Mokelumne Wilderness

Sierra Nevada wilderness areas in eastern
California. Map from www.sierrawild.gov.

The Sierras boast a string of wilderness areas from Desolation and Granite Chief near Lake Tahoe to Yosemite and Ansel Adams in the central Sierra to a constellation of smaller wildernesses in the south Sierra. I have not visited most of these, but yesterday I did a day hike in the Mokelumne Wilderness that intersects three national forests just south of Lake Tahoe. It was gorgeous.

Round Top Lake and "The Sisters" with
Kalmia polifolia (swamp laurel) in the foreground.

Starting near Woods Lake, I headed south on the Lost Cabin Mine trail with my first major destination being Round Top Lake. Nestled at the base of jagged snow-draped peaks known as “the Sisters”, Round Top Lake is a small alpine lake, displaying colors from brown to baby blue to turquoise depending on one’s perspective. From the lake surface at over 9000 ft elevation to the Sister’s heights of over 10,000 ft, snow lingered only in patches, though it would possibly be much more extensive this time of year if not for the persistent California drought. The barren rock comprising the higher peaks around the lake was cracked or twisted, but also mottled with yellow and orange lichens giving the harsh rock a hint of softness. Trees were sparse at this elevation and appeared to consist only of white pines.

From the Round Top area, I descended southward into a valley of sorts, switching back and forth down the slope to Fourth of July Lake. It was about a thousand foot descent. This northern part of the Mokelumne wilderness is a popular hiking and camping destination, but despite a few signs of human impacts, the beautiful landscape was untrammeled.

Looking south into the Mokelumne Wilderness with Fourth of July Lake near center.

Erysimum sp. (wallflower).

Wildflowers were abundant throughout my hike, and at higher elevations they included bright white patches of Phlox, and stalks of wallflowers, exploding in vibrant yellow almost like little fireworks from the grey soils. On the descent down to Fourth of July Lake, plant diversity increased markedly. Delicate pink blooming Sidalcea became increasingly common and I also observed Maianthemum racemosum that appeared to have a more yellow inflorescence than I’m familiar with from the plants I recall from the Oregon Cascades.

A ring of forest surrounded Fourth of July Lake and included mountain hemlock, pines, firs and even some short alders at the water’s edge. Snowmelt fed a stream of sorts that entered the 8160 ft elevation lake from the west, and it made little waterfalls cascading down the steep granite slopes that hug the northern and western sides of the lake.

Wildlife seemed a little sparse on my hike – some birds, a few chipmunks and an unknown larger mammal that left my sight just after noticing it. There were beetles, ants, mosquitos, butterflies and tiny fish in Round Top Lake. However, plant species were plentiful (I have many new species to learn while reviewing my photographs) and the landscape was incredible.

From left to right: Sidalcea sp., assorted lichens, ridge on the far side of Summit City Creek valley.