Well, there's not much to report here...not many stories to tell, but anyone looking for an undiscovered enclave of California wilderness, check out Echo Lake. It was--as it always is--a much needed escape. Sitting in traffic is replaced with wakeboarding, the boob tube is replaced with board games and cards, the daily grind is replaced with tough hikes up steep ganite cliffs, and the bars are replaced with cold beers in the sun, sitting on the deck and cracking jokes with good friends.

It's right off of CA-Highway 50, two miles short of when 50 drops down to South Lake Tahoe. Even if you print it out on Google Maps, the turn is easy to miss and this is probably why the place remains so special and unspoiled. There are no roads once you get to the lake, so you take boats to the cabins.

If you're continuing into Desolation Wilderness (highly recommended), you can either take a boat taxi to the trail head, or hike straight in from the Chalet.

If you plan a trip to Echo, make sure to hit me up. I have been going there since I was two years old and I have tons of recommendations, from hidden lakes with cliff jumping, to the best spots to camp once you get back into Desolation.