Tahoe National Forest
|
Mariah Point Tahoe National Forest |
August 15, 2023
Because it it scheduled to rain where I most had wanted to hike today, I am back here at Serene Lakes for the second time in three weeks. It will get up to 80 degrees here today; but I haven't been out at all since my grand Yosemite tour a week ago, so I must do something.
The map is a bit confusing. There should be a handy access to today's trail
system, but Serena Creek and private properties are in the way. I know from prior
exploration, however, that there is a way to do this about a quarter-mile down
Soda Springs; so that's the plan.
No water is flowing at the Serene Lakes outlet
This will work
One of many area bike-friendly routes constructed as alternatives to the ski roads
There's the needed bridge
This is what cross-country ski runs look like in the summertime
Serena Creek is all but dry
Half a mile down this Sterling Canyon run, a spur route heads up the hillside to the right. I don't see a signpost, but the map says that that is the way to go.
A single biker has been through here recently
Many switchbacks ensue, confirming that this is the Rim Trail.
Coyote Mint
Mule Ears
The forest finally opens up a bit
Sulfur Flower Buckwheat
Checkerbloom
Atop the ridge
Granite Chief Wilderness to the south
Devils Peak is due west
Hearing human voices below, I spot three women on what is slated to be my return route.
They are searching the ground for something
Eight skiers' warming huts at Royal Gorge are located at key trail junctions.
I won't be needing this one today
It's another three-quarters of a mile to trail's end. This proves to be a mundane slog with nothing to recommend it.
Approaching Mariah Point
Finally, there is something to see as I reach the lip of Royal Gorge itself.
I didn't try the swing
I choose not to use the bench either, opting to sit in the nearby shade for my usual lunch of nuts and a clementine.
The bench is stable enough, provided that you don't wiggle around
It is becoming quite warm now, as expected; and I already have walked four miles
including an errant detour near the start. The original plan was to loop back to
Serene Lakes on the western side of the ridge, with a rock-art hunt in the
middle. That would involve a couple of extra miles or so of trail, though, and I
have lost interest in that for today.
Near the warming hut I cut to the right back onto the Sterling Canyon run directly
toward the trailhead. This will be quite a bit shorter than the earlier route,
because it lacks any of those damnable bikers' loop-de-loops.
Anderson Peak and Tinker Knob are on the Pacific Crest Trail
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Elderberry, and a shy yellowish butterfly
Across Sterling Canyon is the Rowton Peak Trail, which I did just two months ago. Unknown to me at the time, there is a natural bridge just below the trail, in the vicinity of the rock cliff in view. I do need to go and find it, but I am too hot and weary to do that today.
From here I see some caves, but no actual opening
Henderson's Angelica
Skyrocket
Southward view
Up ahead, there are flowers in the middle of the trail
Presently, I close my loop at the junction with the Hewlett Trail; but what is that thing I see over to the right?
It seems that this junction was signed after all
How could I have missed this one?
A butterfly on the Pennyroyal
Hummingbird Moths are difficult to photograph
Inocybaceae fungi
A 3-biker family starts an outing
Back at the Serena Creek Bridge is my favorite flower-op of the day:
Fireweed
Activity at the trailhead
§: Well, I did it, and I can scratch one more bucket-list item off the list;
but it is unlikely that I will return to Mariah Point. Today's route does offer a
biker-friendly path, and it could give Serene Lakes residents something to do on
an early-summer morning; but overall, this was one of the least interesting trails
in my experience. I have upgraded the rating because of some nice flowers along
the way.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality |  |
| Flowers | |
FYI: Ice Lakes = Serene Lakes
ADDENDUM
A few days later, I did return and found the aforementioned rock art. You can view my samples here:
[tedmuller.us/Outdoor/RockArt.htm]
