Mr. Ski3pin, Having worked for the forest service in the late 70's as a seasonal aide to the fisheries biologist on the SNRA, we hiked to and surveyed (fish sampling) numerous lakes in the area. As such, we sought out the names of lakes that are unnamed on the quads. Your story prompted me to drag out my old quads and I had written in long ago that the lakes of your Shangri La are Thunder (lower lake) and Lightning (upper lake). I had the pleasure of meeting Dave Lee several times passing through the 4th of July Wilderness Ranger Station. I always look forward to your interesting trip reports. Been lurking here for 14 years.
Hag Man, thanks so much for the kind comment, we appreciate it! Yup, you've found the local names. Margaret Fuller also mentions them in her guidebook. A friend was Sawtooth District Ranger years ago. His Resource Officer (also administered the special use permits for the ski areas) was the first to tell me to go into the White Clouds, said is was better than the Sawtooths. I had previously met him as he was a workshop sessions instructor when I attended National Avalanche School. This was after David Lee passed away. I suspect he was quite a unique person. We have stood on the summit of D. O. Lee Peak twice. It is amazing to tie into local knowledge and lore.
It is such a great area.