Sierra Backpacking, Cottonwood Lakes

In late August Mary and I embarked on a backpack up to the Cottonwood Lakes basin in the southern High Sierra.

 

Our destination was the South Fork Lakes. Off the busy thoroughfare to New Army Pass and away from the fishermen looking for Goldens in the Cottonwood Lakes.

After a good hard grunt, we arrived at the southeastern most lake. Cirque Peak behind. 

Peace and beauty!

We found a fantastic campsite with the best kitchen set up one could hope for.

 

Home!

Spent the rest of the late afternoon and evening relaxing and soaking in the scenery.

The next morning we set out for a "wander" over to Cirque Lake with no particular destination after that. 

We found Cirque Lake to be especially beautiful.

We then ambled down the stark valley ESE of Cirque Peak

"Trailmaster Peak" above Mary.

Just below we found a good spring sprouting out of the rocks and providing a home to delightful yellow monkeyflower.

We then made our way to the NE, enjoying fine views of "our" lake and the meadows along the South Fork of Cottonwood Creek.

Next we ascended "Flat Top, the highpoint of the broad ridge dividing the South Fork and the main stem of Cottonwood Creek.

The granite on Flat Top has eroded in an otherworldy fashion! 

The Foxtail Pine ghosts were pretty amazing too.

Back at camp we enjoyed another sublime evening.

Next day we had hoped to hike up New Army Pass but high winds and threatening skies deterred us, so we elected to hike over to the Cottonwood Lakes.

The route above our camp involved a cross country talus hike. Kinda scary in spots. Hah!  

The talus field with Cirque Peak behind.

At least we avoided this mess!

Cottonwood Lake #2.

Cottonwood Lake #3 with Flat Top behind.

Looking up at Old Army Pass

Mary enjoys the view at Lake #4.

Flat Top

The wind was brisk so we sought shelter behind this huge boulder for our snack break

Mt Langley above a lake

Mt Langley above a meadow

We returned to camp just as the rain began to fall in earnest then spent the late afternoon and evening reading and joking!

The next morning dawned with one of the most incredible wave cloud displays I have ever seen.

 We packed under the beautiful sky and departed mid morning. For our return hike we decided to take the unmaintained trail down from the outlet of the South Fork Lakes. Great choice! The first half mile or so of trail is quite steep and eroded, but below that it's a wonderful trail. Much quieter too.

About half way down we came across this old cabin. Likely a sheepherders or cowboy abode given there's no mining nearby but plenty of open meadow.

Cabin minutiae.

 The End!

Snake Creek, Great Basin National Park

 Back in August I visited an area of the park that is less frequented, Snake Creek. The first day I hiked up to Dead Lake. The trail starts as an eroded road, but eventually becomes a nice trail as I neared Dead Lake.

This is aptly named Dead Lake. Evidence seemed to indicate the lake fills during spring snowmelt and perhaps during intense summer thunderstorms, but remains dry most of the year.

 

 

I returned to the trailhead via the Johnson Lake Trail taking the spur up to the pass near the head of the South Fork of Baker Creek. It's a terrific stretch of trail. This is the view from the pass looking up at Pyramid Peak. 

Back at the Snake Creek Campground I relaxed, took a stroll, and took a few photos.

The next morning I hiked the Serviceberry trail. Honestly, from the trailhead this terrain doesn't look very appealing as the trail steeply climbs a brushy slope, but once I got higher the gradient eased and I entered stunning Aspen groves.

The views up the Snake Creek drainage were sublime.

Highly recommended! Great Basin National Park never ceases to astonish!

 

 

 

 

 

Hiking in Ely

 Mary came to visit me in Ely last week. Hiking is her thing, so that's what we did!

 After her drive we grabbed a bite to eat then went for an evening stroll at the Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management Area.

A spring!

Next day we set out to hike up Cleve Creek Baldy. At 10,942' it is one of the higher peaks in the Schell Creek Range. The first part of the hike is on a jeep trail through lush aspen forest.

The flowers were absolutely stupendous!

A little higher the track turns into a steep trail.

The trail then eases off and emerges into fine, high altitude meadows.

There's a good use trail here with the primary users apparently being Elk!

Hard to tell from the photos but the low sage slopes up high held a plethora of flowers.

 

Mary nears the summit

The summit it as broad flat ridge. It would've been hard to discern the high point without the little cairn.

Loved the scenery up there! Mt Wheeler across Spring Valley

 

We enjoyed the descent too. Stumbled upon this wooden rooster's comb.

And an excellent assortment of flowers.

Next up we drove to Great Basin National Park. Hiked up Timber Creek  over a shallow pass, then down the South Fork of Baker Creek.

Here Mary tackles the upper slopes above Timber Creek.  

Lots of picturesque Aspen groves.

At last we emerged into the open sage and woodland up high.

We enjoyed sweeping views to the high peaks of the park with Mt Wheeler far left.

The head of the South Fork of Baker Creek with Pyramid Peak left.

Meadows.

Once down into the South Fork we enjoyed the presence of a bubbling creek.

Another splendid meadow.

One last flower for the hike.

Lastly Mary and I returned to the Schell Creek Range for a hike up Timber Creek (same name, different range). This outing was a little easier but again brought us to a wonderful alpine scene.

Flowers and butterflies!!

 Stoked Mary came out and motivated me to get up into the beautiful high country!