George Lake and Table Mountain

Sticking with the theme of unpopular trails from popular trailheads, I hiked up the George Lake trail from Lake Sabrina. Most folks head up to Blue Lake and beyond. For good reason. The scenery up there is spectacular (https://eastsidescott.blogspot.com/2016/09/trail-trot-to-blue-lake.html), but I was hoping to avoid the crowds and knew George Lake was plenty pretty too.

Left the car at 6:15. Loved the early start.

The clear, cool air was perfect for humping it up the steep trail to George Lake. 

I was feeling good, so I continued up the trail toward Table Mountain. Looking back down to George.

After another steep section of trail I emerged onto the huge plateau that is Table Mountain. To the east are the Inconsolables.

  
Northward to the Bishop skyline peaks. Emerson, Humphreys, Basin and Tom.

The sand here was perfect. As though it had been raked smooth.

There were sweet flowers in spots too.

Back down at George Lake I stopped for a snack and the views.

Took a short detour to Little George Lake and did a little skinny dipping. Felt like $$$$!

Above for the pounding descent back to Sabrina.

The end of the line. Lake Sabrina.

Saw no one on the George Lake trail, a few backpackers at George Lake itself, several groups on the main trail above Sabrina, most but not all practicing good protocol.

Flowers are still brilliant along creeks and in meadows and there were next to nill mosquitos. Ideal!