Labor Day Weekend Hike

Since we couldn't coordinate Pam and F into the same hike, we went hiking with them seperately. The Brokeoff Mtn hike was already blogged about. Sunday of Labor Day weekend we drove up to the trailhead for the Loch Levan Lake system. We finally left here about 9.30 am and it only took us two hours to get there, even with a quick stop in Loomis at the Raley's.
There were lots of cars at the trailhead, but nonetheless, it didn't really seem that crowded on the trail. Because we got a late start we were passed by a number of people hiking back out. Compared to the hike up Brokeoff Mtn, the trail was much rougher, with lots of rocks and roots to make the the path underfoot more treacherous. We shared our 2 sets of hiking poles among the three of us and I was glad I was not too proud to take two poles and leave Pam and Ted to take one pole each.
We found a nice spot for a late lunch and a snooze at lower Loch Levan Lake, and then hiked up to upper Loch Levan Lake. We passed this silly dog on the trail, it is wearing only three shoes because it has lost the other shoe. We all went swimming when we reached the upper lake. The water was a good temperature for a dip. Ted went way out, but the water was really shallow, at least in the end of the lake that we were on. Started back down the trail at 5 pm and got back to the car about 7.35 pm. We did a quick clothes change and a few stretches and then headed down the mountains. We reached Auburn at about 8.50 pm. Luckily there is a brew house in Old Town Auburn that is open late, so we were able to get dinner. The food was unremarkable, but at that point we weren't complaining. Got home around 11 pm.