Machado Postpile Eldorado National Forest

August 6, 2016

Linda, most of our walks are easier than this, but usually are somewhat longer.

Getting started

Following the cairns

So a portion of the postpile is visible from the trail!

Pinedrops
It's up there somewhere

First view of the Mini-Pile

The rock material is diabase, 13 million years old

The big postpile

On top of the formation

How did that granite boulder get there?

Looking east at Thimble Mountain, Covered Wagon Peak, and Melissa Coray Peak

Time for lunch

Another balanced rock

Skyrockets

The big wall

Unusual tree

The downhill is rough

The worst is over now

The trail back

Silver Lake

Hidden pond

§: For the best photos, I need to return on a somewhat cloudy day.  I'll be going back next June.

• Trailhead: East side of Silver Lake
• Distance: 5½ miles
• Elevation: 7300' to 7900'

Scenery
Difficulty
Personality
Adventure
Solitude

Google Earth view, looking northwest

Read more about this formation here:

http://www.sierraclub.org/mother-lode/delta-sierra/machado-postpiles-history