Day 3
6.2 miles, 2910ft loss. Pretty much all downhill from here, and this time we correctly navigate by Tucks Pot, keeping the real lake in sight the whole time, and, knowing we’re on our way out, I start daydreaming about the post hike meal, a nice cheeseburger and shake in town…It helps to keep me going, as it’s a hot and dusty hike out.
All in all, an awesome hike, one that everyone should do at least once, for the effort is more than paid off when you reach the beautiful basin of Robin Lakes. It’s almost as if it’s an extension of another set of gems in the Alpine Lakes, the unmatched Enchantments, for the same rounded and ever present granite looks the same here as it does there. And, with the goats running around, it just seems that if you cross that next ridgeline, you would see the upper Enchantments.
There is one glaring difference, though. People bring their dogs here, (which, are not allowed in the Enchantments, for good reason), and this particular group of people seemed to be totally unaware of how their dogs constant barking, and chasing after the goats, was not acceptable. It’s why dogs are not allowed in certain sections of the wilderness, because they harass the local wildlife. So, please. If you must take your dog with you backpacking, fine. I don’t mind dogs, it’s great to be able to take Fido on the trail with you.
“There might not be a backcountry worth coming to anymore…”
However, make sure it’s properly socialized so it’s not barking at everything, including its own shadow, and doesn’t feel the need to chase off the goats that so many people here hike to see. That and starting campfires here next to the lake…Really? Did you not see the 4 different signs that say NO CAMPFIRES on your way to the lakes??? If everyone decided they needed a campfire, because they were just that special that they didn’t need to follow the rules, well…There might not be a backcountry worth coming to anymore… I know this may sound like a rant, but, trust me. The rules are there for a reason. Let’s have some common sense, people! There. Nuff said.
On arrival back at the car, I was sure I was going to pull bloody stumps out of my boots. I vowed, that when I returned home, I would never put these back on…As we climbed in the car, I noticed a violation tag under my wiper. What? I had the hang tab in place! I pulled it down, turned it over, and stared at it…No card, just the hang tab. When I pulled it out of the glove box, it must have fallen off, so, I was the proud recipient of a $75 ticket! Doh!!! I stopped and talked to the local volunteers at the ranger station at Fish Lake, but, he told me there was nothing he could do about it…Just one more thing to remember… Look to make sure the card is in the hang tab!!!!!