Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
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Clark Fork Trail Carson-Iceberg Wilderness |
July 25, 2013
I am scurrying home early from a long-awaited visit to Eastern Sierra. The big "Aspen Fire" near Huntington Lake remains totally uncontained after two days. Smoke from the fire partially ruined my walk yesterday; so today I have headed well north in an attempt to accomplish something on my way home.
I do seem to have gotten rid of the smoke, but there is something else to deal
with — the weather. Not wanting this day to be a total loss,
I swap cameras, don my pseudo-poncho, and head out.
Getting started
There is some confusion regarding the name of this wilderness, and the USGS is to blame. On at least two of its topographic maps, either the namesake land formation or the wilderness's name itself has been misspelled as "Iceburg". In at least one case, the word is spelled both correctly and incorrectly on the same page! The fact that there never has been such an English word seems not to have dissuaded certain copycat writers from perpetuating the error anyway.
The Iceberg, 8350'
Two other hikers are braving the elements this afternoon, as well as a pair of horseback riders.
So far, this route parallels the Clark Fork of the Stanislaus River.
Although the creek is out of sight most of the time, it always can be heard.
Except for a couple of fallen trees that have remained uncleared for quite a while,
the trail itself is well-maintained and easy on the feet.
Nice rocks
I didn't expect to hear cow bells, nor did I want to. I just filled up a water bottle downstream of those animals, fergodsake. Perhaps liquid intake can be curtailed until a better source is found.
What are Bessie and her friends doing in a wilderness area, anyway?
Aha! Another stream provides an opportunity to replace my water supply. Perhaps there are no wayward bovines upstream.
It tastes fine, anyway
Raindrops have been pelting me sporadically for some time now, accompanied by occasional thunderclaps. At a major trail junction, I finally give up altogether on the original plan to reach Boulder Lake. There is no telling how long the drizzle will persist, or whether it will become worse.
Boulder Lake to the left, Clark Fork to the right
As soon as I turn around, it does begin to rain in earnest. Walking in the downpour is not at all unpleasant, because it is pretty warm; but my cameras and other equipment are not happy about this. By the time I reach the car an hour later, my clothing is soaked.
Nobody else is out here now
§: Had it not been raining, it would have been too hot (80s);
so I could not win here today. At least I didn't wimp out and forgo a walk
completely.
Boulder Lake probably is a worthwhile destination. Go earlier in the season on this friendly trail, when it is cooler and the sun is out. Plan to do some actual climbing in the last mile, which one of the horsewomen termed "very steep". It is a pack trail, though, so how bad could it be?
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