On this particular day, a Friday, I was heading from Truckee, California, down Interstate 80 two exits to Donner State Park

But when I saw the exit to Squaw Valley, I made a very quick decision to go there instead. Am I'm so glad I did. I ended up spending the day there, up top at High Camp.

Squaw Valley is just off Highway 89, the main road from Truckee to Lake Tahoe's west side. I had been on the road already a couple times, so Squaw was on my bucket list for the area.

Down below is Squaw Village where there is lodging and shopping and several restaurants. An 8-minute gondola ride takes you from The Village up 2,000 feet to High Camp, which is a series of 6 mountain tops linked by (in summer) soft meadows filled with Lupine, Great Red Paintbrush and Mule Ears. And in the distance to the southeast, a view of Lake Tahoe. The numerous ski lifts that take you from mountain top to mountain top are not operating in the summer months, but hiking trails abound, along with a restaurant, skating rink and swimming pool.