Carson Pass Wildflowers?
- cthenn
- Topix Acquainted
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri May 04, 2012 10:17 am
- Experience: N/A
Carson Pass Wildflowers?
Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, but this one seems to get more hits, so I'll post here
Has anyone hiked/backpacked/camped in or around the Carson Pass area recently? Specifically the Woods Lake, Winnemucca Lake area. I'm thinking of taking a drive up there just to do some leisurely hiking and hunt for wildflowers. I don't know if it's too early, despite the relatively low-snow winter we had. I was just up there last weekend but we hiked north from the pass to Red Lake Peak, and that side was maybe a bit early (most of the Mule's Ears were still green and emerging). I am interested in finding the elusive Steer's Head, which I know only comes out near melting snow patches, so maybe now's a good time for that. But then again, if nothing else is really blooming, perhaps I may want to wait a few weeks.
Thanks!
Has anyone hiked/backpacked/camped in or around the Carson Pass area recently? Specifically the Woods Lake, Winnemucca Lake area. I'm thinking of taking a drive up there just to do some leisurely hiking and hunt for wildflowers. I don't know if it's too early, despite the relatively low-snow winter we had. I was just up there last weekend but we hiked north from the pass to Red Lake Peak, and that side was maybe a bit early (most of the Mule's Ears were still green and emerging). I am interested in finding the elusive Steer's Head, which I know only comes out near melting snow patches, so maybe now's a good time for that. But then again, if nothing else is really blooming, perhaps I may want to wait a few weeks.
Thanks!
- maverick
- Forums Moderator
- Posts: 11846
- Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
- Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Re: Carson Pass Wildflowers?
Carson Pass ranger station said that the peak is about 1 to 1 1/2 weeks away in that
area, and that an average to below average showing is to be expected this year due
to the low snow pack.
area, and that an average to below average showing is to be expected this year due
to the low snow pack.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.
Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
- Tollermom
- Topix Acquainted
- Posts: 71
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2012 4:49 pm
- Experience: N/A
- Location: Carson City, NV
Re: Carson Pass Wildflowers?
I did Showers Lake from the Caples Lake maintenance station (up and over the ridgeline) on Sunday and barely saw flowers. Spectacular views tho and no snow on the trail. My friend did the Sorenson's cliffs yesterday and she saw lots more flowers than she did last week...so they are starting to come out.
- cthenn
- Topix Acquainted
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri May 04, 2012 10:17 am
- Experience: N/A
Re: Carson Pass Wildflowers?
Thanks for the input. If it's 1-1.5 weeks away, that means the July 4 weekend? I'm busy that weekend, so my choices are this weekend, or the July 14-15 weekend. I would assume that would be better than this weekend, considering there may not be much at all to see...
- Fran
- Topix Acquainted
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed May 23, 2012 3:34 pm
- Experience: N/A
Re: Carson Pass Wildflowers?
Just returned from 4 days of day hikes, including Carson Pass to Roundtop Lake, Big Meadow to Dardenelles Lake, and Meiss Meadow at Carson Pass to Round Lake to Big Meadow (2 cars). The flowers are just getting started, along with the mosquitoes. Looks like a short season as some are appearing earlier than usual, but others froze before getting a good start. Irises in meadows are scant, compared to last year. Last summer was fantastic. I think the peak was in August when I was there--a veritable paradise of flowers! Here's a very short video I did this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHHzADWEID4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHHzADWEID4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- SSSdave
- Topix Addict
- Posts: 3524
- Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:18 pm
- Experience: N/A
- Location: Silicon Valley
- Contact:
Re: Carson Pass Wildflowers?
Backpacked last weekend into same volcanic geology areas and elevations at Ebbetts Pass. Sunny exposures probably peaking this weekend. Most open areas may peak next weekend. And wet meadow and forest flowers mid July. All usual species were present so someone looking for closeups ought to find plants to work with. However many plants small with few or no flowers as is typical when precipitation is low. Snow melted quickly and roots soaked up relatively lower amounts during brief melt period draining down through soils than after big winters. Most dominant species in these areas are always mule ears a perrenial. Lots of small plants just putting up a few leaves that will not flower and instead simply manufacture organic chemicals while leaves remain green to be stored back down in their roots in order to be more robust when they flower in following summers after next wet winter.
- cthenn
- Topix Acquainted
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri May 04, 2012 10:17 am
- Experience: N/A
Re: Carson Pass Wildflowers?
Thanks for the replies. We went anyway last weekend. It was ok, nothing to write home about. There were enough individual examples for us to enjoy and photograph, but no unbroken endless fields of color. Looks like in a few weeks, it may be better, so we'll probably go back in a few weeks. A few pics from what we did see:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- ChrisF
- Topix Newbie
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2011 8:03 pm
- Experience: N/A
Re: Carson Pass Wildflowers?
Great pics of asters, Cassiope (white heather), Sierra primrose, elephant heads, and languid ladies (one of its common names)!
- Fran
- Topix Acquainted
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed May 23, 2012 3:34 pm
- Experience: N/A
Re: Carson Pass Wildflowers?
Here are a few from last summer. Most of them are from August except the last one (steershead) which was taken May 24, 2011.
https://picasaweb.google.com/1101550319 ... ildflowers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://picasaweb.google.com/1101550319 ... ildflowers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- cthenn
- Topix Acquainted
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Fri May 04, 2012 10:17 am
- Experience: N/A
Re: Carson Pass Wildflowers?
Where did you find the Steershead? I was looking around for it (carefully), but didn't see it. I'll have to wait until next year I know, but it's a cool looking plant I have yet to find.Fran wrote:Here are a few from last summer. Most of them are from August except the last one (steershead) which was taken May 24, 2011.
https://picasaweb.google.com/1101550319 ... ildflowers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot] and 10 guests