🌲 California Hiking | Duck Pass Trail (The Truly Beautiful Version)

On July 4th, I caught one of only two chances a year to see the vertical Milky Way rising above the snow-capped mountains—an incredibly rare sight! 🌌🏔️ So I packed my DSLR and tripod and headed into the mountains. Though it was heavy, the camera truly captured the beauty my eyes witnessed—totally worth the effort. If you can, start the trail early! On my first day, I didn’t begin until noon and reached the endpoint by evening. At that time, Duck Lake appeared deep blue, and Pika Lake looked pale gray. Both were incredibly pure and serene under the moonlight 🌙—but after hearing other hikers describe them as “incredibly beautiful,” I felt their praise might have been a bit exaggerated. That was until the next morning when the sunlight poured down ☀️, piercing through the alpine lakes. The water took on a clear, glass-like quality, glowing with an almost divine aura beneath the snowy peaks—instantly surpassing ordinary “jelly water” views. This hike totaled about 17 km (just over 10 miles) with 600+ meters of elevation gain. I carried 22 lbs, while my two dogs 🐕 carried 6.6 lbs and 2 lbs respectively. Everyone did amazing—no one struggled too much except me, the rookie, who was completely exhausted 😅. #HikingDiary #NatureBeauty #AlpineLakes #CaliforniaHiking #MilkyWayChasing #MountainLife #OutdoorAdventure #DuckPassTrail