Hike Details:
- Elevation - 8,000 - 9,006 ft.
- Location - Squaw Valley Resort
- Mileage - 5 miles
- Hiking time - 3 hours
- Route - We parked at the lot at Squaw Valley Resort and took the tram up to High Camp (it was pricey, $38 per person!!!, but it was a cool ride and shaved off quite a few miles)
- Weather - Gorgeous!
I got to squeeze in one last hike with my boy before he left for BYU. It's been so great to have him around and to have a (mostly) willing hiking buddy.
We could have hiked the whole way from the Squaw Valley parking lot to Granite Chief, but why do that when you can take a fun tram half the way up?
Looking down, deep breath...
The view from High Camp towards Lake Tahoe
Fun fact for you: If you've been to Disneyland, these rocks might look familiar to you. Apparently, Walt Disney was the producer of the opening or closing ceremonies when the Olympics were held here at Squaw Valley in 1960. He loved the look of these rocks so much that they became the inspiration for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. What's funny is that these rocks look really fake, as if they're modeled after the ones at Disneyland, not the other way around.
After getting to the top of the tram and enjoying this view for a few minutes, it was time to head upwards.
First stop, Emigrant Peak
(He might be a grown-up now, but he climbs mountains like a kid.)
Looking up towards Granite Chief
Looking back towards Squaw Valley
Looking out another direction
We spotted a grouse perched on a tree
It was a pretty steep climb for the last couple hundred feet of elevation, but totally worth the effort! 
This is looking out towards the Pacific Crest at Tinker Knob in the center and Mt. Judah heading left.
Yep, we're experts :)
Found a fun little geocache at the summit
I say this almost every time I'm hiking--pictures just don't do justice
to the beauty and majesty of being on the top of a mountain looking out
at such incredibly scenery.
In summary, yet another hike that I'd definitely do again! I also want to try starting at the parking lot, hiking up past Shirley Lake and then up to High Camp as the final destination. From there, you can take the tram down and it's free!