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Secret Lake

Leavitt Meadow is on the eastern flank of California's Sierra-Nevada Mountain Range.You take Hwy. 108 to get there. They close the road in the winter and a road barrier stays up until the snow melts in the spring.

It was mid-April and the barrier was still up when I decided to drive off the road and around it. There was a small risk of getting stuck; but I knew the area and was driving a 4-wheel drive vehicle.

The trail out of Leavitt Meadow leads to a series of pretty lakes -- Secret, Roosevelt, Lane and Fremont -- and I wanted to see them while the mountains were still covered with snow. .

My dog Steve and I crossed a narrow bridge over the West Walker River and began walking the trail. It was a clear and warm and the river was high from the rapid snow melt. Sections of the trail were still under snow, but I'd been there before and didn't think I needed a topographic map. I watched for tree markers and trusted my memory.

When we got to the first lake, I wasn't sure if it was Roosevelt or Secret. I decided to call it "Secret Lake" in my sketchbook notes. The water was clear and cold and reflected the surrounding snowy mountains like a mirror.

Steve sprinted across snow drifts and plunged into the water. I found a sunny spot on a granite boulder where I could sit and sketch. Tranquility, or so I thought. Every time I would draw a few lines, Steve would nudge me until I tossed another stick into the lake. No respect for the creative process.

When my sketch was finished, we ate crackers and cheddar before starting back to the campground. At a trail fork, I took the wrong turn and went about a half-mile off course before realizing the mistake. Next time I'll bring a map, familiar country or not. Thankfully, even a dog as smart as Steve can't say, "I told you so."

In a couple of hours, we were back on the ridge above the campground. Our faithful Ford Bronco was below, the only vehicle in the mostly snow covered parking lot. There had been no other hikers, campers, hunters or fishermen. We had the mountains to ourselves and it was great.

April 18, 1992

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