East Humboldt Range, Nevada
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Smith Lake East Humboldt Range, Nevada |
July 31, 2012
I have embarked upon an unprecedented 18-day, 7-state hiking
tour. Day #1 consisted of a drive from Sacramento to Wells,
Nevada, with a stop in Reno to visit my oldest sister.
Day #2 is not starting out well. Ironically, my car battery seems
to have died in this town which is half-dead itself. Being
right in front of my motel, however, it is most fortunate that this
calamity has occurred in a relatively friendly location.
The battery terminal is quite dirty, but it also is eight years old;
so after getting a jump-start from AAA, I opt to purchase a new
battery at the local hardware store. After installing it myself,
my ostensibly repaired transportation is directed up the hill toward Angel Lake.
The road to the trailhead
Angel Lake is a relative jewel in the desert, but only if one doesn't look at the ugly bare concrete dam that holds it in place. That eyesore is eliminated by taking photographs from atop the offending structure.
Angel Lake
Just below the campground, the Greys Lake trail begins by winding northward up the hillside away from the lake. It already is pretty hot in the blazing sun, but the destination is not that far away.
At a trail junction I encounter a sign for Smith Lake, which is unexpected, because according to my research no official shortcut trail exists. This addition to the system must be a fairly recent development.
Getting started
I'll go thataway
Online writers have suggested that the only existing real trail required hikers to circle around past Greys Lake, which would involve a lot of extra mileage. They write about shortcutting up next to the fence that I can see to my left. Now I won't have to worry about hunting and scrambling my way up the slope ahead.
The trail becomes steeper
Just ahead is a rough and even steeper section
The rough stuff doesn't last long; just over the top is the lake.
Smith Lake
Another jewel in the desert
Although virtually no water is flowing from the outlet now, there still are plenty of flowers around.
Pink Geranium
Rydberg's Penstemon
A hiker couple that I had passed earlier has arrived at the lake. Being a romantic sort, I will leave the pair alone to enjoy these pristine surroundings.
Starting back
Fireweed
It being pretty hazy out there, the town where I began the day is barely visible.
Overlooking Wells, Nevada
Looking southeast
Father and son backpackers
Silky Aster
Buckwheat
Approaching Angel Lake
I made it before the sun ate me alive! Now it remains to drive across the Salt Lake Desert and the Wasatch Mountains before day's end.
Hiding among the paintbrush
§: Well, I did the obligatory hike in the eastern Ruby
Mountains. Albeit a pleasant walk, it was a bit too hot today.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality |  |
| Flowers |  |
| Solitude |  |
