Loon Lake Winter Rec. Area

“Just came back from a short stay at the Loon Lake Chalet

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/cabins/loonchalet.html

http://community.webshots.com/album/114986845CxWoaQ

It's in the Loon Lake Winter Rec Area off Highway 50 west of the Desolation Wilderness.
This place is for rent CHEAP ($75 per night) and will sleep up to 20 people. I'm thinkin' rent it for a Friday night and use it as the jumping-off point for a multi-day winter trip. It has electric heat (and lights), a gas fireplace, mattresses to sleep 14, an electric range, microwave oven, a gas barbecue and hot and cold running water. It's 31 miles off the highway (an hour to drive) and there's NOTHING around.

Check it out, anyone interested?”

“Well, when I say NOTHING, I mean civilization. It's in the Crystal Basin and there's plenty of natural beauty.”

“MrWhoopee's Webshots Album

Loon Lake Chalet ”

“It looks real interesting Tb.”

“TrailBum, did you see the remnents of our snow shelters? We were up there last weekend, camped just about 100 yards acroos the (frozen) lake. I take the teenagers up there a lot for winter camping, because we can use the chalet as an "emergency" shelter in case something happens (fortuanately have never had to use it - whew!). There are pretty nice X-country trails from there, going diff directions. You can also snowshoe / ski out the trail toward Spyder Lake, relatively flat & easy-going. SMUD also plows the road so they can get to the power-generating facility, so you'll never be snowed in for more than a day.”

“No, didn't see your shelters, did see the remains of one about 100 ft. from the Chalet though.”

“Trailbum - I've thought of buying a weekend and seeing how many people I could get to join me. It sounds like it could be a lot of fun. Let's plot.”

“The Chalet is open to the public from 9:00-4:00 on weekends as a warming room so all personal items must be moved into the upstairs loft during those hours. During the week you get it all 24 hrs. There was NOBODY around Weds.-Friday when we were there. Saw the snowplow driver and 1 guy skiing Thurs. If we want to do this, it will have to be next year as the Chalet is booked for all but a few single days here and there into April. Other than that, I'm up for it. Great place to party.”