<p class="ql-block">Excelsior Mountain and 5 Lakes</p><p class="ql-block">1. Virginia Lake</p><p class="ql-block">2. Blue Lake</p><p class="ql-block">3. Cooney Lake</p><p class="ql-block">4. Lower Frog Lake</p><p class="ql-block">5. Upper Frog Lake</p><p class="ql-block">http://rblr.co/iaTR Ramblr Record of my 9/15/2018 hiking, hiked to Excelsior Mountain in 3.5 hours and about 4.5 hours this time.</p><p class="ql-block">Very nice, clear lake reflections in the morning. No more on the way back. It would be much nicer if the clouds would come early in the morning over Virginia Lake.</p><p class="ql-block">~8am - Heading to Virginia Lake Trailhead from nearby Trumbull Lake Campsite</p><p class="ql-block">~8:37am - Started the hike at Virginia Lake Trailhead at about 9800ft after about half hour in Virginia Lake. Not decided if worth to spend the effort to attempt Excelsior Mountain as no cloud at all.</p><p class="ql-block">~8:55am - Decided to attempt Excelsior Mountain and started to hike faster with my expectation to hike up to Excelsior Mountain before 1pm and back to parking before 4pm.</p><p class="ql-block">~10:38am - Hiked to the top of Virginia Lake Trail at about 11000ft after about 2.5 miles hiking and over 1000ft elevation gain with the views of mountains around including the sub-peak to Excelsior Mountain.</p><p class="ql-block">~11:15am - Started to climb for about 500 in about half mile which should be the most challenging section with light travelled trail and should be much easier than my last time heading down in the middle of the loose rocks.</p><p class="ql-block">~11:35am - On the sub-peak at about 11700' with Excelsior Mountain summit in front and about 1 mile and 800ft to go.</p><p class="ql-block">~11:55am - Heading to Excelsior Mountain after about 20 minutes break.</p><p class="ql-block">~1:03pm - On Excelsior Mountain at 12446ft, 3 minutes slower than my plan after about 4.7 miles and should be about 2800 to 3000 ft in a little bit over 4.5 hours. 360 degree of gorgeous views with nice cloudy blue sky. Saddlebag Lake, Shepherd Crest, North Peak, Mount Conness, Wharl Mountain, Matterhorn peak, Twin peaks, Virginia Peak, Camiaca Peak, Episode Peak, Dunderberg Peak and Black Mountain etc. I was on the other side of the mountain behind North Peak the day before. Couldn't find the register box which I signed on 9/15/2018.</p><p class="ql-block">~1:20pm - Heading back and hope, will be back about 4pm so that the others would wait for us for too long. But, I think they may back about 4pm.</p><p class="ql-block">4:07pm - Back to parking lot for recorded 9.3 miles in 7.5 hours.</p><p class="ql-block">Found out that the group turned back at top of Virginia Lake Trail with the first group back about 2:30pm and last one hiked down to Summit Lake, not hiked to the lake, about 3:30pm. </p><p class="ql-block">~4:15pm - Heading back home</p><p class="ql-block">9:30pm - back home after stopping for gas and restroom at Manteca</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p> <p class="ql-block">On Excelsior Mountain at 12446ft after about 4.5 hours for 3.7 miles hiking for about 3500ft climb</p> <p class="ql-block">Virginia Lake</p> <p class="ql-block">Blue Lake</p> <p class="ql-block">Cooney Lake</p> <p class="ql-block">Lower Frog Lake</p> <p class="ql-block">Upper Frog Lake</p> <p class="ql-block">Hiking Route</p> <p class="ql-block">Excelsior Mountain online information</p>