Dicks Pass from Fontanillis Lake

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Backpacking Fontanillis Lake

Hiking through Desolation Wilderness on The Tahoe to Yosemite / Pacific Crest Trails

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North: 2nd Jnct S. of Velmas

South: Fontanillis Lake 2

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Fontanillis Lake: Backpacking through Desolation Wilderness

After a brief climb up from the second Bayview Trail junction South of Middle Velma Lake, we come to the North Shore of Fontanillis Lake.

From this position we have a fine view of the Lake's twisting form within its granite-cased shoreline.

North Shore Fontanillis Lake

Backpacking Desolation Wilderness

Meeks Bay to North Side of Fontanillis Lake

Elevation: 8360 feet

+440' elevation increase from Middle Velma Lake.

Mileage

1.54 miles South from Middle Velma Lake.

13.86 miles South from Meeks Bay trail head.

2.97 miles South up 1030 feet to Dicks Pass from the North side of Fontanillis Lake.

14.85 miles South to Echo Lake trail head.

16.85 miles South to Echo Summit

This is roughly the halfway point of our trip across the Desolation Wilderness.

mileage and elevations

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View South from the North End of Fontanillis Lake

Looking South across Fontanillis Lake at Dicks Pass and Peak.

Dicks Pass, Fontanillis Lake in Foreground

The second mountain range behind and to the Right of Dicks Peak makes up the Southwestern side of Rockbound Valley. Note that the trail from Camper Flat can be taken South through Rockbound Valley, to rejoin our Tahoe to Yosemite - Pacific Crest Trail route on the North side of Lake Aloha via Mosquito Pass.

MAP

This is an alternative route I will eventually explore on future trips through the Desolation Wilderness. Give us some information on the Crystal Range and Rockbound Valley if you've hiked this route.

I'd love to see some pictures of it.

comments-experiences-questions

Lay of the Land

Continuing South from the North Shore of Fontanillis Lake quickly exchanges our long view of this convoluted lake and its surrounding valley for delightful scenes of dense forest, unique granite, and glimpses of Fontanillis Lake through both as the trail bends away from Fontanillis Lake.

The trail parallels the Eastern shore of the lake from a couple of hundred feet above lake level. After passing by the South side of Fontanillis Lake the trail turns down towards lake level again, down towards the outlet draining from the North side of Dicks Pass into the South side of Fontanillis Lake.

The trail reaches its lowest point between Fontanillis and Dicks Lake, only to bend sharply to the Northeast for the climb up to the third Bayview Trail junction. Here is our first access to campsites around Dicks Lake.

Hiking Southbound from this lowest point along the trail between Fontanillis and Dicks Lake up to the Bayview Junction you will see numerous faint trails on your right leading to Dicks Lake campsites.


A peek through the forest at the surrounding rock valley coming off Dicks Peak.	A finger of Fontanillis Lake passes between massive granite pincers, joining the North and South sides of the lake.

Massive Granite Overhang.	Massive Granite shoreline Splashed with Algae.

Fontanillis Lake combines granite, forest, and water to create a unique atmosphere.

The Ground Underfoot, The Sky Overhead

Camp Notes: Arriving Fontanillis Lake

Location: Far South Side of Fontanillis Lake, off trail scramble down towards Lake just before beginning climb towards Dicks Lake and the third Bayview trail junction.

At the far South end of Fontanillis you can either begin climbing again to pass South of Dick Lake, or head down to Fontanillis Lake to scout out a campsite, or continue up a short way to hike into Dicks Lake.

There are nice campsites all around the Southern perimeter of Fontanillis Lake.

General Conditions

Sunset, Late September 7:08 pm or so

Temp before Sunset: Mid-50's

No weather, no mosquitoes: no tent

"or so" note: I record the Sunrise/Sunset times and compass points, the time of the transit of the Sun, and the Moon Phases for the day each trip begins as the header of my journal.

This allows me to use the Sun as a compass and a clock.

Sun, Compass, and Map

The astronomical times I record reflect time on the start day of the trip. In fact, each subsequent day the Sunset and Sunrise times change, so my accuracy diminishes slightly every day.

The transit time of the sun across the N-S line (always Noon) stays very consistent during each season.

For long trips I record the times of sunrise and set at five day intervals, or carefully note the daily rate of change to adjust my original figures.

The rate of change is up to a minute a day for both Sunrise and Sunset. Using this system I can be very accurate at telling time and direction. Unless it gets cloudy!

When it is cloudy you can use your compass to locate the places in the sky the sun should be, in the hopes the sun will appear at least momentarily to allow you to accurately establish the time, and the time to Noon or Sunset.

Forget watches and Global Positioning Systems.

These self-contained practices using astronomical information for clock and compass help keep me orientated. When these practices are combined with map reading and alignment of local terrain as you travel, you can maintain a precise understanding of your location in time and space without electric devices.

You were designed with these fundamental abilities. You just need to find them again.

Astronomical Information

Looking towards tomorrow's Hike: Dicks Pass

The Extent and Terrain of Fontanillis Lake Reveals itself.

Fontanillis Lake in foreground, Dicks Pass in back

Dicks Pass and Dicks Peak draped in late afternoon shadows viewed from the North end of Fontanillis Lake. Dicks Pass is the low point in the ridge line, with Dicks Peak rising to its Right.

This valley contains both Dicks and Fontanillis Lakes which make up the upper part of the Eagle Creek drainage through the Velma Lakes.

North: 2nd Jnct S. of Velmas South: Fontanillis Lake 2

Backpacking to Fontanillis Lake

Backpacking 400 feet up and 1.17 miles past the second Bayview/Eagle Falls junction (South of Middle Velma Lake) brings you up to the Northern end of Fontanillis Lake. From here you can see your next obstacle to the South: Dicks Pass. Dicks Pass is the Southern exit out of the valley holding Fontanillis and Dicks Lakes.

After a brief hike South along the Northern tongue of Fontanillis Lake, the trail climbs over a shoulder of the mountain before coming back down towards the South side of the lake.

As the shadow across the above pictures indicate, the sun was sinking towards sunset, but I figured I had enough light to make it to the South end of Fontanillis Lake.

comments?

Backpacking Topo Map: Lake Genevieve to Phipps Pass Backpacking Topo Map: Phipps Pass to Susie Lake

Miles and Elevations

Next page: Fontanillis Lake 2

Backpacking North

Trail Guide

2nd Junction S. of Velma

Backpacking South

Trail Guide

Fontanillis Lake 2