Hat Tip for this hike goes to republican senator Thomas Kuchel who was among the sponsors of the Wilderness Act of 1964 that established the Mokelumne Wilderness.

The air is hazy early on, due to fires in Yosemite I guess, but clears up a bit for us as we make our way up Round Top peak. We begin from our campsite on a forest road, quickly pass the mosquito-infested Wood’s Lake trailhead, and begin to relax near the ruins of Lost Cabin mine.

Campsite

Vehicle Ruin

Wildflowers are still going strong, and the mountain lakes here gladden the heart.

Pennyroyal

Round top lake from below

The view from the peak stretches further west and south than I’ve seen yet since moving to Reno, despite the hazy air.

Ann on Round Top

Round top hazy view south

We return on a different trail via Winnemucca Lake, where there are even more wildflowers, including scarlet columbine, alpine lilies, and big meadows of paintbrush.

Scarlet columbine at Winnemucca lake

Flower meadows

Alpine Lilies

We wonder if there are climbing routes on the cliffs east of Round Top, which look like a smaller Mount Whitney.

Round top cliffs