Mokelumne Wilderness
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Carson Pass Garden Loop Mokelumne Wilderness |
July 18, 2024
A DAY IN TED'S GARDENS
This is the latest in the season that I ever have waited to visit my beloved
5-garden loop. Just to be different, I'll navigate the route in the
clockwise direction for the first time ever. Having no idea how far I actually
will travel today, it doesn't really matter. This solo outing offers a relatively
unique opportunity to focus almost entirely on flower photo-ops without holding
up other hikers, so that's what I will do.
Starting up the old, officially abandoned route
This was the Pacific Crest Trail until they built the new kiosk and parking lots in the 1990s, to accommodate the increase in trail popularity. It still provides the shortest access to Frog Lake, the first destination on today's loop.
Avoiding the imminent connection to the main trail, I turn left and circle around the north side of Frog Lake, fully expecting to be disappointed with what I find.
Ted's Garden #5 has 'dried up' for the season
This was as anticipated, because the principal attraction of this area is Sierra
Stonecrop, an early-season variety that already has come and gone for the
year (see Addendum).
The 'back side' of Frog Lake always is a pleasant spot
No one is on the summit of Round Top — yet
Slender Cinquefoil
The next stop is the nearby hilltop
Wow! Even this tiny climb is having an effect, for I seem tired already after
little more than a mile of walking and a 250-foot ascent. Perhaps it's just as
well that I am traveling solo today. This relatively new lack of energy is
disturbing — not because I am getting old, but because it seems to
come and go. One day, I might scamper up a 1,500 foot steep trail,
while the next day I wonder whether I will make it back to the car. This
reduction in performance could be related to a current everpresent allergy, which
could be caused by my cats.
Ted's Garden #4 also is depleted, for the same reason
This is by far the least-visited of all my gardens. The hilltop itself is not
readily visible from any of the local trails, and very few hikers choose to travel in this
direction. In any case, this can be a really spectacular place in June or early July
(see Addendum).
Continuing toward Elephants Back, 9585'
Atop the next rise I encounter the Pacific Crest Trail, which winds around the east
side of Elephants Back on its way southward. Beside the trail is one of my
Top-7 flower varieties, in two different colors no less:
Slendertube Skyrocket
Continuing along the base of Elephants Back
Back in 2008 I climbed straight up the 500-foot, scree-laden slope, which was quite enervating. Never again. Along the way, however, I did discover a variety of penstemon that I have not seen elsewhere. There is an easy way up the mountain from the south side, but I lack the inclination for that today.
Aha! A kindred soul, also ambling along and looking for stuff to photograph
This is my first with another hiker on this mile of off-trail going.
Even though voices can be heard emanating from the main trail below, it's a largely
different world up here. And that's unfortunate in a way, because virtually all
other visitors will miss out on what lies just ahead.
I have reached the top edge of the terminal moraine that defines the Winneumcca Lake
Cirque — an area cluttered by granite boulders. Negotiating talus
fields tends to be difficult and can become quite tiresome; but this one has a
mitigating factor, in that it uniquely houses Ted's Garden #3!
This is why I came here today
Giant Red Indian Paintbrush
Sticky Cinquefoil
American Bistort
Sweet Wormwood
Wandering Daisy
Woolly Sunflower
It just gets better
I call this talus field The Jumbles
Winneumcca Lake comes into view, behind what I call Tarn #2
Over to the right I spot some patches of pink. They turn out to be a familiar flower, but not one I have seen in The Jumbles previously.
Rock Fringe
A 'path' to the little tarn becomes increasingly difficult
There are three ponds hiding above the big lake. Most visitors are unaware of these as well, because they are not visible from any trail.
Crimson Columbine
This relatively difficult section is enjoyable nonetheless
Labrador Tea
Easier going from here
Subalpine Fleabane
Little Elephant Heads
This campsite straddles the use trail
Winnemucca Lake and the Ramparts
Angelica
A Tansyleaf Tansyaster is new to me
The 'kindred soul' is over here as well
Woolly Mule's Ears
Sulfurflower Buckwheat
Wavyleaf Indian Paintbrush
Silky Lupine
Arroyo Willow
Dwarf Fireweed
Brewer's Lupine
Shadscale Saltbush ??
At the southwest corner of Winnemucca Lake is the Caples Creek outlet.
Normally, this spot is a haven for my beloved heather, but it is quite depleted
today. Perhaps something better lies ahead, for just across the creek is
Ted's Garden #2.
Starting up toward Round Top Lake
In the olden days, only one smaller log was available here, making a dry crossing problematical; now, it's a piece of cake.
Corn Lily
There cannot be too much red stuff
This is why I go hiking
This runoff creek leads to the local version of "Heidi Land" — an area of
grasses, meandering streams, and a high-mountain feel.
Into Ted's Garden #2
A month ago, this meadow still was snow-covered; and that's why it is difficult to enjoy all of Ted's Gardens in a single visit. One has to time a visit perfectly, and get luck as well. Was it worth the wait this time around? See for yourself:
Red Mountain Heather — #2 on my Top-7 list
This is the only place on today's route where one can enjoy John Muir's favorite flower:
White Mountain Heather
This is the right place to pause for a snack and contemplate my good fortune.
Alpine Speedwell
Marsh Marigold
Elephant Heads
Those guys are significantly different from the "Little" variety seen earlier.
Heidi, where are you? The photos cannot show what a good-feeling place this is
The terminal moraine
Field Pussytoes
Blue Flax
Manyflower Stickseed
Western Wallflower
Sulfurflower Buckwheat
Valerian
Round Top Lake is just over that hill, but I lack the inclination for that as well
Pretty Shooting Star
Starting back from Winnemucca Lake
Lunch stop
Red Lake Peak is across the highway
Most of the next mile of trail includes a big sloping meadow supported by three
springs, and it is Ted's Garden #1.
Eyebane -aka- Nodding Spurge
Mountain Dandelion
Rydberg's Penstemon
More Giant Red
Seep Monkeyflower
Mertens' Rush
This little Lodgpole Pine never had a chance
Looking north at Little Round Top
Arrowleaf Ragwort
More Angelica
Wandering Daisy
Parsnip
Western Blue Flag Iris
Sticky Cinquefoil
Twolobe Larkspur
Downy Paintedcup Indian Paintbrush ??
That last name from my phone app is suspect; more research is in order.
Into the big meadow
Spreading Phlox
There are three springs in this meadow, according to the topo map; but only this southernmost one can be counted on always to be flowing:
The spring
In the distance are Thunder Mountain, Black Butte, Caples Lake,
and Little Round Top
The heart of this garden
Crimson Columbine
Cow Parsnip
Nettleleaf Giant Hissop -aka- Horsemint
Yellow Sundrops
Whitebark Pine
Rock Sandwort
One-seed Pussypaws
Edge of the garden
Onto the Pacific Crest Trail from here
Spearleaf Stonecrop
Farewell
Bypassing Frog Lake
More Slendertube Skyrocket, a variety of Scarlet Gilia
I couldn't resist a photograph of a hiker's T-shirt
The man says that he purchased it at the kiosk; I'll check that out.
A single Fireweed bush
Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily
Now it's just a matter of surviving the last mile back, on the PCT.
Daisies galore
Many thanks to today's host
No matching T-shirt is available at the trailhead
§: Well, what a marvelous walk that was! I shot 61 varieties of flower
today — two short of my personal record, and there were others.
Perhaps this odyssey remains incomplete without a follow-up a month from now,
which would feature a bevy of later-season varieties.
The outing was partially incomplete in that I did not continue up to Round Top
Lake — my favorite spot in the region, and shame on me for that.
Depite today's relative incapacity, however, this was the most rewarding trek I have
made in a quite a while.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality |  |
| Adventure |  |
| Flowers |  |
Here are a couple of older shots from the two depleted gardens taken somewhat earlier in a season, with both featuring Sierra Stonecrop together with Sulfur Buckwheat:
Ted's Garden #4
Ted's Garden #5
