Eagle Falls

Halfway up the granite steps, I stopped for a breather. More rock stairs carved into this mountain loomed ahead. Surely it would flatten out soon.

A hiker descended.

“You’re almost there,” she said. “It’s all straight up, but only about a half hour left.”

My soul wilted. A half hour’s climb? I looked at my companions. There was half-hearted eye contact. Nothing to do but move forward. We climbed.

Eagle Lake is worth the pain. Up above the popular Eagle Falls hike at Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay, Eagle Lake is serene, peaceful, beautiful. It’s this type of place that keeps me hiking these days.

High granite walls surround this small mountain lake. A duck glides across the smooth surface, creating a vee-shaped wake. We spy a boat of sorts on the far shore. Huh? Someone packed a boat up here?

Ok, so some websites call this an easy walk -- not the truth consider the climb, but for most people, really not too bad at all if you pace yourself. There are a few flat spots that give you a chance to catch your breath and look around.

On this midsummer’s late morning, the heat is rising but at 6,500 feet elevation, that means we’re just touching 80 degrees. A breeze cools us.

Voices and more voices. A trail of people snake toward our lake from below. Seems it’s rush hour here. Time to go.

I let gravity have its way and the descent is easier, if you’ll forgive the trembling that’s set in my legs. We stop partway down to admire the stunning view of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe far below. It’s a great location to view one of the most beautiful parts of the 22-mile long lake.

This hike gives far more than it takes.