& Desolation Wilderness
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Glen Alpine Springs & Desolation Wilderness |
August 19, 2023
I have delayed this particular outing due to a spate of late-day thunderstorms, but I cannot wait any longer. Life is becoming too short for iffy postponements.
The parking lot is full
The plan is to cross-country my way up to the base of Susie Lake Falls, then loop back on familiar trails; however, I know from my previous adventure here (Hike #472) that the going could be particularly rough and possibly not negotiable at all.
There is plenty of water in Glen Alpine Creek
Off to the left are some tall patches of pinkish flowers. Dismissing them as an unusual coloration of fireweed, I decide to hold off on most flower photography until the return. A lot of mileage is in today's plan.
Catch you later
Whoa! What's this up ahead? The trail is cordoned off with tape like a crime scene; it is a warning that the leaning tree might fall across the trail, which is not surprising in light of the fact that the trunk has a big gash in it.
Why didn't they simply finish cutting it down?
After stashing my long-sleeved shirt behind a tree near a trailside waterfall, I soon reach the historic resort.
⇔
Entering Desolation Wilderness
A little creek crossing is easily handled without the logs
Chaos in the forest
Just around the corner is a more difficult crossing. I never have much liked this one.
Even a youngster is struggling
Just in time, I whip out my map, realizing that if I cross here, I probably will have to do it again shortly up the way. If I actually am going to strike out off the trail, I had best remain on this side of the creek. No option looks attractive; but I have so start somewhere, so...
The adventure begins
Almost immediately, this minor scramble is rewarded.
What a nice lily pond
Continuing around close to the water looks problematical; so I skirt a rock pile to the right, finding some easy climbing on pathways of dried grasses. This is good.
I hope that there is a lot more of this
Keiths Dome to the south remains on my bucket list
After about a quarter of a mile, however, my luck runs out. The upcoming route choice looks terrible; but there is some falling water up ahead, so of course I must maneuver over some rocks to check it out. What I find makes my day:
Wow! I'll call this Grass Lake Fall
What makes this scene so special to me is that virtually no one ever sees it.
Only kindred souls as crazy as I ever would have a reason to be over here, even though
it is but a ten-minute scramble from a real trail.
This might also be the terminus of my exploration. I cannot comfortably descend the cliff from here, so the only option is through the the high rocks over to the right.
That way doesn't look promising, but I'll have a look
Nope; it's a horrid route
Actually, I would climb that talus channel if I could be sure of easier going
thereafter; but memories of my prior hike just west of here dissuade me from
continuing. What I would not want is to have to retrace my steps
down that enervating jumble. This venture was a 'maybe' from the start,
and it didn't work out; so be it.
Heading back
A long cascade across the way, probably from Triangle Lake
And that is another bucket list item; I intend to head up there soon, from Echo Lake.
Someone else has been here
Opting for a different path going down, progress soon is stymied by the lily pond.
Dead end ahead
It proves easy enough after all to stick close to the water's edge as I bypass the pond.
This gem also never is seen by trail-bound hikers
Finishing up with the same little rock scramble as when I started, I soon hear human voices.
They are unaware of the obstacle just ahead
Today, all the dog-lovers either must abandon their walks at the log crossing,
or get their feet wet in a foot-deep section of creek that their animals
can handle.
Nice colors
Already I am feeling better about my recent setback. There is a nice breeze, clouds are coming in to cool me off, and it somehow pleases me to know that my mission today is completely different from that of everyone else. Another relatively uncommon feature of this walk is that I get to lollygag my way back, having unexpected extra time. Now, I can spend the rest of the day communing with nature at my leisure; this is an undeniable perk of solo travel.
Bigelow's Sneezeweed
Mountain Ash
Hello! What's this? While bent over to photograph a flower, a glance to my right reveals that I have company, and it is but a foot from my face:
Spotted Orbweaver
Is that dead fly in the web serving as bait?
Thimbleberry
Back at Glen Alpine Springs, there are signs of both recent and current activity.
It's too breezy for a Jenga game
There are sounds of sawing and pounding inside
Behind the maintenance building is a good spot to stop for a snack.
Glen Alpine Creek
The Sierra Stonecrop have just about had it
Dikes galore
Crimson Columbine
Garlic Chives
Spotted Water Hemlock
Anderson Thistle
Beaver pond
For the third time this season, I get the chance to photograph a lesser-seen flying critter, and for the third time this season my camera is not set at its fastest speed. By the time a correction can be made, my subject is gone.
Hummingbird Moth
One of these days, I'll 'slow down' those wings and have a good photo.
Giant Red Indian Paintbrush
Canada Goldenrod
Modjeska Falls
They were named after Helena Modjeska, a Polish actress from the Bay Area who performed at this resort and also in Virginia City.
Competition on the Ground Elder
This road was paved a hundred years ago
Now I'm back to the profusion of pink-colored flowers that I had mistakenly identified earlier. In fact, these guys are totally new to me:
Soapwort –aka– Wild Sweet William
Those guys are wonderful, but my favorite shot of the day goes to the lone Salsify at trailside:
This is why I go hiking
Fireweed
Red Twig Dogwood
Mugwort
Lily Lake
Well, that's it for the hike but not the excitement, because half a mile down
the one-lane access road is a spectacular attraction where drivers are competing
for parking spaces.
Glen Alpine Falls
This is why I go driving
Just below the falls
On the drive out, it is my turn to pull over as necessary and let incoming vehicles pass.
Fallen Leaf Lake and Cathedral Peak
Just before turning off on the shortcut route, a cabin-owner's garden compels one final stop:
Himalayan Cranesbill
Cosmos
§: Well, it's just as well that this loop trip didn't work out.
It would have constituted ten miles, I would have been exhausted, and I also would
have been caught in the rainstorm that hit me on Echo Summit. I would not have
enjoyed myself toward the end, and I would have missed out on most of the great
flower photos. There is an easier way to access the base of Susie Lake Falls,
should I feel so inclined at a later date.
On the other hand, perhaps I would have remembered to pick up my shirt on the way back. Bummer. Today I didn't think of it until I was an hour down the highway. I loved that shirt, but it was a bit long in the tooth.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty | |
| Personality | |
| Adventure |  |
| Flowers | |
