Mt Ritter and Mt Banner tower above Shadow Lake

The marmots are about to embark on one of Marmot 01’s favorite hikes. There is a special purpose to this hike. It is where Marmot 01 hung her dear old childhood dog’s name and registration tags under a bridge, and they are going to pay homage to her there. The bridge is about a mile in. The marmots approach the underside of the bridge anxiously—it has been almost 20 years since the tags were hung and the marmots can’t be sure they have survived the harsh mountain elements.

Bridge over the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River and wildflowers along the Shadow Lake trail.

At first the marmots don’t see them, but after careful looking, Marmot 01 locates the tags. Predictably, it is a bittersweet experience. The marmots take some photos and move on to the next part of the trail, talking about Puddles the Dog, the ephemeral nature of all good things, and other angst-y topics.

Puddles dog tags remain under the bridge in between Lake Olaine and Shadow Lake.

This trail is tougher than all the previous ones, and is back down the treacherous one-lane death-road to Devil’s Postpile, but it does not disappoint. The trail proceeds along comfortably-wide ridges, through small stretches of forest, past a lake that isn’t even the main attraction (Lake Olaine), and over purple and white and auburn and steely-gray rock steps on an actual mountainside. Scaling them feels like circumambulating a grand, magical castle. It doesn’t seem like all these colorful and diverse rocks could coexist in the same place.

Colored rocks litter the trail up to Shadow Lake

After some climbing up the majestic stairs, the marmots can hear roaring around the bend. There is a waterfall that is dropping out from Shadow Lake up above. Looking the other direction are mountains—and to each side, more mountains, rocks, and twisted trees.

500 inches of winter snow flows into Agnew Meadow and the San Joaquin River from Shadow Lake

Just a few more steps lead the marmots to Shadow Lake, a stunning place with perfectly clear blue water and more near-360-degree mountain views. The marmots have the whole lake to themselves, and sit on Marmot 01’s favorite rock—which looks kind of like a lava flow peninsula—to eat their marmot snax.

The best spot at Shadow Lake — large rock formation juts out from the far end of the lake.

The water is boiling—the native fish are jumping from shore to shore. The marmots lament not having fishing gear with them. Cookie and Gertie come out of the camera bag again for some photography here.

Cookie and Gertie get their Shadow Lake on before the afternoon rainstorm moves in.

Prompted by the roar of afternoon thunder that seems to plague this lovely place, the marmots begin their return journey. About 2/3 of the way back, the marmots peer behind them to see black clouds threatening the mountain pass where they had just been. Lucky timing. They are not “out of the woods” yet though—Marmot 01 spies an old burned-out dead tree at the side of the trail that used to terrify her as a child walking back from the lake with her family. She used to see the log as a growling bear on its hind legs, ready to eat her entire family. The log is not quite as fearsome as she recalls it—now it is more of a notable trail marker than an angry bear.

The burned tree that “does too” resemble a frightening bear and has scared W-01 since she was little.

Shadow Lake is the best hike Marmot 02 has ever trekked for scenery and overall enjoyment. Nothing other than seeing wild marmots or pikas could compare in enjoyment.

Still high from Shadow Lake, the marmots head out to Rainbow Falls, pictured on many of the postcards sold around town. It is just down the road from the Shadow Lake parking area. The marmots are totally alone in the parking lot but for a group of toned, wet, mud-covered chicks in canvas pants who look like they are straight out of a commercial for the Marines. They have been out working on the trails for a conservation group and are hauling tools back to their truck. There is still thunder in the distance and the waterfall looks moody and dramatic. Totally worth the extra 3 miles.

Rainbow Falls in stormy weather.

When they are back at the parking lot from Rainbow Falls, it is not quite dark so the marmots walk around Sotcher Lake just up the road a ways and watch hungry fish jump. Sotcher Lake is very green—a clean, clear candy-mint green. At dusk the marmots head back up the death-road to their condo, listening to old John Denver tunes.

Sotcher Lake — kind of nasty-looking lake with fish and frogs jumping at sunset.

Once back at the marmot-ranch, Marmot 02 listens to her voicemail—the property management people can’t fix the fireplace. The sensor is out and they need to order a new one. No mention of all the other problems—they’ll just pretend they aren’t happening.