Tahoe National Forest
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Grouse Ridge Road and Overlook Tahoe National Forest |
Jul 2, 2023
Needing to get out of town where the air temperature will rise to 109° today, I still don't know the status of the roads in this area north of Interstate-80. The online National Forest information always seems to lag by a couple of weeks at the most critical time of the year.
This season seems to be no exception; for more than a mile short of the Grouse Ridge
Trailhead, I encounter half a dozen parked vehicles, including a ranger's
pickup. Although there is a way to continue farther, these folk must know something;
so I park here as well.
The walk will be somewhat longer than expected
Easily driveable, but easily walkable as well
Around the next corner are several more parked cars where snow does block the road to normal vehicles, and a big tree has fallen across the roadway.
Traversing the snow-packed route proves easy enough with the aid of a walking stick.
I did this same thing back in 2007
(Hike #5).
I don't believe I'll be visiting the Grouse Lakes today
A couple of doggies appear...
... with their leader following
The nearby ridge top is snow-free, and it looks inviting. I never have gone up there, so this seems like a good time.
I have walked around this hilltop, but never on top of it
I am greeted right away by a favorite flower — Spreading Phlox
Black Buttes to the east
As expected, the summit is comprised of talus boulders
A nifty wind shelter
The ranger is working on the porch of the Grouse Ridge Lookout
Also as expected, there is a panoramic view.
Downey Lake is filled with icebergs
I walked over there last year
(Hike #517).
Signal Peak to the southeast
Anderson Peak and Tinker Knob are south of Truckee
Desolation Wilderness remains snowbound
This is why I go hiking
Interesting colors in Sanford Lake, nearly 600 feet below
I can see a portion of the elusive Loney Lake over there
This means that I must clamber down a bunch of talus in order to get a better view. Such scrambles have become more problematical recently, with my sense of balance beginning to deteriorate from old age. Such activity takes much longer now, but of course that doesn't stop me.
Loney Lake, 1,300 feet below
That lake is such an anomaly — a beautiuful place that is inaccessible by any trail. Surely most folk, and even many local hikers, don't know that it even exists.
The rock pile I traversed in order to get over here
Loney Lake is fed by two cascades:
[Check out the view from the south on Google Earth; it's pretty spectacular]
Rose Meadowsweet
Bitter Cherry
The additional scramble needed to get down here
Sulfur Flower Buckwheat
Paintbrush overlook the little-known scene
James's Buckwheat
Goosefoot Violet
Now I must find a way back. Being unwilling to climb back up all the talus, I head around the south side of the hill, where I get to bushwhack the manzanita instead. After making some probably bad choices, I manage to regain the trail.
The ubiquitous Sierra Buttes to the north
Finally off the hill
That's the woman with the two doggies
Now I do a really dumb thing. Failing to appreciate that I am virtually standing on the roadway now, I head up the hill attempting a shortcut to it. This results in a circular path of ups-and-downs during which I slide and fall twice in the treacherous going.
A quarter-mile of futility ensues
Presently, I am saved by the sounds of motor vehicles below. It seems that two guys have managed to circumvent the obstacles and make their way up here (a father and son team, perhaps?).
I would have guessed that those are rental vehicles, except that one of them has an Alaska license plate.
Back on track
No camping until they clear that one away
End of the snow scramble
The last lap
Back on Bowman Lake Road, I must stop for some more flower photos. The following images were shot from a single spot beside the pavement.
Sticky Monkeyflower
Yerba Santa
St. John's Wort
Lobeleaf Groundsel
Showy Penstemon
§: Well, I got more exercise than expected today, and rather more
excitement as well. I still am determined to get a more close-up experience
with Loney Lake, and an option remains. Stay tuned.
| Scenery |  |
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| Personality |  |
| Adventure | |
| Flowers | |
