High Sierra Topix

I went up Pyramid Creek today and scrambled up the west side of Horsetail Falls all the way up to Avalanche Lake and Pitt Lake in Desolation Wilderness. The lakes were amazing, and the scramble was fun, but the "normal" Pyramid Creek Loop/Horsetail Falls trail doesn't seem like it'd be worth the $5 parking fee!

I'm not a local, so I can't say for certain, but I thought conditions were just about perfect. There's still a decent amount of water coming down the falls, but it's low enough that boulder-hopping is easy and the creek doesn't feel dangerous in the slightest. And the area around the lakes has dried up enough that you can explore all around. (Fortunately for me, the 30mph winds today kept me from being able to give a mosquito report.) Mountain pride is blooming everywhere; up top, the heather has mostly finished, but the labrador tea is running rampant. No snow anywhere.

I'll post photos if my motel's WiFi decides to cooperate...

Horsetail Falls from a distance
Horsetail Falls up close
just below Avalanche Lake
Avalanche Lake
between Avalanche Lake and Pitt Lake
Pitt Lake
mountain pride (Newberry's penstemon)
western labrador tea

You can park on the right hand side of US-50 (heading east) a few hundred feet before the parking lot which is on the left hand side. There's a little road which leads to some cabins. Probably 10 cars can fit here if oriented properly. This way you avoid the $5 fee.

Thank you for the TR and pretty pictures Adam.