The larger Great Basin ecosystem is a 200,000 square mile area that drains inward. All precipitation in this region evaporates, sinks underground, or flows into lakes. No water reaches the ocean. Great Basin’s lowest point is 6,195 feet at Snake Creek and the highest point in Great Basin is 13,063 feet on Wheeler Peak. This national park has a pleasantly understated appearance, when compared to the circus atmosphere of many, more famous parks.
We found the most people at the trailhead for the Wheeler Peak and Rock Glacier hikes. Still, the parking lot holds just 22 cars so not many people. We got an early start for this hike since it is a small lot and we wanted to be sure to get a spot.
First we hiked to Stella and Teresa lakes which weren’t very full this time of year. It’s high altitude hiking with the start at 10,171 feet! I think most people this day may have been there to hike Wheeler Peak because we didn’t see anyone until a few people at the ancient Bristlecone Pine Grove.
Some of the oldest trees on earth live on the craggy mountain slopes of Great Basin National Park. The rare Great Basin bristlecone pine grows in isolated groves near the tree line, where it can survive for 4,000 years or more under extremely harsh conditions. Great Basin Bristlecone pines are remarkable for being the oldest non-clonal species on the planet! Derek geeked out and took a million pictures and I have to admit, the trees were pretty impressive.
After hiking through the bristlecone pine grove we kept going to the rock glacier. The ice visible on the surface is only a portion of the whole glacier, the rest is covered with debris and therefore considered to be a rock glacier. As the glacier moves it gouges a bowl in the face of the mountain. When the river of ice reaches the point where more ice melts than arrives, the glacier deposits its accumulated burden of rock and debris in a moraine. That’s all you can see is jumbled rocks everywhere. The glacier is shrinking and scientists believe it will be gone within 20 years.
We hiked back out feeling fortunate to have seen this place.
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