Grass Lake Hike
	Trip Date:  08/11/2023 Distance: 5.6 Miles Vertical Gain: 900' Group Size: 3 Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate    Hard    Strenuous	GPX for this trip
	Start Coordinates:   N 38 52.610 W 120 04.811     End Coordinates:   Same as Start Coordinates Car Shuttle Req'd:   No Parking Directions:   Drive all the way to the west end of Fallen Leaf Lake Rd, and turn onto Glen Alpine Rd up to the parking area near Lily Lake. If full, you may have to park along the road. Hazards of Note:   The first mile of the hike from Glen Alpine toward Grass Lake is very rocky and will eat ankles if not careful. Be careful crossing the water on the first part of the Grass Lake trail past the junction around the 2 mile mark. Crowd Factor:   Limited.  Any trailhead into Desolation Wilderness will be popular, but this destination is moderately remote. There will undoubtedly be others at the lake but it shouldn't be too crowded. General Notes: The first part of this hike follows a very well-maintained Desolation Wilderness trail, which passes first passes Glen Alpine Falls and then the Glen Alpine Springs area with a number of cabins on both sides of the trail. It then climbs relentlessly up for a couple miles until you reach the junction for Grass Lake to the west. After about a quarter mile on this trail you will find a significant water crossing. The best crossing is to the left of the trail along the base of a large fallen log. The trail will then continue to climb up to the lake, which has a number of rocks immediately to the right of the trail as you reach the lake or it continues along the south end of the lake where you will find other places to enjoy the location.
	Lots of rocks and elevation along the early couple miles of hike on this trail.
	The first section of the Glen Alpine trail is very rocky and gains elevation constantly along the way.
	Just past Glen Alpine Springs will be Glen Alpine Falls, with the volume of water changing significantly depending on the time of year.
	Lots of trail maintenance has been done along this section that had a pretty significant blowdown of trees at some point.
	It's very easy to just hike right on by this sign for the junction to Grass Lake if you aren't careful.
	This is the water crossing that must be navigated to get to Grass Lake.
	At the lake we found a nice spot to sit and break out lunch, watched carefully by my trail pup.
	One of the two Gregs on this trip enjoying a break at the lake.
	Mark making use of the available materials to create his own personal lounge chair.
	One last look at Grass Lake as we pack up to make our way back to the Glen Alpine trailhead.
	GPS track of the hike.