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 >
		Carson Pass topography		see note below		Elephant's Back on the left
	lot of hikers on the trail 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 canopy, 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)	Black Butte, like a castle, has a commanding view of Caples Lake
		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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