A jaunt up Mount Tallac located near Lake Tahoe in California is one of the prime examples of a solid challenging day trek that people should have a go at more often.

Mount Tallac towers to a height of 9735 feet above Lake Tahoe in California's Desolation Wilderness. It is reached via State Route 89 and is both a winter and a summer recreation area. It is usually snow covered in the winter and the winter ascent to the summit is quite a bit different than the summer paths. For the purposes of this article, we will assume you are planning to tackle Mount Tallac in the summer.

Despite the fact that it is located in a region know as the Desolation Wilderness, Mount Tallac is anything but isolated. There are many very well appointed recreational facilities and places to sleep and eat in the Lake Tahoe area. In fact, even those that try Mount Tallac in the summer are not going to feel either desolated or even isolated. You are almost certain to encounter fellow mountaineers on the trip up the Mountain. One of the reasons for this is the fact that the trail is challenging, but can be done in a day. This, of course, makes it a perfect weekend escape for many in California.

Fairly easy might be going a bit far, however. The trail is about 5 miles to the top and has an average grade of about 12%. Since the trailheads are already at about 6500 feet of elevation, the climb covers about 3235 feet of elevation increase over the five miles. This is not so difficult as to scare off even the average person, but it also does not have a lot of flat areas either. The best part of the effort is the amazing panoramic views, not just from the summit, which is awesome, but all the way up as well.

The two main summer trailheads both begin around Fallen Leaf Lake, one of many lakes in the region. The first takes a long right traverse course up the Mountain. It is the shorter of the two trails, but it has virtually no shade. This is a definite disadvantage in the summer. The second trail is longer, but has plenty of shade and the more scenic views. It passes by Lake Gilmore which has swimming areas. Obviously, the second route is preferred by most people unless their primary interest is getting to the top as quickly as possible.

Mount Tallac, pronounced Tuh-LAK, is truly an example of the merging of mountaineering and trekking. Although it does not require rock climbing, nor does it present any real danger and can be climbed by younger kids, it does involve a major exertion to the top of a mountain. The 12% average grade means it is not for those who are not in relatively good condition, but for those able to handle it, the rewards are well worth the effort. The views both during the climb and from the summit are breathtaking, and a camera might be the most important gear for this mountaineering challenge.