Wilderness

We visited Shasta, Trinity, Russian and Marble Wildernesses on this trip.

There are photos here of Taylor Lake, a very accessible lake just off the Etna Summit in the Russian Wilderness-- an easy quarter mile in. Plus photos of one of the easiest hikes into the Marble Mountains to Lake Campbell. There we were able to watch a small bear come to the lake then stroll along the shore before reentering the woods.

We were disappointed by the grazing in the Wilderness as the cows and horses have torn up the trails, pooped in the pristine springs and they are accompanied by cowboys with rifles as it's time to herd the cows down out of the mountains.

According to the Wilderness Act of 1964 traditional activities like grazing can continue in areas where they existed previous to the act. It's really a shame that the semi-easy 8 mile loop to Campbell Lake is impacted this way.