Winnemucca Lake - August 2023

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A group of 11 hikers drove up to Carson Pass (8,652 ft.) and did the classic walk to Winnemucca Lake (9,282 ft.) and back. Nine of us carpooled and met Max & Maryam at the Carson Pass ranger station area, about 10 am.  

It was a Saturday and this being a popular trail, the main parking lot plus two overflow lots were full. My group unexpectedly found a parking space at the main lot when two hikers who were out early returned. The group Rich was with had lucked out earlier.   

Once on the trail it was a clear day with temperatures in the high 70s or low 80s, gradually becoming cooler & more windy as we neared the Lake. Later in the afternoon a light cloud cover was hanging around. 

note - you can enlarge any part of a picture by left-clicking in and then out again (with some exceptions). 

small pond near start of walk   uphill to Frog Lake >
    see note below Elephant's Back on the left
lot of hikers today Jean at snow crossing paintbrush
Round Top at 10,381 ft. first look at Winnemucca Lake
lunch stop view Maryam

note - (l to r) Marcia, Maryam, Max, Jean, Julie, Karen, Rich, Donna, Rick, & Diane (I took the photo). 

The group had lunch in the shade of a wind-blown tree, with a great lake view. A few of us walked about five more minutes to see more of the lake. 

lunch spot all but three Donna in the mule's ears
  Rich in the rock garden  Red Lake Peak at 10,063 ft. Elephant's Back at 9,581 ft.
columbine paintbrush & lupine Black Butte, at 9.000 ft. (volcanic cinder cone)
gentian whitebark pine  Jean and Donna
Red Lake Peak again skyrocket < Frog Lake again & mariposa lily >
two photos from Rich mule's ears another view of the lake, taken July '19 on the Woods Lake approach

The walk from Carson Pass to the Lake & back was 5 miles, with an elevation gain of about 650 ft.  

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