Dollar Lake Again

I'm trying to  getting ready for the 2nd Annual Columbus Day Grand Canyon Hike.  My training regime has been running 8-12 miles per week and biking home from work as often as possible.  To keep it interesting, I try to throw in a swim every now and then.  To measure my progress, I'll do a triathlon once or twice a year.  Now a tri isn't my favorite activity in the world, but it does add a little variety to the workouts and makes them a bit more tolerable.

I recently signed up to do the Hill AFB mini triathlon:  800 meter swim, 12 mile bike ride, 10K run.  I was even looking forward to it.  I need something as an intermediate step in preparing for my Grand Canyon hike.  On Thursday evening, before the Saturday tri, my triathlon and hiking buddy (Mr. J)  stops by the house.  He won't be making the tri this weekend because he's still recovering from a vasectomy - ouch.  12 miles on a bike saddle - ouch ouch.  "Hey Dale - are you up for quick backpack to Dollar Lake."  Uh - triathlon or backpack?  The backpack trip will always win.  No need to toss a coin.

Dollar Lake is located at the foot of Kings Peak, UT.  Kings is the highest point in Utah and I've been to the summit twice, once on Aug 11, 1994 with my two sons and again on Sept 6, 2008 with Mr. J.

Dollar Lake is 7.5 miles from the trailhead.  We left the vehicle at 4:37 p.m and arrived at Dollar at 7:28.  1345 feet elevation gain, 7.5 miles, less than 3 hours.  Not to bad.  By the time we had our tent set up and dinner cooking, it was dark and raining.

It rained through out the night and though it had stopped by the time we got up, the basin was fogged in.  We had met our objective of getting to Dollar Lake and so after a breakfast of oatmeal - yuck, we packed up our stuff and headed back out.  We left Dollar at 8:37 and arrived back at the trailhead at 11:27.  We didn't see any large animals this trip, but we've seen elk, moose and deer on past trips.

All in all a very good trip.  No injuries - not even a blister.  However I decided that my water filter needs an overhaul.  Pumping water out of the lake took forever.