nevada Mountains

We started backpacking toward Penner Lake mid-Monday morning.  After all, homeschooling is best when it is not done at home.

The weather was sunny with patches of recent snow on the ground.   Temps were due to span from 20 to 60 degrees over the next few days with a chance of snow and wind squalls up to 30 mph.  Weather in the Sierra Nevada's, even with an early warm spring, was still variable and needed due care.

For our family's first trip, we had the good fortune to hook up with our friends and seasoned backpackers, Jeff and Amanda, and their little band of merry men.

Their guidance with direction, cooking, feeding, setting the bar, and boosting morale was priceless.

Without it ....  Well, I'm pretty sure we'd be back there still.

Fighting and hiking.  In search of our way out.

Timothy, in search of more comfortable mode of travel,
removed his shoes.

It was a fairly easy four mile hike in.  Toting packs one-quarter to one-third their weight meant more of the same for half the band. For the other half, it meant rest stops.

With legs a fraction the length ours, even without a pack,

Little Bit took her breaks seriously.  

When we arrived at Penner Lake, the wind was beginning to whip and the cold was setting in.

We scorched the toes out of more of than a couple of socks ... and melted rubber on more than one shoe over the few days we were there--  as the boys cycled in and out of wet socks and shoes.  At least, there were no feet in them at the time.

We woke in the morning to the sound of stillness.

Penner Lake

After a night of howling wind and snow, we welcomed the quiet.

We visited the Ice Garden.

The Ice Garden where icicles erupted upward during the night.

Feasted on cedar icicles.

Meandered a mile-and-a-half through the woods.

We took in the sun 

and the view of Rock Lake,

before we settled by the fire to roast a few more socks, feast on bean meals of all kinds, and enjoy a feisty game of Uno.

Timothy, Fire Master.

On our way out the next day, we took a mini-detour to Grouse Ridge Lookout

and then headed home for a shower and a yummy meal.

By all accounts, our backpacking trip was a happy success.