Warren Lake Trail

The eight o'clock group attracted six of us who headed up to the Warren Lake Trail for the most beautiful hike ever.  We parked on the north side of the Boreal exit, cross countried to the PCT, and headed east to the Warren Lake/Summit Lake junction.  Then we headed north, going through blooming meadows to the pass where we usually take the short lateral up to Frog Lake overlook.  The wind was blowing hard as we went over the pass and headed down towards Warren Lake.  The trail was steep in places but would level out through the meadows, past the snowbanks that were feeding the meadows.  We got to a ledge and decided to to have our lunch there.  The granite made comfortable seating as we could hang our legs over the edge straight down to an incredible valley.  We knew Warren Lake was out there somewhere but the view from this spot was spectacular:  Castle Peak to Basin and beyond...with it's cliffy drop offs into that valley.  We all agreed we could stay there forever...as the air was perfect, the sky perfectly blue with a few wisps of fast-moving clouds.  The wind was waving the willows and spirea down in the valley.  Hummingbirds were working the trees and penstemon on the cliffs. 

elephant heads

After lunch we couldn't resist the siren call of yet more meadow/flower viewing as we rounded the steep cirque towards the valley below.  We left the incredibly steep downhill trail several times - once to look at a humongous piece of lava rock, another to look at a rather large sun-bleached vertebrae, and a sign of man: a snow-mobile gas tank.  The rock overlooks all begged to be explored for further view as we looked up at the Basin Peak ridge overhead. Was this cirque an ancient volcanic crater?

 Down at the head of head of the valley, we ran across a lone hiker and his dog.  Although he was on a recreational hike, he was a member of the Truckee sheriff department and had been involved in a search and rescue operation in the area a few days before.  It made a great cautionary tale of a woman heading off too late in the day, alone, and with half-baked ideas.  We tax-payers pay for this sort of nonsense. 

We decided to turn around as we knew we had a very steep uphill to start our return hike and miles to go.  Way back at the confluence of the Warren Lake and PCT we met a Washington State couple reading books and waiting on the trail for their son, a thru-hiker.  They were picking him up to take him to their campsite at Donner Lake before he would continue north.  Apparently it is very hard for these thru-hikers to get enough calories so they had laid out an array of food for any hiker who passed.  Delicious oranges, drinks, candy, etc. graced the trail.  Other thru hikers came by - seems like a freeway compared to Warren Lake Trail, where we and that lone hiker were the only ones. 

We had hiked 9.3 miles with an elevation gain of 2400 feet.

Alarmed by the larger number in last week's later group, we did discuss liability.  Everyone needs to understand that they are on their own on these hikes.  Although we try to help each other, no one person or group is responsible for the inherent danger in mountain hiking. 

We are out of town next Wednesday, but others in our group are planning a hike at 8:00, details to come.

Flowers:

elephant's heads - 2 kinds
lupines - several kinds
mimulus - several kinds
paintbrush - several kinds
lilies: mariposa and alpine and corn
heather
penstemon - several kinds
coreopsis and mule's ears
columbine
cow parsnip
gilia - 2 kinds
checkerbloom



dragon of the landscape

On Wednesday at 9 a.m. Barbara Gable, Marilyn Shulman. and Selma Gregg drove to the PCT Trail Head. This time we turned left and took the trail under the freeway to Summit Lake. It was a little cool but warmed up hiking. Still lots of wildflowers including Mountain Aster, Indian Paintbrush, Mariposa Lily, Columbine, and many Fawn Lilies. It was delightful to sit in the sun at the lake and have a relaxing lunch. Many people where hiking the trail . Families with children and dogs ranging in size from small to large. The large dogs looked like white chow dogs. Maureen we forgot to ask the names to add to your dog list. We had a lovely day. Selma

Glacier Lake Plus

What with vacations and guests and such, only 3 of us turned out for the 8 AM hike.  With the heat beating down already, we decided to go high to somewhere where the water was, if we needed it.  Starting at Grouse Ridge we decided to go to Downey Lake and then cross-country to Glacier Lake trail trying to land somewhere near the confluence with the route up Sand Ridge.  Through the wonders of technology, we were only a few feet from the trail.  We had climbed boulders and avoided brush for the most part.  Then we headed up the sand ridge morraine among gardens of mule's ears, coreopsis, heather, delphinium, paintbrush, lilies, etc.  We were enchanted all the way and it continued at the top.  The air blew cool and we could see the view all the way to Lassen and the surrounding peaks.  At the top lake of the 5 Lake Basin group, we headed up to Glacier Lake.  There, we saw other people for the only time that day.  There were two groups of church youth campers. 

Black Buttes

Not content to call "uncle" we decided to explore after lunch.  We worked our way around the lake and up to the first snowfield.  Crossing below it, we climbed the talus and scree to a pass in the Black Buttes.  It was slow going but the outcroppings of brand new ferns and challenge of the climb made it lots of fun.  We were rewarded with the most stunning view from the top. 

Sierra Buttes

View from Black Buttes

As we worked our way down, we realized the kids had gotten out of the lake, were sliding on the big snowfields, and then they decided to also go up the peaks.  As we were walking out big rocks were tumbling down as the boys inadvertently loosened them in their descent.  Hope they all survived. 

View from Black Buttes

Glacier Lake down below

In a move not caught on video, I received a dunking in the first tarn we came across.  Attempting to wet my scarf to keep cool for the 2 hour walk back, I leaned out too far, doing a slow roll into the tarn.  Peter says my roll was slowed because my pack was partially opened, scooping up water as I went over.  Standing up in the tarn I could feel the water seeping over my boot tops.  We had to invert the pack to get most of the water out, squeeze out a few things, take apart the camera and cell phone, which amazingly still operate.  As I squished and dripped down the trail, I stayed cool. 

Once again the mosquitos were out in droves as  we wended our way through beer-ad meadows in the very late afternoon/evening light.  We had hiked 9.5 miles, not particularly speedily but some of it cross-country.


Full of mosquito repellent and sunscreen, we decided going all the way home instead of stopping at a restaurant was the best bet and even so, after cleaning up and doing chores, dinner was at 9.



 Since flowers seem to be in abundant supply, we are talking about doing the meadows on the side of Basin Peak - not decided yet about which route - possibly over Castle Peak shoulder to Basin or staying lower where those meadows are.  We will not be here the 25th, (Peter's 70th!!) but back the following week with more in mind: Lola?, PCT to Benson?, Frog Lake Overlook and beyond towards Warren Lake?, Blue Lake trail all the way to Bevis Lake (we looked down on it from Black Butte ridge)?, out to Sand Ridge Lake beyond Peter Grubb hut?  All these ideas are in the 9-12 mile range and are best with an early (8AM) start.  All those who are interested, meet us at 8AM next Wednesday.