John Muir Wilderness
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McGee Creek to Horsetail Falls John Muir Wilderness |
July 24, 2011
On my way to Bishop for the night, a fairly short hike is in order. I don't wish to wear myself out, because big things are planned for tomorrow.
The McGee Creek Pack Station
Quite a few cars are parked at the corral, so I can expect to run into some horses on the trail.
The colorful mountains are beautiful. This is quite a nice setting.
Mount Baldwin and Mount Aggie are the high points
After walking about a mile up the open space on one of two available trails, I come to Buzztail Spring. An amazing number of flowers have gathered here amid the desert sage.
Evening Primrose
Lecidea lichen
Crimson Columbine
Shield-bracted Monkeyflower
Canada Milkvetch
Bitter Dogbane
Beaked Penstemon
Nuttall's Linanthus
The sounds of McGee Creek are ever-present, but the water itself tends to remain out of view behind dense tree growth. At a rare point where the creek is visible, a spectacular garden of paintbrush causes me to stop and gaze in awe.
Paintbrush and McGee Creek
Slendertube Skyrocket
Aspen Onion
Another short mile of unexpectedly verdant walking gets me to an unnamed creek coming straight down the mountain and all over the trail.
Just a few yards upstream is a view upstream of an unremarkable little cascade. It's not much of a display for something marked prominently on the topo map. I am disappointed.
Horsetail Falls
There doesn't appear to be a way to get closer without some serious bushwhacking; and it's not worth the effort anyway.
Two women hikers have elected to remove their boots in order to cross the stream and continue up the path. I am content to turn back here, because according to a posted notice there is a bridge out just upstream, and because this is as far as I had planned to walk anyway.
Look, ma — no boots!
Another hiker helps me to identify a couple of flower types that I have not seen previously.
Glandular Willowherb
White Clover
White-flowered Rein Orchid
As predicted, a train of twenty-five horses comes lumbering down the
trail. The couple at the tail end must be the packmasters, because
they have the best-looking rides, and they tell me so.
Pennyroyal
Wyoming Indian Paintbrush
Cow Parsnip
Woods' Rose
The Benton Range on the other side of Long Valley
Just past area of Buzztail Spring, I once again opt for the hikers' route, while most of the others continue straight on the stock trail. Soon I branch onto a third path which meanders over toward the creek. Even up this close, there are no good views of the stream.
This ridge has no name
Those other folk are on the horse trail
I did not expect to see any cactus on this walk, but there it is.
Spotted Locoweed
Plains Pricklypear
Almost there
§: For viewing desert flora in July, this place is a good
choice. The Sacramento Bee's fall-color guru, Dave Henry,
considers this his favorite spot for viewing the aspen trees, at the
appropriate time of course. If you want to see a waterfall, however,
go somewhere else. Doubtless the views get better farther up the trail.
Keep left at the trailhead to avoid the steaming piles on the stock trail.
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| Solitude | |
