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Dick's Lake and Peak is spectacular, and easy to get to. There are many alternate trail options in the area. I went off trail to go over the summit and around it's opposite flank, taking a cross country route down near the southern Velma Lake, and rejoined the trail at Dick's Lake.

I started at Bay view Trailhead at Emerald Bay, at 7000'. You can also get to dicks in summer or winter from the lower Eagle Falls Trailhead. Both are about the same effort and equally beautiful. Going at Bayview offers two options: straight up through the saddle between Maggie's Peaks (best views and my route today), or up the Cascade Lake Drainage (easier descent for coming down)

This is the first nice view after climbing the 1000' on the trail through the gap between Maggie's Peaks. This is the Janine Ridge, which hides Dick's Peak behind. going up to the top of this ridge in summer or winter is just as amazing as being on Dick's Peak.


Here's the north end of that Janine Ridge. The top end of the ridge is about 1000' up, and has an amazing eagle's nest type perch to view both Lake Tahoe and Dick's Peak.




Dick's Pass is out of view on the left where the trail fails to take you towards the peak. It's an easy scramble across various types of loose rock up to the summit for the most part, but there is a steep and loose class 2 section above the col on the east ridge. Not the type of thing most hikers are used to doing. You can go around it to the left, on the south side of the ridge if you plan for it. I came down on the other side of the peak on the right side of this pic, where the angle mellowed.












Summit view towards Tahoe with Azure Lake in the foreground. Pretty sweet spot eh? If you are in good shape and have a small group, you might expect 2.5 hours if you run the easy flats, 3-4 hours if you ski or hike.


Winter shot from the summit




View from the top looking south. Jack's Peak in the foreground, Pyramid behind on left, which starts the Crystal Range above Lake Aloha.
















Looking at Dick's Peak across Dick's Lake. Some awsome camp spots right around here.


Winter view from the same spot










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Mike Schwartz
www.thebackcountry.net
mike@thebackcountry.net