Journeys›Photograph

Late April Days by the Water at Donner Lake

·Truckee, California·#hiking#tahoe#spring#dogs#lake
A calm body of water with a sandy bank and rocks, backed by a dense forest of tall evergreen trees.

A few late April days by the water, which up here at 5,800 feet is when spring finally shows up for real. The snow is gone at lake level but the peaks across Donner Lake are still holding plenty of it, so you get bare sand and pinecones underfoot with a white ridgeline over everything.

Started in a sheltered cove where the water sat green and flat, clear enough to see the bottom well out from shore. Then took the dog along the gravel path toward the open lake, past the state park side, pinecones scattered all over the ground from winter. The dog trotted out ahead the whole way, tail up, checking back now and then.

Out past the trees the wind had the main lake going — chop all the way across, small waves breaking on the gravel, an old plank and a stripped branch rolling around in the wash. A big difference from the cove twenty minutes earlier. Turned around when the path ran out of shade and walked back the same way, dog leading again.

A sandy shore meets green water, backed by a dense forest of tall trees under a bright blue sky.A green body of water with a sandy bank in the foreground, bordered by dense pine trees under a clear blue sky.A black and white dog walks on a gravel path towards a lake surrounded by pine trees and snow-capped mountains.A black and white dog stands on a gravel path surrounded by pine trees, a lake, and distant snowy mountains.A small black and white dog walks on a gravel path towards a lake surrounded by trees and snow-capped mountains.Sunlight glinting on a clear lake with a rocky shore and distant snow-capped mountains under a blue sky.A scenic lake with sparkling waves, a rocky shore, a wooden stick, and snowy mountains under a clear sky.A tranquil river or lake with sparkling sunlight on the water, flanked by dense green forests under a clear sky.

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