Tuolumne County Trailhead: August 2021

Leigh and Joe rescue a dog that
fell down a 35' mineshaft
on the Columbia College Campus.
Leigh received grateful
poochie kisses when she reached
the forlorn doggo.

We've all seen the funny motto, "Support Search and Rescue -- Get Lost." This month's TCT is all about how NOT to need to call SAR; when you SHOULD call SAR; what happens while you wait for SAR; and the various ways SAR might extricate you. I spoke with the effervescent Leigh Spokas and her husband Joe Manlove, both Tuolumne County Search and Rescue volunteers, for the low-down on SAR. Leigh's enthusiasm audibly dampens when recounting Joe's recent accident and rescue (by Leigh and his fellow SAR teammates) on Table Mountain.

Give a listen: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1THO5HQHGGjBiXkO1GP2vTg1-7AfAtAQ1/view?usp=sharing

Here is a link to Leigh's business, California Climbing Company: https://www.californiaclimbingcompany.com/

Here is a link to the website of Tuolumne County Search and Rescue: https://www.tcsar.us/

This month's hike recommendations all share the same trailhead off of Leavitt Lake Road. To get here, you'll have to head over Sonora Pass. Leavitt Lake Road is about 3.5 miles east of the top of the pass. It's a hard right into a dirt parking area. From here it's about three miles to Leavitt Lake. Technically, it's possible to drive to the lake ... BUT ... after one mile and a sometimes wet creek crossing, the road becomes deeply rutted requiring high clearance 4WD, plenty of experience driving such roads, AND nerves of steel! I prefer to walk the road and watch the high-jinks of drivers braver than me. I mentioned the first mile is drivable -- and parkable in places. You can reduce your hike distance by driving in a bit. But DON'T make the hard left to cross the creek -- the road condition deteriorates here!

Anyway -- once you get out of your vehicle, head on up Leavitt Lake Road. For the moderately easy walk, stop at Leavitt Lake, rest and explore a bit, then head back. For the moderate hike, go to Leavitt Lake then head east up to Ski Lake (or west to Koenig Lake). For the challenging hike, go to Leavitt Lake then visit BOTH Ski and Koenig Lakes OR make it epic and hike up the Pacific Crest Trail, go north and summit Leavitt Peak (11,500', the highest point in the Emigrant Wilderness).

Below, I've posted a link to the AllTrails page with descriptions of the hikes up Leavitt Lake Road to Leavitt Lake and Ski Lake. This is the best resource/most accessible map and description I could find for the area. It's NOT EXACT! Some notes on these routes:

The "Leavitt Lake Trail," 7.8 miles, includes an extension past the lake almost to the junction with the Pacific Crest Trail. It also makes a partial loop if you're looking for some variety on your way back on the jeep road. Our moderately easy hike is this trail up to the lake only -- a round trip of slightly under 6 miles. The mileage includes walking from the parking area at the intersection of Highway 108 and Leavitt Lake Rd.

The "Ski Lake and Leavitt Lake" trail, 9.2 miles, makes a figure-8 loop first out to Ski Lake via a high trail then taking a low trail to almost circumscribe Leavitt Lake before returning to the jeep road. Our moderate hike doesn't include the loops and is a 7.5 mile round trip. The mileage includes walking from the parking area at the intersection of Highway 108 and Leavitt Lake Rd.

To get to the junction with the PCT, go about 1.65 miles south through the camping area on east side of Leavitt Lake heading uphill on the warren of roads and trails. To get to Leavitt Peak, go north on the PCT another 3-ish miles to the Leavitt Peak spur trail on your left. If you want to summit, its a scree-ful scramble of another 2/3 of a mile to the top. All told, to summit Leavitt Peak from this approach, the hike is 8.32 miles ONE WAY. The mileage includes walking from the parking area at the intersection of Highway 108 and Leavitt Lake Rd. (A shorter, more direct approach to Leavitt Peak is to start at Sonora Pass and hike south on the PCT -- about 6 miles ONE WAY.)

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/us/california/coleville?b_tl_lat=38.31228250124087&b_tl_lng=-119.60332831141446&b_br_lat=38.29843067517322&b_br_lng=-119.59035252203161

Here are some photos from the Leavitt Lake area to stimulate your hiking bone...