Journeys›Photograph

Mid-August Drive Out to Independence Lake

·Sierra County, California·#summer#boating#tahoe#sierra nevada#off-roading#jeep
An olive green Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is parked on a dirt road among tall pine trees under a clear blue sky.

A mid-August drive and a day at the lake — Independence Lake this time, up at 6,975 feet in Sierra County. The Jeep earned its keep on the way in: dirt road through the pines, then the trees open onto a wide meadow gone brown, a line of old fence posts marking where a fence used to run, small birds using them as perches.

The water is clear enough to see the rocks well out from shore, and cold — the surface has been running around 64 degrees. Gravel beach below the caretaker cabin, a flag up, a handful of boats tied at the little dock. Whitefish are supposed to be in here, though I couldn't tell whether anyone along the shore was actually fishing or just standing in the shallows.

Parked next to a small red shed near the water for a while before heading back out, some notice nailed to its door. The road out was dustier than the road in.

A vast field of dry grass with old fence posts, backed by a dense evergreen forest and a clear blue sky.A lake with boats on a dock, a red building on shore with a person and dog, and tall pine trees.A clear blue lake with a dock, surrounded by forested mountains under a bright sun, with sparkling reflections on the water.A dark green Jeep Wrangler with large tires is parked on dirt near a red shack by a lake and trees.

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