Mt. Tallac and Dicks Peak, almost

Overview

 

 

 

Mt. Tallac

 

The 9735 ft Mt. Tallac rises to the southwest of California’s Lake Tahoe about 3 miles away from the closest shoreline and as such is a popular hiking destination. Most people approach Mt. Tallac starting at its trailhead to the northeast of the summit. We started at Glen Alpine Trailhead on the south side of Mt. Tallac because it allowed us to make a loop hike that would take us to the nearby Dicks Peak as well.

 

Dicks Peak

 

The 9974 ft Dicks Peak rises 2.85 aerial miles to the west of Mt. Tallac. A trail goes to a 9160 ft saddle to the east of the summit. Reaching the summit requires some degree of off trail rock climbing. I turned back at an elevation of 9650 ft.

 

 

 

Trip Report

 

 

Hike Length: 15.81 miles

Total Ascent: 4611 ft

 

September 4, 2023

 

Kris and I left the vacation rental house in South Lake Tahoe at 5:40 AM (sunrise 6:30 AM). We drove through the narrow one lane paved neighborhood road on the east shore of Fallen Leaf Lake to reach Glen Alpine Trailhead 6550 ft elevation. Started our hike at 6:27 AM.

 

Got on a trail that went up traversing a talus field on the north side of the Glen Alpine Creek. View of Lilly Lake.

 

 

Views of Cracked Crag and Mt. Price.

 

 

Soon Kris said that he wanted to go at his own pace. He gave me the hand-held radio and we decided to keep in touch every hour. I let him know that the day will be very long, and he might end up waiting for me for hours. As expected, we lost radio contact after I was on the summit of Mt. Tallac.

 

Continuing up the trail.

 

 

 

Looking back east at Freel Peak and Jobs Sister.

 

 

After going through a rocky spot, the trail got onto a grassy gently sloped area that had scattered trees and great views of the surrounding mountains. It had rained the previous days and there was a little bit of frost on the grass. Clouds came to hover around some of the summits.

 

 

Ralston Peak.

 

 

 

Pyramid Peak, Mt. Agassiz and Mt. Price.

 

 

 

Summit of Dicks Peak.

 

 

First views of the summit of Mt. Tallac.

 

 

 

 

Clouds over Jacks Peak.

 

 

After 2.65 miles and an elevation of 8750 ft, I reached the junction with Mt. Tallac’s main trail and began to run into people going up and coming down every now and then. Had not seen anyone until then. Summit of Mt. Tallac.

 

 

Dicks and Jacks Peaks.

 

 

Just below the summit.

 

 

As I was approaching the summit, I was disappointed to see that fog was going to obscure my view.

Partial view of Fallen Leaf Lake.

 

 

Reached the summit at 9:23 AM, 3.94 miles and 9735 miles. Roughly 10 people were there. Cloud cover became denser and lighter, but I never got any good views and never got to see Lake Tahoe from the summit. What a bummer.

Gilmore Lake (my next destination) and Susie Lake.

 

 

Dicks Peak barely seen.

 

 

After eating and resting, I left at 9:39 AM. The plan was to descend 1450 vertical feet to Gilmore Lake and then back up again to Jacks Peak. Finally, a glimpse of Lake Tahoe from below the summit.

 

 

Once I got off Mt. Tallac Trail, I saw very few people. Began to go down toward Gilmore Lake.

 

 

 

The majestic Pyramid Peak.

 

 

At 10:46, 5.79 miles and 8310 ft, I was on the shores of Lake Gilmore.

 

 

 

At 6.0 miles, I reached the Pacific Crest Trail and began to go up toward the 9160 ft Dicks Pass.

Dicks and Jacks Peaks.

 

 

Mts Price, Agassiz, Pyramid Peak and Cracked Crag plus Susie Lake.

 

 

 

Love those “Sierras Trees”.

 

 

Grouse.

 

 

Looking back at Pyramid Peak and Cracked Crag.

 

 

Dicks and Jacks Peaks plus Half Moon Lake.

 

 

Getting close to Dicks Pass.

 

 

At 12:08 PM and 8.17 miles, I was at the 9160 ft Dicks Pass. Dicks Lake came to view to the northwest.

 

 

Left trail heading east over the scree slopes toward Dicks Peak. Looking back at Mt. Tallac and Peak 9579 ft.

 

 

Dicks and Jacks Peaks.

 

 

Was finally at the base of the summit of Dicks Peak. It was not clear if I had to go to the left of the ridgetop or right. On satellite photos, I had seen a definite beaten path on the left, but a few paths had been visible on the right as well. At that moment, I was seeing what looked like a trail on the left, so I decided to go left.

 

 

The trail faded away and I ended up scrambling up rocky slopes to around 9650 ft where I had to do a real climb. Being all alone and having had no radio contact with Kris for hours, I decided not to go any more.

 

 

 

 

Lake Tahoe had finally come to view.

 

 

It was 1:05 PM when I decided to turn around. Went down a little to a spot where there was a big flat rock I could sit on. I had cell phone connection but could not reach Kris. I called my wife at the house and told her where I was. Sat there to eat and rest.

Fontanillis Lake.

 

 

Zoomed view of Lake Tahoe.

 

 

Began to walk back toward Dicks Pass. Half Moon and Susie Lakes.

 

 

Reached Dicks Pass at 1:50 PM, 9.52 miles. A few people were there. After a short rest, I was back on the Pacific Crest Trail going down the way I had come up.

Susie Lake.

 

 

Pyramid Peak.

 

 

Ralston Peak with Keiths Dome in front of it.

 

 

 

Pyramid Peak, Mt. Agassiz and Mt. Price.

 

 

Looking back at Dicks Peak.

 

 

 

Cracked Crag and Susie Lake.

 

 

At 2:50 PM, 11.64 miles and 8290 ft elevation, I reached the junction with the Gilmore Lake Trail. Sat there for a few minutes. Still no radio connection with Kris. I then continued to follow the trail down into Glen Alpine Creek Canyon. Was running into people more frequently.

View toward Echo and Angora Peaks.

 

 

Keiths Dome.

 

 

Cracked Crag.

 

 

At 3:49 PM and 13.49 miles, I suddenly reached Kris who was sitting there waiting for me. I had told him that I would be coming down this trail, so he had hiked up to wait for me.

More views to Echo and Angora Peaks.

 

 

The trail then turned into an abandoned dirt road. Waterfall.

 

 

Reached trailhead at 5.04 PM and 15.81 miles.

Images

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