Duck Lake Pass

We rose early the next day to tackle the hike to Duck Lake, on the far side of Duck Pass, elevation 10,800. It’s not so breathtaking when the trailhead from the end of Lake Mary Road starts at 9,120. After a couple of miles of shaded switchbacks, we hiked alongside a series of lovely alpine lakes in a glacial basin. After  Barney Lake, the trail climbs up and over the pass, offering stunning views behind us. We met mostly backpackers headed for the high country, but also a group of outdoor educators fooling around on a free day, and a dedicated trio of trail runners from the SF Peninsula training to summit Mount Whitney two days hence. One of the three was headed to Switzerland after Whitney to peak-bag Jungfrau, Eiger, or Moench from base camp in Zermatt. Now that earns him bragging rights when he gets back to sea level in San Carlos. We admired actual children backpacking down from Pika Lake: four blond brothers toting fishing poles and hiking way ahead of their father who was carrying the gear of the smallest boy, who looked about eight. JG received many admiring compliments on his sun-protective nose piece attached to his sunglasses. I accquired the schnozguard for him after his second Mohs procedure, code-named “Dig We Must.” He looks like he’s part Tin Man, because the schnozguard  is silver. Google  “Nozkon” if you want one, too. 

I could rhapsodize about the Eastern Sierra scenery: water features, rock formations, old trees, wildflowers, mountains, clouds, trail. Instead I’ll invoke the Psalm: the mountains are my Church. I receive spiritual refreshment from wild spaces. I think I hear God better in the mountain wind. “I lift up mine eyes to the mountains whence comes my help,” wrote the Psalmist. If I lift up mine eyes while hiking, mine feet may stumble, but I do try to stop and smell the Horse Mint. Alpine adventures rock.