Because they were camped at the Convict Lake Campground Dave and Jan decided to take the Convict Lake Trail up to Mildred Lake and, perhaps, Dorothy Lake (though they didn’t make it that far this time around).  The trail led into some beautiful country, but it was complicated by its 2,500 ft. climb!  It began at the west end of Convict Lake where the Forest Service build a boardwalk because water flowing from the mountains would make crossing challenging without some elevation from the forest floor.

The upward climb began at the trail sign at the northwest corner of the lake.

The air was fairly clear of smoke coming over the mountain range from the fire in Yosemite National Park as the trail headed upward into the mountains.

Parts of the trail were obscured because of rock-slides from higher elevations.

As the valley ahead began taking shape the scenery became increasingly beautiful – at least for those who enjoy mountain scenery (as Dave and Jan do).

Dave and Jan are always fascinated by the geology of the mountains.  What, apart from the flood of Noah’s day, could account for the folded strata of metamorphic rock, some of it at a 90 degree angle from the valley floor below?

The air became clearer and the sky more appealing as the trail climbed.

Things became more challenging when the trail arrived at a bridge which was washed out years back and never rebuilt – whose cement abutments you can see if you look closely at the photo below.

Because a side-stream fed into the main stream just above the missing bridge, two stream crossing were required to continue the hike up the valley.

On the far side of the creek the trail started to look a little more like a mountain goat path than a hiking trail intended for humans.  A misstep on the valley side could have provided quite a tumble down the talus slopes.

The first view at Mildred Lake began with a small side-lake at the trail’s top.

Views of the terrain surrounding the lake made the hike very worthwhile.

The hike back down the trail was a challenge to the knees, but scenic nevertheless.  Asked what she wanted to do on her birthday, Jan said she wanted to take a hike – and she certainly did!

The day ended with a tasty steak birthday dinner at Tom’s Place – a very colorful, rustic resort town with a highway crossing named after it along California’s Highway 395.  Dave and Jan always enjoy their times of refreshing in the mountains which they see as evidence of the creative genius of the Lord – “Who establishes the mountains by His strength, being girded with might” (Psalm 65:6).