I squeezed in another backpacking trip, again with Andrew and Ruffie. Having one less night than our three at Lake Aloha last month and even less time to reserve permits, we decided Thursday to check out a place not requiring reservations and settled on Gianelli Trail in the Stanislaus National Forest. We visited several lakes and hiked about 18.5 miles and 3800 feet of elevation across two days. I also got to experience locking my keys in my car for the first time, in a remote location. It was a great weekend!

This time I did a little better job packing, but I still have some work to do to get my weight down. I brought less clothing, forgoing my jacket and rain coat. For a two night trip for two people and a dog, I still ended up with too much food, 13 pounds, plus a 2.5 pound bear can. With that inside my bag, my full pack weight with my Nikon Z7ii and lens was exactly 45 pounds.

13 pounds of food and a 2.5 pound bear can.

We headed southeast from Oakland on Interstate 580 to 205, got on California Highway 120 and drove through Manteca, across the Stanislaus River into Oakdale, and then at the Yosemite Junction headed north on Highway 108. I think this was my first time heading that way, exciting. What was not exciting was the outside temperature was up to 105 degrees F for much of the drive. We stopped in Jamestown for fuel at C & C Mini Mart, 11.7 gallons at $4.459 per gallon. Then we headed another 30 miles up the highway into the Stanislaus National Forest and stopped at the Summit Ranger Station, situated right where we needed to turn off the highway.

Stopping at Summit Ranger Station to self issue our wilderness permit.

Having closed at 16:00 almost 5 hours prior, Andrew self issued our permit as described on the Forest Service web page for the Gianelli Trailhead. By this time the temperature at least had dropped to around 80. We continued on Pinecrest to Dodge Ridge, took that curvy but well paved road to connect to Crabtree to Forest Route 4N26 and then 4N27. That last segment was native surface and bumpy, but not terrible, even in the dark.

Once we got to Gianelli Trailhead, I could see there were around 20 cars parked all around. This made me think we’d be unlikely to find an easy place to camp for the night near the trailhead. We drove through and around to head up the other route that connects there, 4N34. This one made use of my four wheel drive much more, but we pulled off a few hundred feet up the road after we spotted a decent clearing big enough for the car and our tent. We found a gently sloping but sufficient area and set up the tent, and then Andrew got to cooking some ramen. I would later realize we should have spent more time precisely squaring the tent with the slope. There were a lot of flies and mosquitos, so we needed to apply bug spray and wear long sleeves. We ate at about 22:00, and it was delicious. I then stashed our bear can across the roadway, and we were in bed within an hour.

Our first night, we crashed along Forest Route 4N34 near Gianelli Trailhead.

Sleeping was not very easy, at least for me. In my Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 20 sleeping bag with its ripstop polyester sides on the Silnylon floor of my Durston X-Mid Pro 2+ tent, I was sliding downhill and sideways into the corner of the tent. I put Ruffie down there to block my descent, but his fur also slid, and he rolled onto the sidewall. The tent structure at least held till morning, barely, but I kept rolling onto my side throughout the night to try to stop sliding. It was also quite warm, and I didn’t have my water accessible in the tent, which caused my throat to dry. I should have just gotten up to get a drink, but was lazy. The discomfort at least allowed me plenty of time to listen for bears. There were frequent sounds from sticks falling from trees onto the ground covered with dead branches and twigs. I did get some sleep, though I woke at one point to the sound of cracking sticks heading in our direction. I woke Andrew, listened more, and he started clapping loudly once he heard it, too. Whatever it was stopped approaching and then disappeared.

Our experience sleeping on a slant was not the best, as everything was sliding downhill and affected the structural stability of the ultralight tent.

We woke up to some light rain, and waited for it to stop and dry before packing up. For breakfast we ate some of my trail mix and the entire pack of blueberries, a few of which had started molding already. I’ll attempt to dehydrate the blueberries next time. Then we put everything back in the Jeep and drove back down to the trailhead parking area. I ended up squeezing next to a truck, else I would have had to park down the road.

A makeshift trail marker for Gianelli Trail, what the Forest Service calls 20E14 Burst Rock.

We started our hike at 10:53, up what is labeled on CalTopo as the Gianelli Trail, but what the Forest Service calls 20E14 Burst Rock trail. The first half was working our way uphill through the trees and the flies. Then we reached a more open, rocky area and passed Burst Rock. We made a few small diversions to look at the valley to the north where runs the South Fork Stanislaus River, which feeds into Pinecrest Lake six miles to the west.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Gianelli Trail toward Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

After hiking less than two hours and 2.75 miles, we reached the Lake Powell Spur 20E14A and decided to check how many campers were set up there. Though we had only passed a handful of hikers along the way, based on the number of cars at the trailhead I assumed it would be very busy. I was wrong. We didn’t see anyone around the lake at all.

We decided to set up camp there and eat lunch, and then continue on to Chewing Gum Lake as a day hike. Andrew made some sandwiches with smeared avocado, mozzarella, salami, lettuce and tomato. This time I bought larger burger type buns instead of the small English muffins I usually get. I tried to find better sandwich bread, but the small Safeway I went to had a small selection. Anyway, the bigger buns were nice and satisfying for the sandwiches.

Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Ruffie got to go full on swimming while we refilled our waters. I threw some pine cones into the lake and told him to fetch, and he did! It was adorable. He looked like he was unsure if he could get there, but he just pushed through that fear into the water and managed to swim. He didn’t even do any slapping above the water that some dogs do when they are new to swimming.

Hiking from Lake Powell to Chewing Gum Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness.

At about 14:30 we headed back up the trail to check out the other lake. We followed the trail around Peak 9280, and didn’t realize at the time we were looking to the southeast at a valley containing the very lake we headed to. It was a beautiful area with fascinating granite ridges across the way painted with greens and browns and blacks. We could see dark rain clouds off in the distance. We also kept hearing strange noises that at first I thought were the sounds of aircraft in the distance. It then became more obvious it was thunder, something I haven’t heard in a long time living in the Bay Area!

Hiking from Lake Powell to Chewing Gum Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness.

We kept going, and the trail descended into a wetter forested area where it forked. We took south the “Chewing Gum Lake trail”, officially 19E21 Lake Valley trail. This took us through a valley of purple flowers and then lovely marsh land — muddy, but not too muddy. It felt overdo but we eventually reached the lake. Several tents were immediately visible, and some folks were meandering around nearby.

Chewing Gum Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Chewing Gum Lake in the Emigrant Wilderness.

And then it began to rain, pretty hard. We rushed away from the lake to shelter under some huge trees. Then there was lightning, pretty exciting! We decided to keep going south after refilling our waters. The rain kept coming, mostly lightly. We found some snow, which Ruffie again lay down on and started licking. We set a target of visiting a rock we saw off in the not too far distance, and kept walking. Once we climbed up to it, the rain came harder, and then it started hailing! Small ice balls, probably a quarter of an inch. Thankfully we were at the big rock that provided a sliver of shelter for us to wait out the rain. It took at least 20 minutes, and we were getting cold and wet.

Hiking along Chewing Gum Lake trail south of the lake, in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Aplite dykes running through the granite, or granodiorite. Hiking along Chewing Gum Lake trail south of the lake, in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Chewing Gum Lake trail south of the lake, in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Chewing Gum Lake trail south of the lake, in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Chewing Gum Lake trail south of the lake, in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Hiking along Chewing Gum Lake trail south of the lake, in the Emigrant Wilderness.

We decided to start heading back even though the rain was still going, albeit lighter. I didn’t take many photos on the return hike, as I was focused on getting back and in my sleeping bag!

Hiking along Chewing Gum Lake trail south of the lake, in the Emigrant Wilderness.

About halfway back, the sun actually partially came out, and it warmed up. I don’t quite remember but think it got cold and rainy again by the time we were back at about 19:00. Andrew made some hot and spicy ramen, which was delicious, despite that I had forgotten the eggs I specifically hard boiled for this trip.

Andrew added cheese to the ramen and said it was something they might do in Korea. I can't object to that. At our campsite near Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

At our campsite near Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

At our campsite near Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

We were ready for bed by 20:00 — early! I thought we would just nap, but it turned into sleeping through the night. It was much more comfortable now that we were on a level surface! I started Ruffie outside the tent under the rain fly, but he wanted to then be actually outside, where I couldn’t see him, so I brought him in. He wasn’t too in the way at my feet, but did end up sleeping between us at some point. He’s such a sweet boy though.

At our campsite near Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Sunday morning we woke well rested at around 8, but it was raining, harder than the morning prior. We waited in the tent till around 10 when the rain stopped, and we packed up. I figured it was fine if the tent was wet, as I’d clean it at home soon enough.

Speaking of cleaning at home, Ruffie got a bunch of sap stuck in his fur at our campsite near Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Aplite dykes running through the granite, or granodiorite at our campsite near Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

We explored the lake some more, and spent about 15 minutes observing a mother duck and her 10 kids who got separated around a rock peninsula as they crossed the lake. It was painful to watch her fly between the groups trying to gather everyone — you could hear the frustration in her quacking — and yet the two miscreants kept swimming further away from the rest. We had to tear ourselves away and get hiking.

Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

Lake Powell in the Emigrant Wilderness.

By noon we reached the car, and began our drive out.

Many vehicles were parked near Gianelli Trailhead, Stanislaus National Forest.

GPS track log

We decided to head further east on Highway 108 to attempt to hike to Leavitt Peak via Blue Canyon Lake, which we figured would be shorter than going in through the Pacific Crest Trail route. The latter would have been around 11 miles apparently, but it looked on the map like we could walk up from Blue Canyon Lake in almost half that many miles. The drive would be about an hour and a half, part of which we wouldn’t need to redo on the way back. Andrew made more sandwiches as we drove, to eat once we got to the next trailhead.

About halfway there on 108, we saw a sign for a vista point and decided to stop. It was both good and bad we did! Donnell Vista ended up being quite a fantastic vista, looking over a reservoir called Donnell Lake, fed by the Middle Fork Stanislaus River. We spent about 20 minutes walking around there and then went back to the car.

Donnell Vista, Stanislaus National Forest.

Donnell Vista, Stanislaus National Forest.

Donnell Vista, Stanislaus National Forest.

Donnell Vista, Stanislaus National Forest.

Donnell Vista, Stanislaus National Forest.

Then my stomach sunk. The doors didn’t unlock upon my touching the driver seat handle, whereupon I realized I never took the key out of my backpack when we got to the car. Somehow the car detected the key when we left the trailhead, as it allowed the engine to start. But it apparently no longer detected the key inside when it let me lock the door from the outside. I wasn’t sure if the car battery had died or what. We spent a few minutes considering what to do. I speculated the backpack may have settled into a position where the key signal was blocked as we drove, and maybe we could rock the car hard enough to move it more. That was unsuccessful. Then Andrew mentioned he has AAA coverage through his father, though he hadn’t used it before. He also had some cell signal, which I did not. So we decided to give that a try. He suspected it would be free in any case, though we were quite remote. After some time on hold and while the agents tried to figure out which jurisdiction we were in, we got a truck assigned. We were told 75 minutes, though it ended up being about two hours.

Donnell Vista, Stanislaus National Forest.

I was very grateful, if frustrated with myself. I tried to use the restroom a few times while we were there, but I guess I may have been constipated. The unlock happened within minutes of the driver’s arrival, in a tow truck I am glad we didn’t need to make use of. He used the air pump bag method to pry the door open and then a long green rod. I was surprised they would just unlock a car without establishing ownership and permission. Alas, it was done, and we could head out again.

Donnell Vista, Stanislaus National Forest.

Given it was after 16:00, we decided not to embark on the possibly eight or 10 mile hike to Leavitt Peak, and instead we headed back down to walk around Pinecrest Lake, which has a national trail of three or four miles following the perimeter. We easily found a day use parking lot, which was almost completely full but for a few spots. We parked and ate the sandwiches. Then I realized one or two more gaffes related to leaving in a hurry after the unlock job was done. First I found my camera on the roof, and I did not specifically remember throwing it up there just minutes prior, but I wasn’t sure. In any case, it was fine, thankfully. Then I was pretty sure I forgot my new Garmin 67i at Donnell Vista. I had set it in the shade next to the passenger side rear wheel while we waited for the tow truck. I didn’t check that side when we were ready to go. I couldn’t remember if I set it actually under the tire, or next to it. There was a chance I smashed it when we left, or someone would take it before I returned. But given that it cost almost $500, we decided I would go get it, and Andrew and Ruffie would begin hiking clockwise around the lake. Once I got back, I’d hike the other way till I met them again.

My Garmin 67i lying the the parking lot an hour after we first drove away. Thankfully it was not smashed by my wheel and was in fact still there!

And it all worked out. I successfully retrieved the GPS, and hiked around the lake a bit more than two miles before I found Andrew and Ruffie. I was surprised I got more than halfway around the lake given I had an hourlong diversion first. I guess they spent some time enjoying an alcove. I did think I must have somehow missed them, but thankfully I didn’t turn around! Once we were reunited, we went down to the water and “swam”. It actually wasn’t deep at that spot, but we did go into the water and sat till it was up to our necks. It was fairly cold but not painful. Ruffie swam, but not willingly. We had to call him, but after some hesitation he did obey. It was pretty adorable. Then we dried off and hiked back.

Hiking on Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail in the Stanislaus National Forest.

Hiking on Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail in the Stanislaus National Forest.

Hiking on Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail in the Stanislaus National Forest.

Hiking on Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail in the Stanislaus National Forest.

Hiking on Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail in the Stanislaus National Forest.

Hiking on Pinecrest Lake National Recreation Trail in the Stanislaus National Forest.

That lake is beautiful. It’s definitely a tourist hot spot, with what seemed like hundreds of campsites for families who wanted to enjoy swimming during the day. I saw many fisherman, and even a ranger checking fishing permits. I passed one dude explaining that he had only ever gotten a permit checked twice, including that moment. The ranger asked what the other time was — I couldn’t make out the response, but I did wonder if that man was about to get a ticket, a warning, or just making conversation but actually had his permit.

By 19:45, we reached the car and headed out with the windows down to clear out the wet dog lake smell. About two hours later, we stopped at In-N-Out in Manteca. We ate outside and got to listen to a table of extremely enthusiastic Bible people, loud but entertaining — especially as they talked about not swearing while the next table over conversed in 90 percent swearing. I got an extra fries to give something to Ruffie. He didn’t eat many, but at least could feel included. We finished the drive, Andrew went home, and we all slept well, I am sure.

Eating outside In-N-Out in Manteca, California.