Friday, August 21, 2015

Carson Pass Country, 2015

What would summer be without a short camping trip to Carson Pass? Two new hikes for me: scenic Dardanelles Lake and interesting Round Lake; and strenuous but highly rewarding Thunder Mountain, on the western edge of the Kirkwood ski resort.

Dardanelles Lake features a photogenic granitic cliff that plunges into the water at one end...




Rushes are round, and sedges have edges: both present in this boggy patch along the Dardanelles trail...




Round Lake is down a few feet during this drought year...




Gin, anyone?




Thunder Mountain is a long ridge made of volcanic rocks. The summit is the molar just left of the deep gap about a quarter of the way from the right end of the ridge...




The breathtaking view of Silver Lake from the summit...




Crazy layered volcanic formation...




The flowers are mostly well past their prime this year, but apparently these rock fringe didn't get the memo...




Colorful lichens LOVE the volcanic rocks...



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