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Paradise Lake S TO RY & P H OTO S BY P R I YA H UT N E R
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ackpacking is a beautiful way to commune with nature. It isn’t always easy. Carrying weight on your back with supplies for a few nights and hiking uphill is an art. If you have too much in your pack, it can make or break your adventure. I planned a quick weekend trip for two nights with friends Karen Barchas and Kat Terrey to Paradise Lake. It’s a 7.5-mile hike to Paradise Lake, 15 miles out and back. The trailhead is located at the Boreal exit off I-80 near Donner Summit. Our plan was to depart early on Friday morning to avoid the heat, set up camp and chill out away from it all. Each of us would bring our own lunch and snacks. I was in charge
A little climb up, the beautiful alpine lake opened before us: Paradise. We were tired but continued on to find a campsite. of dinner. I purchased grilled chicken pad Thai and al pastor with rice from Tahoe Mountain Sports. Kat handled breakfast (oatmeal) and Karen supplied chocolate pudding with graham crackers for dessert. I called Karen Zazzi, an expert through hiker, to discuss packing my new Gossamer Mariposa backpack. She had recently completed 800 miles on The Arizona Trail and was preparing for another 800 on The Appalachian Trail. Her counsel was direct: “Pack light and pick and choose carefully what goes in your pack.” Sleeping bag first, clothing next, my lightweight sleep pad packed at the bottom, plastic bags with personal items next and food was packed in the back of the pack by my back. She recommended that the tent and rain jacket be on top in the event of weather. She also mentioned that the lightweight chair I wanted to bring wasn’t meant to be carried in this type of pack. She suggested that I pack the chair in the long side pocket along with my tent poles.
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My water bottle should go in the opposite side pocket. Personally, I prefer a bladder, but I thought I’d try this method. Headlamp, snacks, toilet paper and the like were at the top in an easy-to-access compartment. The waist belt held my phone for photos and snacks for the trail. Once the backpack was packed, I slipped it on. It felt to be around 25 pounds. I hydrated the night before and the morning of the hike, so I didn’t have to carry a lot of water.
TOP TO BOTTOM: Karen Barchas and Priya Hutner along the trail; Wildflowers in full swing: My tent at sunrise on Paradise Lake.
We hit the trail at 10:40 a.m., a bit later than expected. The weather was on our side. There was a lovely cloud cover and the temperature was in the mid-70s. We started our hike along a fire road. Castle Peak loomed to the east. Its craggy rock formation was impressive. It was a quiet morning and there were fewer hikers than expected. Adjustments were made to the packs as we started a steady climb and followed the Pacific Crest Trail. Indian paintbrush, cornflowers, purple lupine and all manner of wildflowers were in full bloom as we passed the Peter Grubb Hut. There were streams and springs along the way. Granite slabs and expansive vistas spread out on both sides of the trail. After a quick stop for lunch, we continued on our way. At about 5 miles into our hike, the skies darkened and thunder rumbled overhead. We needed to pick up our pace. The skies
held for a bit; at 6 miles, we started our descent to the valley floor. The woods were lush and I was surprised at how green it was. It was also humid. A sign on the tree denoted Unconformity Springs. A little farther on the trail, a sign pointed the way to Paradise Lake. We turned right onto the trail. It started to drizzle. I felt my neck straining under the weight of my pack and the first backpack of the season. The terrain shifted as we climbed the granite slabs; the lake was close. A little climb up, the beautiful alpine lake opened before us: Paradise. We were tired but continued on to find a campsite. We headed to the east side of the lake and found a perfect spot. We set up our tents and jumped in the lake. Dinner and bed came early. Saturday, we hiked around the lake and looked down on Warren Lake. We swam to the many granite islands that dotted the lake and warmed ourselves on the granite slabs. Sunday morning, we ate breakfast and broke camp. We started the hike back to the car. It was an 8.11-mile hike out and uphill out of the gate. I recommend starting early if you go.
THE TRAIL 15 miles RT | Moderate-Strenuous
Paradise Lake is considered a moderate hike, but if you’re not accustomed to the altitude or haven’t hiked with 30 pounds on your back, it might be more challenging than moderate. It was a beautiful respite and our trip was lovely in every way. | alltrails.com
