Hoover Wilderness
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Green Lakes Hoover Wilderness |
July 5, 2012
Two years ago I hiked at the nearby Virginia Lakes for the first time.
Today's trailhead also is but a three-hour drive from Reno, my former
residence of twenty-five years; yet I inexplicably had never even driven
up this road until today.
Off Green Lakes Road
This is my seventh different trail into the highly colorful Hoover Wilderness, which borders Yosemite's northeastern corner. I know of many other ways to access the area from a roadside trailhead, and I intend to explore them all eventually.
A predictable start through sagebrush, aspens, and tall pines
Richardson's Geranium
Crimson Columbine
Ponderosa Pines have many uses
Our nation is in the middle of a tremendous heat wave, and this place is
no exception. It already is 75 degrees out, making this my
warmest start ever except at Zion's Subway in September of 2010.
The original plan was to veer northward up the cliff to West Lake,
then possibly cross-country beyond there. Because of the
heat, however, switchbacking up that south-facing steep slope
in the bright sun does not appeal; so at the trail junction I continue
toward Green Lake. At a creek crossing the water level still is too
high for dry passage; fortunately, a nearby log jam provides a solution.
View to the north
A handy detour
Green Lake is beautiful! Its resident tree stumps add interest to the scene.
Green Lake
Equally interesting is the 800-foot cascade flowing directly into the lake.
The West Lake drainage
These peaks are unnamed
A trail continues southward to an even bigger lake. It's another five hundred feet up, but the trail is shaded throughout.
This water starts at Summit Lake
Some crossings are easier than others
East Lake. This is a good place to stop for lunch. When I grab for my gorp, the bottom of the bag tears open, and all the goodies spill into the pocket of my pack. Most of them are easily retrieved, however; not much has fallen into the dirt for the squirrels to scavenge.
East Lake, northern half
Pacific Mountain Onion
Skyrockets
Since I had not expected to be hiking over this way, my resources have been inadequately prepared. It so happens that there are half a dozen more lakes within just a mile or so to the south; yet my map ends right here, so those worthy destinations escape my attention. And that's too bad, because I probably will not return to this location.
Epidote Peak, 10964', and the Page Peaks, 10879'
On the return I encounter a mother and children who have a goat packing stuff. As I attempt to photograph the animal, it moves behind the tree branch, obscuring my view.
That white-colored guy is a goat
Goats make great pack animals. Next to llamas, they are the best choice. Domesticated goats have been outlawed in several areas, however, because of a tendency to give diseases to native mountain sheep. Also, if left unattended, they will consume all the ground cover in sight.
Eastward view
Once past Green Lake, it's back into the sun for most of the rest of the
way. At the trailhead the air temperature has risen to 78 degrees.
Hanging in there
The creek is the trail
§: Despite the unusual heat, it no longer seems appropriate to
call it "abnormal". I hate it, though, when the weather deters me from
a desired course of action. The Hoover Wilderness did not disappoint
me, however, nor it is likely ever to do so. I must return and venture
up to West Lake at a later date.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality |  |
| Solitude |  |
