There were already two cars at the trailhead, and about 10 hikers getting ready to hit the
trail. They started the trail a bit before we did. We started the trail (signed
as the Billy Creek Trailhead) about 9:50am.
The trail begins climbing immediately, and a minute or two into the hike there's a trail
intersection. There's a trail to the left, but we continued straight uphill, shortly
entering the Kaiser Wilderness. This first section, up to the next trail intersection,
is about 1.8 miles with 800 feet of climbing. Along the way we saw wildflowers, snowplants,
some meadows, mostly closed forest. It was not quite as nice as the Twin Lakes hike, where
there are more views. It probably didn't help that it was a much warmer day today.
Entering the Kaiser Wilderness
We found a spot among some corn lilies for a snack break, just before the next trail
intersection. After our break, a few minutes up the trail we reached the next trail
intersection. To the right is a path toward Mary's Meadow. We stayed to the left,
continuing on the trail up toward Nellie Lake. This next section of trail is much
more gentle. In fact, some of it even heads slightly downhill. In all though, this
section to the next intersection gains about 300 feet in elevation in 1.4 miles.
Along the way are some meadows and scattered stream crossings.
Corn lilies
Trail through the corn lilies
Butterfly
Snow plant
At the next intersection, we turned left to head to Nellie Lake. The first part of
this trail is probably the steepest part of the hike, gaining almost 600 feet in just
0.8 miles. At this point the trail levels off, and at this point we encountered a large
group (maybe 30) of young adult day hikers leaving Nellie Lake.
After the trail levels off briefly, it descends about 100 feet down to the shore of
Nellie Lake. We found a nice spot along the northern shore of the lake. We could hear
the voices of the hikers who'd started before us, further up the shore but hidden from
view. At the shore of the lake we could see hundreds of blue damselflies, flying all
over the place. Many were congregated in a grassy area right on the water, while many
more seem attracted to a large tree that had fallen into the water.
Damselflies above the water
Nellie Lake
Nellie Lake
Damselflies concentrated on a fallen tree
Damselflies concentrated on a fallen tree
Nellie Lake itself is pretty enough, but not as nice as Upper Twin Lake. The setting
is not nearly as dramatic. Still, we found a nice spot to settle down for lunch.
We stayed at the lake for a little over an hour, during which time the other hikers
headed back.
Damselfly mating
Butterfly
Butterfly
Damselfly mating
Nellie Lake
We retraced our steps, heading back up the trail, then downhill. We ran into a couple
of backpackers with a dog, and then a jogger also with a dog. Those were the only
other people we saw on the trail. We arrived back at the parking lot at 4:10pm, about
2 hours after we'd left the lake.
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