When Labor Day weekend didn’t joice us with snow I wished by the mid January should the Lost Sierra will become a winter paradise. But. The 2016-2017 winter was everything but snowy.
I wanted to go snowshoeing Lakes Basin’s Bear Lakes. When we stopped at the trailhead it was covered with the ice. A thin and dirt ice. The only snow so far fell on Christmas. No way to do snowshoeing. So we walked.
Actually, Bear Lakes loop is Round Lake to Bear Lakes loop.
The trail passes few smaller lakes. They were all covered with ice.

The highest point of the loop – the overlook near the Round Lake met us with impressive views and icy snow crust over the hill on the east side of the lake. I never realized how woul it be impossible to walk over the few weeks old snow. I crawled and slipped. Oh how scary it was! I was afraid to fell into frozen lake. Oh now I feel how silly I was 🙂

The hilly part ends near the very lake – the blue-ish ice looked soooo amazing! I wanted to stay there longer. Another reason why I didn’t want to leave – was another slippery section of the trail but now uphill. I walked slowest as possible, I never think I even can walk so slow. I held a breath, did a step, and then stopped to take few photos. The views were beautiful – snow had no footsteps, was clear and bright. The rare view this days 🙂

The next trail passes Silver Lake that was buried under the ice and snow.

Before turning to the Bear Lakes the trail gives a glamse of the Long Lake. It was cold and partually covered with the thinnest ice. The iced parts reflected the wood covered hills above the lake. The peaceful view.

The Bear lakes are on the lower elevation and perhaps that was the reason we saw no ice over of them. The trail from their was a familiar one. We hiked here few year ago during summer weekends.