Cold Creek to High Meadow Hike
	Trip Date:  06/14/2019 Distance: 7.5 Miles   Vertical Gain: 1200' Group Size: 2 Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate    Hard    Strenuous	GPX for this trip
	Start Coordinates:   N 38 53.869'  W 119 57.423'     End Coordinates:   Same as Start Coordinates   Car Shuttle Req'd:   No Parking Directions:   Take Highway 50 toward South Lake Tahoe.  Turn onto Pioneer Trail, and then turn onto High Meadow Trail just east of Sierra House Elementary School.  Follow this road about 1/2 mile to the trailhead parking area. Hazards of Note:   Water crossing at the halfway point if you want to make this a loop.   Crowd Factor:   Moderate to High.  This is a popular area for mountain biking and local dog walkers. General Notes: From the parking area, head up the dirt road until you reach the signed trailhead for the High Meadow Trail.  It is possible to actually park at this location if you have 4WD or a high clearance vehicle when the ground is not wet.  Follow the dirt road for about 2 1/2 miles from this point as it heads upward, and you will gain over 1000' of elevation during this stretch.  Most of this section is in the forest on the road, and doesn't offer much other than some views back to the west of the Desolation Wilderness mountains in the distance.   The clearing through the trees is where the powerlines which help supply Heavenly Valley ski resort are cut through, so the views are obstructed somewhat by these lines.   When you reach the halfway point of the hike at High Meadow, you will be treated with spectacular views south toward Freel Peak and Job's Sister, as well as a rocky ridgeline heading north from that area to the west of the meadow.  Cross over the water which comes through the meadow and head back down the Cold Creek Trail, avoiding the many bikers that you will probably meet on the way.
	The High Meadow trailhead sign, about 1/2 mile up from the first parking area but another location where a high clearance vehicle could park for the hike.
	A glimpse of the surrounding mountains from the dirt road early on the hike.
	Looking back down the powerline opening toward Angora Ridge and Desolation Wilderness in the distance.
	When the trail opens up you get a first good look at East Peak, near the south end of Heavenly Valley ski area.
	Wandering around in the area near High Meadow.
	Fantastic views toward Job's Sister on the left and Freel Peak on the right, the highest peak in the Greater Lake Tahoe area.
	Mark exploring the meadow area.  The mountain in the distance is bisected north/south by the Tahoe Rim Trail.
	A closeup view of Freel Peak, with nobody on it on this day.
	The jagged and rocky ridgeline just to the west of the meadow, and north of Freel Peak and Armstrong Pass.
	The weather-beaten information sign at High Meadows.
	My hiking partner, Mark, making his way across a surprisingly deep channel on the stream through the meadow.
	A junction near the end of the meadow which will take you either back to the trailhead or onward toward Monument Pass and the Tahoe Rim Trail.
	A fairly representative example of much of the Cold Creek Trail heading back down.
	Last bridge on the trail before the junction with the Powerline trail and the trailhead for High Meadow.
	GPS Track of the full hike, from left to right and back.