(Who recognizes this quote? – Disclaimer: I did change the spelling of the name)
Although there were no mosquitoes at my camp the previous evening, they came out to feast in the morning. It was a terrible nightmare at Lewis Lakes Creek. I should go back to sleep. Argh.
When I arrived at camp at 2PM the previous day I found the crossing of Summit Creek to be very easy and mellow. I would have to cross it to see the waterfall. By evening, the creek had risen at least one foot and now it was flowing very swift and strong. The water was up to my thighs and had a strong pull. I crossed it, but just barely. However, in order to see the Lewis Lakes Falls you need to cross that stream as well. That creek was completely uncrossable in the evening. I would have to try again in the morning. Hopefully it would be down enough by then.
In the morning both creeks were down, although not as much as I hoped. It was enough. I was able to cross the Lewis Lakes creek (not easily) and made it up to the waterfall. Lewis Lakes Falls is 20 ft. high and it is incredibly pretty. It is located in a gorgeous setting with a stunning green pool and rising cliffs above. It was a short but fun adventure to reach it.
I returned to camp, packed up, and headed back down the trail. It was about 8 miles and took me 3.5 hours, most of it downhill. I forgot to mention earlier that this trail is absolutely horrible. Much of it is very rocky and has awful built in rock steps. I hate this. It is 3 times as hard lifting your legs over these rock steps. Some of the steps were huge. Not to mention that I almost tripped on the rocks and twisted my ankle many times. I think some of these rocky steps may be necessary on a trail like this but much of it is pointless. Why couldn’t they just build the trail properly? Anyhow, I arrived back at the car at 10:30am and drove home. It was a very grand but buggy adventure in the Emigrant Wilderness.
