Day 1: Echo Summit to Susie Lake
Breakfast at Denny's (really!?!?!? There was a discount with Motel 6 and I had to walk by it to the Forest Service office anyway), then picked up permits at the USFS office. Returning to the motel, I saddled up and walked down to the Y transit center (the Y of US 50, and CA 89, but there's another major road there...). After trying for 20-30 minutes to hitch a ride up US 50 to Echo Summit, I finally called a shuttle service recommended by the folks at the USFS (ShuttleIt!) as much less expensive than a taxi. He showed up within 15 minutes and gave me a ride up to Echo Summit for $20 (apparently the usual rate is $30, but he said he'd do $20 because it was just one). According to him the aspen are late this year, so I'll get a better show than I would most years at this time.
Hit the trail at Echo Summit at noon under sunny skies with a few clouds. Easy walking, good local views around Echo Lake. Lunch above Tamarack Lake in the distance. Lake Aloha is spectacular; each of the smaller lakes is baeutiful too. The combination of granite and water is stunning. It was blustery all day, must be weather coming. Good views at Heather and Susie Lakes. Camp below Susie Lake. (Bear warning for Gilmore Lake, my original plan, the later start meant dark is approaching, and the clouds have been closing in all afternoon.) Showers from 7pm. I saw a few pairs and threes of backpackers today, all exiting Desolation Wilderness. Nobody else from Aloha to here.