Mt. Lola

Five of us hoped we were avoiding smoke by going north of Tahoe to hike up Mt. Lola.  We decided to take a forest road off of a dirt road and see if we could head into Cold Stream Meadow in the loaded Subaru.  The road was so narrow that bushes scratched the sides of the car and windows had to be raised to avoid getting twanged by branches.  Loose and embedded rocks studded the road, making the going difficult in places.  We got out to toss rocks and lighten the car.  Eventually we came across a couple hiking.  We never did see their car and wonder how they came to be in that location.  They informed us that we would get to a bridge that we couldn't cross.  They were correct. 



Wider place in the road

We parked and walked across the mostly collapsed bridge to the meadow.  This late in the season, the plants were quite dried out.  The wind blew a cool breeze but it seemed straight from south. Fluffy clouds scooted across the sky.  Our direction suspicions were corroborated and pretty soon we could smell smoke.  Just in time for the ascent up Mt. Lola.  We slogged up the steep slope, trying to breathe shallowly, hoping for a view out when we hit the first ridge.  Pretty white view.  We could just make out a close range...and a bit of Castle Peak.  But that soon disappeared.  We were heartened at the top to find ourselves above the smoke so we huddled down in the shelter to eat lunch. 



Cold Stream Meadow

Things didn't change by the time we headed along the ridge to cross from Nevada County into Sierra County.  Pretty soon we were on top of the highest mountain in Sierra County, having just hiked from the top of the highest mountain in Nevada County.  It all sounds more impressive than actual fact.  We had to hike cross-country between the peaks and down to the logging road that would take us back to the car. 

We had hiked just short of 8 miles with about a 1550 foot elevation gain.  The highest elevation was over 9,000 feet.  Let's hope we have better luck avoiding the smoke next week. 

Lunch in shelter, Mt. Lola



Ashes?  Side of Mt. Lola

Rocky top on ridge with small trees resembling a tree farm and river bed

Larger trees on top

Marking the county line

Looking back at Lola

Glacier Lake

Original parking lot view of Buttes

Three of us braved the smoke and heat, driving up to Grouse Ridge.  It was fairly clear when we arrived.  We hiked to Sand Ridge and when on top, could still see the some distance.  Our view rapidly disappeared however as the smoke blew our way and pretty soon we could no longer even see back up to Grouse Ridge.  We hiked around and up through increasingly heavy smoke to Glacier Lake.  Clouds were building up and a cooler wind blew most of the smoke away.

On the return hike, we  could hear the rumble of thunder every eight seconds.  The rumbling dark sky was mostly behind us, sounding like an evil giant.  We hiked quickly escaping both the clouds and the ever-present insects. 

Next week's hike will depend on the smoke both from the American and the larger Rim fire. 




View of Buttes from Sand Ridge



Later view from Parking lot



Later view from Parking lot

Mt. Rose

After carefully tracking the American fire and it's smoke plume on the Internet, the 8 o'clock group decided to take a chance on Mt. Rose.  We were in luck!  The smoke mostly was on the car ride and SW of us.  This was a first-time hike for all of us which started out in a large parking lot by route 431 out of Incline Village on Lake Tahoe.  The drive from Brunswick Basin was surprisingly fast, taking us only one and a half hours.  The trail starts at the pass.  We were surprised with the sheer number of cars in the lot and hikers on the trail. 

The well-traveled trail is easy to follow, a bit dusty both from it's location east of the Sierra, and it heavy use.  Most of the plants had bloomed earlier.  The trail travels back along a stream that heads up to a waterfall, about halfway up.  We were a bit concerned that the bulk of the elevation gain would be after the falls.  That would be 2400 feet in about 3 miles.

After a steep slog we all made it to the top at 10,760 feet, where we were menaced by greedy, fat, chipmunks as we ate our late lunch.  We explored in our glory, looking for a sign-in log but couldn't find one.  After a while the sun, exposure, and high elevation took their toll and we headed gratefully down to more oxygen and possible shade.

From the top

Round trip was between 10 and 11 miles.  The heat, elevation, light smoke, and steep trail made this a difficult hike for most of us.  Next week we will attempt to hike wherever the smoke is NOT.



Thank you Frank both this week and last for some of pictures and the map.

Smoke over Reno

Tahoe

Summit

Phlox?

Mountain Ash?



Lake Tahoe

Mossy Pond and Beyond

 Eight of us hiked about 8 miles up and down and through brush over flagged routes for the most part.  The Sterling Lake trail system is marked by the Boy Scouts who have a camp nearby.  The area is hard to access due to a barely maintained steep road starting at Cisco Grove.  There are quite a few lakes, each with its own character.  Sterling is the biggest but Mossy Pond is good sized as well.  After lunch at Mossy Pond, we hiked further, climbing up rocks to a high but un-named peak with a great view.  Although Fordyce Reservoir looks terrible with its bare banks, the view of the surrounding mountains is incredible. 

Old Man Mountain from behind Sterling

One of many lakes

Looking at a lake



Another of many lakes



Taking picture of group (top of blog) with toy tripod

Another of many lakes

Highest Peak (un-named)

Old Man Mountain from highest peak, Fordyce Reservoir in front



Odd landscape of included rocks in granite

Next week we will likely do a mountain but don't know which one yet.  Meet at 8 AM unless otherwise informed.

Tinker's Knob by Coldstream Canyon

Lunch at elevation

Seven of us started at Horseshoe Bend behind Donner Lake campground, crossed the train tracks, and headed up the dirt road by Lost Trail Lodge.  After the pre-requisite dog patting, we headed steeply up the rutted, rocky trail made worse by dirt bikes.  The trail ascends a ridge, sometimes even narrow enough to look down both sides.  After a while it breaks into a more open area where you can look over to the PCT and Benson Hut/Anderson Peak.  The dusty trail is left behind when you get to the final ascent to the PCT.  Vegetation at and approaching the crest is quite different that the drier east side of the Sierra.  There are more flowers and wind-blown, one-sided trees. The PCT is intersected between Tinker's Knob and Granite Chief.  If you were to go south on the PCT, there is a big descent into a wide canyon on the west side of the crest before it ascends to the intersection with Granite Chief Trail.  Last year we climbed the Granite Chief trail, joining the PCT for a short time around Granite Chief before we made a crazy decision (driven by the gondola schedule) to descend through talus to Squaw's High Camp. 

One-sided trees

Top of Tinker's

 After lunch we climbed Tinker's Knob using hands and feet over the hot rocks.  After the stiff, but mercifully short climb, we were at the top with it's requisite wind and horizontally layered rocks. 

Ready for the long, steep descent, we headed out only to have a couple of us slide out in the same worn gravelly spot about halfway down.   

We had hiked 11-13 miles, depending on whose GPS you believed.  Tinker's was at almost 9,000 feet high and we had climbed 2800 feet. 

Next week we will meet at 8 AM and plan on the Sterling Lake/Fordyce, Old Man Mountain area.  4 wheel drive vehicles will be needed. 

The Knob part

Looking South