Leon Turnbull Photography

I slept well the first night. I got up early and made my breakfast. The other backpacker (who was going back towards the trailhead) had already left but the one going in my direction was still sleeping.

As I was about to put on my backpack and hit the trail a couple deer came right up to me, within 6 or 7 feet of me. They had no worries about me being there whatsoever and began to lick my pee. Yes, you read that correctly. It was so hilarious. I watched them and talked to them for about 10 minutes. They were still licking it after I put on my backpack and left.

I was the first to arrive at Hamilton Lake at around noon and snagged the best campsite at the lake. Am I greedy? You can call me that if you wish, and I suppose I am, but there are only two or three really good spots at this lake and it is a very popular place to camp (there are a few other spots that are not as nice). Speaking of which … there is a one night limit for camping at Hamilton Lake because it is such a popular spot. I saw at least a couple people going up from Hamilton to Precipice Lake for a day hike and then were staying at Hamilton Lake for two nights which is against the rules. This is NOT OK, folks. There will be more hikers coming up the next day and if you have taken one of the better campsite locations then they will have no place to camp (or have to camp in one of the crappier locations). If you are going to do this you should at least have the courtesy of taking one of the crappier spots. The rules apply to everyone and are there for good reasons.

The solo backpacker doing the entire HST and the girls came up to the lake in the afternoon. The other couple never showed up so I guess they ended up going somewhere else but another guy came up later, so there were three other groups at the lake. On the other side of the pass I could see storm clouds slowly but surely building. At 3PM they made their move and started moving in towards us. Something wicked this way comes. I decided to make my dinner quickly before the rain started. Thunder started to boom as I ate and the rain started just as I finished eating. I quickly cleaned up and got everything and myself into the tent just in the nick of time. This storm was absolutely intense! For 30 minutes the wind was howling against the tent and the rain was pelting down. It was the craziest thunderstorm I have ever experienced while camping (there was one we had while family camping in Oregon that may have been worse). I was certain the wind was going to tear my tent apart but the Zpacks held up incredibly well. Everything was dry and held together.

The storm finally abated and I stuck my head out of the tent. Blue sky! Were the girls ok? I thought I should be nice and check on them. They did not even have their tents setup yet when the storm started and it was such an intense storm and came on quickly. Afterwards, I remembered reading something recently that was talking about backpacking girls not needing any help from men. I think that is bull crap. Everyone needs help sometimes, both men and women. Can’t a man be kind anymore? All I did is ask if they were ok. I’m not sure if they thinking about that article, I don’t think so, but who knows maybe they were thinking it.

After the storm I went exploring for a bit and when I got back I saw the girls in my campsite taking photos of something. It was a marmot, apparently trying to get into my bear canister. I must have seen about 1000 marmots on this trip (give or take). They were absolutely everywhere and some of them were fearless. Crazy little things. I remember when my daughter was a baby and one tried to kill her (I’m joking but interestingly that was also in Sequoia NP).

In the evening I photographed four waterfalls, the two lower falls, the middle falls, and this one at upper Hamilton Lake at sunset. I was really happy with how these waterfalls were flowing. It sure made up for the previous day. Good night day 2.