Kirkwood Ca, November 27, 2022 – The hike from Carson Pass to Winnemucca lake is one we have done often when there is dirt showing on the ground. But this holiday weekend, we decided to try this trip with snow on the ground for #outoutside Friday.
What a different and beautiful trip.
Carson Pass Trail
Carson Pass is considered a Sno-park, a winter sno-park parking pass was required for our adventures today. This year California has raised the rates to $15 per day or $40 for the season. We can save that argument of injustice for another day. However, I had to start my day by going to Ca.gov and trying to locate the buy now button. This process should be much more straightforward. Needless, I did find the page, and we packed up for the day with our printed version of the pass.
Pass in hand, we packed up and traveled the 20 miles down Highway 88 to Carson Pass. It is clear that the early November snow has already settled with the warmer temperatures as we travel through Hope Valley. However, the snow will only last for a while if the weather pattern returns to snowy conditions soon.
Parking at Carson Pass, we were shocked that the lot was nearly empty on this #Optoutside Friday. We got up early and beat the crowd. However, as expected, the trail looked well-traveled and packed, so the critical debate in our group started. Do we take Snowshoes, or do we risk it and travel via foot and snow boot? In our party, I chose to pack my snowshoes on my pack while everyone else decided to chance it on foot only. (This would prove foolish today)
For the first mile, my group of foot travelers chose correctly, and we traveled quickly over the snow trail previously marked out by snowshoes and skiers. I noted reasonably quickly that this trail does not precisely follow the trail to frog lake and Winnemucca lake as the summer PCT trail indeed does. Instead, after entering the Mokelumne Wilderness, the trail starts to develop its route towards Round Top Peak bypassing the way to Frog Lake. (For those looking to reach Frog Lake, pay attention to the upward trail near the Mokelumne Wilderness Sign.)
Approximately a mile in, my choice of bringing snowshoes was proven wise, and the warming morning made traveling over the packed snow challenging with every step. And the trail, no longer part of the PCT at this point, travels through a bit more challenging terrain with the little snow on the ground. We trekked onward towards Winnemucca Lake using Round top peak as our beacon. Sights of Caples lake on the horizon soon make it clear that this cross-country route had traveled over to the ridge that flanks Woods Lake. So considerably more vertical climb traversing this way versus the PCT past frog lake and around. That being said, it cuts off a half mile of the trail.
Arriving at Winnemucca lake, I was surprised to see a tent set up just before the lake. Winter Camping has never been my thing. But I can’t argue that being in the wilderness after it snows is so peaceful.
Winnemucca Lake is stunning in winter. At this time, ice covered 80% of the lake in a transparent sheet that did not look very thick. Water lapped at the ice near the Eastern Shore and in the center. Snow covered the crevasses of Round Top Peak and most of the rocky terrain around the lake, making the border of the lake a little easier to travel.
After a few minutes, my friends without shoes arrived one by one and sat exhausted on the large boulders at the Eastern Edge of the lake. Conversations of snowshoes and foolish choices seemed to dominate the discussions as we all sat there mesmerized at the beauty of this treasured Sierra Nevada location.
In the distance, we could see skiers traversing the slopes up to Roundtop Lake. But we had the lake all to ourselves for 10-15 minutes. It became clear, however, that we must have beat the crowd as soon as several winter travelers with pets and groups of 3-4 started arriving at the lake. As previously mentioned, this lake is popular and loved by locals year-round.
Because we got such an early start, none of us packed lunch for this trek. Instead snacked on apples, nuts, and trail bars for a refuel before heading back down to the car. The clouds started to clear after sitting there a bit. The sun and blue sky were about to grace the afternoon in the Mokelumne wilderness. Warmer temps would make for a beautiful day but also much softer snow meaning my traveling companions would now face an entire trip where snowshoes would have been a much better choice.
The trip down the mountain was relatively quick, and we met many snow travelers who had also chosen no snowshoes. I wonder if they made it to the lake. We also ran into several groups with sleds and just enjoying a day in the mountains. It did make me wonder if they had invested in a sno-park pass for sledding or if they were chancing it they would not get caught.
Overall it was a great day. Always is when playing in the snow in the Sierra. I will return again to make the trip to Frog lake and make the official trail, but today I was happy to see one of my favorite Sierra destinations in the snow.
