Desolation Wilderness Management
Channel: Sean Anderson
Date: 2018-07-31

The Desolation Wilderness is one of the most popular and most visited segments of of the 110 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System network.  the Desolation Wilderness hugs the western flank of Lake Tahoe with elevations ranging from roughtly 6,500 to almost 10,000 feet.  Mostly lacking in dense forests or contiguous vegetation, Desolation Wilderness is a glacially smoothed expanse west of granite peaks and valleys adjacent to Tahoe. There are numerous streams (but many were dry during our mid July expedition) and approximately 130 lakes (we passed more than 25 of them ourselves). Snow historically blocked the high passes until mid-July, but the relentless workings of Climate Change has reduced the snow and ice to mere occasional patches you have to seek out by July of each year. Long recognized for its mountain splendor, Desolation Valley Primitive Area was established in 1931 and then granted Wilderness status in 1969. The Pacific Crest Trail (aka PCT Freeway) traverses about 17 miles of the Wilderness north-south, and at one point crosses Dicks Pass (9,380 feet), the highest pass between here and Canada. 13 named trailheads open onto miles of well-maintained and very, very well-trampled pathways. The trailheads at Wrights, Echo, Eagle Falls, and Fallen Leaf receive the heaviest use.  I recored this at Lower Echo Lake upon our exiting from Desolation Wilderness.