Round Top Peak Via PCT Winnemucca Lake - Carson Pass, CA

7/12/2017

Pristine alpine lakes, creeks, lush valley, forest and mountain views with displays of colorful summer's wildflowers, wow! This hike has it all. Amazing hike to Round Top Peak with gorgeous views and wildflowers via PCT - Winnemucca Lake from Carson Pass. As of July 12, the first mile or so from Carson Pass trailhead is snow free, and thereafter patches and fields of snow still remain here and there along the trail. The route to Round Top Lake and Round Top Peak is still under snow/2 - 3 feet deep. The saddle to the summit is snow free.

Wildflowers galore!....Tahoe mule ears, paintbrush, lupine....just name a few.  Many wildflowers are blooming along the trail, particularly by Winnemucca Lake. Also, around Frog Lake. 

Round Top Peak (10,381') is one of the three prominent peaks above 10,000 feet in Lake Tahoe region. The other two are Freel Peak(10,881') and Mt. Rose (10,776'). The easiest approach to summit is from the west ridge and Class 2 scrambling to the top. The route to the saddle is steep and still snow covered and slushy/slippery, so hiking poles and micro-spikes are useful if you aim to summit anytime soon. Enjoy sweeping views from the top in all directions! Be careful at the top as the summit is small and narrow.

Carson Pass was a historic pass during the California Gold Rush and PCT traverses the pass. Carson Pass also has a California Historical Landmark (#315) where Kit Carson carved his name on a tree. Kit Carson was a guide to lead the 1844 Fremont Expedition.

There were quite a few PCT thru hikers seen on trail traveling north. Wish them safe journey and good luck!

Carson Pass Information Center at trailhead....stop by for update info, permit, fees. The staff are very helpful.

Video by Lifeisamt

Bayview Trail (Granite Lake/Maggies Peaks/Dicks Lake) - Desolation Wilderness, CA 8/7/2016

Trailhead -Bayview Trail

Moderately strenuous hike

10 miles RT

1,700' elevation gain 

This is a great hike to experience Desolation Wilderness with spectacular views.  Maggies Peaks are one of the gateways to Desolation Wilderness. There is no official trail going up to Maggies Peaks from the main trail/Bayview Trail, but you can follow boot tracks to the peaks once you reach the saddle and aim to climb towards the top.  Keep "minimum impact" in mind, however, and not to trek over and damage vegetation. Maggies south peak offers a fantastic panoramic view of Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay, Cascade Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake and South Lake Tahoe with surrounding Tahoe rim and Carson range peaks - Mt. Tallac, Freel Peak, Jobs Peaks, Mt. Rose and more.  From Maggies north peak, you can peek into the remote alpine environment of Desolation Wilderness.

I continued the journey to Dicks Lake from Maggies Peaks via Bayview Trail and took the same route back to the trailhead.  You can take side trip options for Velma Lake and/or Eagle Lake en route to/from Dicks Lake, which will add extra distance and time to the journey.

Freel Peak, CA

Freel Peak (10,881’), CA

September 2, 2010

Trout Creek Trailhead: 11 miles RT

Elevation gain - 3,680’

People may not have heard of this peak.  In fact, I didn’t know until my friend told me about it. Located at the south end of the Carson Range, which runs north to south along the east side of Lake Tahoe, Freel Peak (10,881’) is the highest point of Tahoe basin. It may have less hiking traffic compared to other popular hikes such as Mount Tallac and Mount Rose. The hike is rather strenuous; gaining 3,680’ in 5 miles into the elevation 10,881’ is more than just a workout. It will physically challenge you to conquer Freel Peak, no doubt. There are two other peaks right next to Freel Peak - Jobs Sister and Jobs Peak, and a triple summit of Tahoe basin’s high points in one day is possible: Freel Peak (10,881’ - highest of the Tahoe basin); Jobs Sister (second highest - 10,823’); and Jobs Peak (fourth highest - 10,673’). I started my hike a little late, getting to the trailhead around 3pm because of an unexpected road work on the way.  Trailhead is easy to find and the trail is well maintained, though you have to share with mountain bikers. Gradual ascent through the forest gives a great opportunity to enjoy the tree lines of Lodgepole pine, Red fir and Whitebark pine. The last 1 mile to the summit is quite challenging…..steep and sandy trail above 10,000’. If you plan to summit Freel Peak in summer, bring enough water to stay hydrated, or you will regret….it gets pretty hot and dry.  The 360 degree view from the top of Freel Peak is well worth for the effort. Vistas from the summit at 10,881’ are breathtaking. I didn’t have enough time to explore Jobs Sister and Jobs Peak this time.  I’ll save it for the next time….triple summit.

How to get there: 

Take I-50 to S. Lake Tahoe. After I-50 and HWY 89 merge, take right onto Pioneer Trail; then, right onto Oneidas Street. The trailhead is about 4 miles up the road. There is a gate at the end of Oneidas Street. Near the gate there is a sign which says “Freel Peak”. Trail is easy to follow up to Armstrong Pass where you come to a 4 way intersection….south to Big Meadow, west to Fountain Place and Pioneer Trail (where you come from), and north towards Star Lake and Kingsbury. Follow the sign to Star Lake and trek up to reach the saddle at the junction of Tahoe Rim Trail and Freel Peak Trail, which takes you to the Freel summit.

*Click to view large.

First hike through tree lines until Armstrong Pass. Trees that dominate tree lines are Lodgepole pine, Red fir, and Whitebark pineand they are typical in Tahoe Sierra. Trail is well-maintained and easy to follow, and it’s also a bike trail. Castle-like steep crags stand out along the saddle - Trimmer Peak.

Armstrong Pass where the 4 way intersection is……south to Big Meadow, west to Fountain Place and Pioneer Trail/Trout Creek trail (where I hiked from), or north towards Star Lake and Kingsbury. This is a halfway point to the summit if you hike from west (Trout Creek trail).

 

Fountain Face…dramatic rock formations on the west slope of Freel Peak. Fountain Place…green meadow below the trail. Both were named after Garret Fountain, who built a way station at Fountain Place in 1860. He thought that Armstrong Pass would be the chosen gateway through the mountains for the miners from CA to Comstock Lode (Virginia City), NV., hoping that he could make some good business from the traveling traffic. However, Armstrong Pass never became a popular pass because Comstock Lode mine operators financed to build Daggett Pass (the present Kingsbury Grade Rd = SR 207), about 8 miles north of Freel Peak instead.  Fountain’s ambition was never fulfilled. No buildings remain at Fountain Place today.

Creek crossing, waterfall and wildflower.

 

 

This is where the two trails meet…the trail from Armstrong Pass and the other from Tahoe Rim Trail approaching from north. The pic (above) shows the view north of Monument Pass and Monument Peak (10,067’), and Lake Tahoe is visible. Monument Peak is home of Heavenly Ski Resort. The sign says 1 mile to the summit. 

 

Above 10,000', vegetation thins out and the trail gets sandy and kicks your butt!

Freel Peak summit - 10.881'. Sunset view of Lake Tahoe.  

 Mt. Rose (10,776') is visible (far right).

 

  Jobs Peak in front, Freel Peak casting its shadow against the sky.

 Kirkwood and Sierra Nevada and Crystal Range (Desolation Wilderness) in skyline. On a clear day, Yosemite Valley can be seen in distance.