Emigrant Wilderness
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Chewing Gum Lake Overlook Emigrant Wilderness |
July 1, 2021
The Emigrant Wilderness is a vast array of granite-lined lakes and meadows. Today's choice is based solely upon trail mileage and accessibility. I need not have prepared any road maps, however; for the route up the hill from Pinecrest is very well marked.
This is just my third visit to this wilderness
The first half-mile or so is a boring slog
A strange placement at the edge of a cliff
That sign admonishes hikers that there is no place for motor vehicles, flying
objects, or even bicycles in a federal wilderness area. This cliff-side
warning probably was prompted by drone usage.
The Dardanelles dot the skyline
A failed artistic effort
Burst Rock appears
The trail caters to heavy usage, including by horses
Knowing nothing of the history of this area, I am pleased to encounter a helpful display:
⇔
This is only my third outing in this wilderness
The scenery remains the same
From Burst Rock, the trail follows a ridge top, then starts downward.
The grasses are becoming greener now as I approach a more verdant area; this is good.
Reflection Pond
Jewel Flower
Pussy Paws
Pretty Face
Shaggy Lupine
Did someone try to carve an old-fashioned blaze?
Another moderate climb ensues around the near hillside. At the next
high-point, a decision must be made. My map shows that the tentative
destination is quite close, but well down a cliff. From here, the trail
winds down and around for the better part of two miles, and I already have logged
nearly three miles.
Looking south
Of course, I am not yet averse to a 10-mile jaunt; but I am feeling a bit reluctant to continue. Perhaps my enervating encounter with a Yosemite hailstorm two days ago has taken its toll; in any case, that's my excuse. I believe that I will just try to find a nice viewpoint to enjoy.
This is no good. I'll venture down a bit farther
This has promise
Getting closer
Success! Chewing Gum Lake appears directly below
Over to the right are several additional lakes
Actually, there are more than a dozen of them; that's why the area is designated Lakes Valley on the topo sheet.
The best view yet of the Dardanelles
Okay; it's time to head back. I didn't even pack a snack for this outing.
The trailhead is on the other side of the distant ridge
Sierra Rush
Small-flowered Milkvetch
Presently I detour to the right, based upon something I spotted previously. My effort is rewarded.
Powell Lake
Scrambling straight down over some boulders provides a shortcut
The shoreline is delightful
Labrador Tea
Mountain Laurel
Back on the main trail
Burst Rock from the east side
Of course I must venture over to the actual summit, which actually is comprised of soft sand. Several hikers wave to me as I pass by.
Atop Burst Rock
Right at the edge of the cliff is a nifty little grouping of wildflowers, including a couple of varieties new to me:
Spreading Phlox
Sierra Ivesia
Green-leaved Raillardella
Frosted Buckwheat
The map shows an alternative route down from here, but I didn't need that encouragement. The natural order of things is just to plunge downhill off the trail, knowing that it will reappear soon enough.
There are no horse puckies over here
The last half-mile is the same relatively boring slog
§: Well, I got my 'Southwest Sierra' hit for the season; I don't spend
that much time on this side of the mountains. I'll have to check out the
possibilites for other day hikes in this wilderness.
I believe that a very reasonable alternative route to Chewing Gum Lake would be to
venture straight down the 300 feet from the area of today's viewpoint, on the granite
slabs and boulders. There might be a reasonable path through there, and that fun
adventure would save nearly three miles of round-trip travel as well.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality |  |
| Adventure |  |
| Flowers | |
There is so much more to see in the Emigrant Wilderness:
