William Finch 
An introductory note to the reader:In a previous issue of Sierra REC published last year, I wrote an article entitled: Desolation Wilderness Lake Name Origins. At the conclusion of the article, I said I would write a follow-up article in a future issue about the naming of Lake Aloha. Here it is: Considering the way … Read more
Reveal Meaning and Give Dimension to Each Desolation Lake. Lakes are almost everywhere in our lives. When I think of large numbers of lakes, I remember that the state of Minnesota is called the land of 10,000 lakes. No reason to make a point of this — it’s just a factoid, a statement on a … Read more
A Yosemite National Park Backpacking Trip Memory by Bill Finch Sometimes the Sierra Nevada plays tricks on you and sometimes you come out on top. This is a story about a reversal of fortune during aplanned Yosemite backpacking trip in late September 2007.A friend would travel out from Washington D.C. to backpack with me once … Read more
My Favorite Sierra Wilderness Lake — By Bill Finch When I began hiking in the Sierras, primarily in Desolation Wilderness, my thoughts of what lay “beyond the next ridge” or “around the next turn” were exciting incentives to see what was ahead. My pursuit of new discoveries was always rewarded. I could gaze at a … Read more
A Cancerous Growth on a Pine Tree? There are stranger things in the wilderness than what the mind can imagine in the darkness of night. And this is a real thing.On one of my hikes some years ago towards Island Lake, I spotted a strange clump of gnarly stuff clinging to the trunk of a … Read more
Hidden Treasures of Twin Lakes Trail in Desolation Wilderness I have a story to warm the hearts of the most avid hikers as well as the first-time novice hikers entering the DesolationWilderness. By way of introduction … To set the stage … In the later part of my life … after my retirement, I began … Read more
Everybody I know who loves to hike in Desolation Wilderness comes to have an up-close personal relationship experience with the awesome natural surroundings of the wilderness. In other words, they come to immerse themselves in the presence of the mountains, the bare granite expanses, the streams, the lakes, and the beautiful flora found everywhere. Most … Read more
One of the most popular adventures people look forward to when visiting the Lake Tahoe region is having a mountain hiking experience in the awesome Desolation Wilderness, which, I hasten to add, is their wilderness! And yours too! Your personal wilderness experience can be realized by day-hiking along the wilderness trails or overnight camping … Read more
A Favorite Westside Entry Point into Desolation Wilderness Desolation Wilderness – Trail reports – July 2022 – This one trailhead opens up a world of wilderness resources you can experience that will enliven your spirit, soothe your soul, and recharge your life force. The wilderness resources you’ll see along the Twin Lakes trail include granite … Read more
