Round Top
Round Top Lake
Winnemucca Lake

We've done parts of this hike a number of times before, but this time our goal was the top of Round Top. At almost 10,400' it is one of only nine 10,000'+ peaks in the Tahoe Sierra Range. On this trip, the rating was nudged up a bit due to 60 mph wind gusts while above the saddle. It was an exhilarating experience with a bit of rock climbing/scrambling to reach the top.

The trailhead begins at the paved parking lot on Highway 88 at Carson Pass.

The first 2.5 miles to Winnemucca Lake is an easy stroll and in the spring is one of the premier wildflower hikes. Check out the Winnemucca Lake hike. Botany professors bring their classes from hundreds of miles away to revel in the abundance of flora. We were passed 'prime time' so encountered very few hikers on the trail and only found a couple of flowers in bloom tucked away under larger brush.

After a very brief stop at the lake, we continued on toward Round Top Lake. This is where the trail starts it's upward climb. The next mile takes you past the 9,000' foot level to 9,400', always with Round Top looking down on us as if to say "Give me your best shot".

At Round Top Lake, we stopped for refreshments and chattered encouragement to get ready for the next part of the trip. One has to remember that most of us have seen 60 in our past! We did leave one of our group behind (who was recovering from an illness) to relax and wait for our return.

After our repast, we started up the sandy trail to the gap between Round Top and The Sisters. On our way up, we were above a gully that was fed by water from the one remaining snow patch on the flank of the east Sister. We decided that we would return that way.

Once we reached the broad expanse of the saddle, the wind hit us from the south. We had been blessed with a light breeze on the way up, but this was something entirely different. Best guesses at this point put the gust at around 30-35 mph. Just when you had leaned into it, the gust would die away - until you straightened back up!

With our hats cinched down, we started picking our way around, through, and over the rocky approach to the top. A lot of it required all four appendages, with at least three in contact with the rocks at all times.

At the top ridge, the gust were even stronger, top out at around 50 mph. One of our group ventured out along the ridge to get a photo of Winnemucca, Elephant's Back, and the trails that led us here. The wind was so unpredictable that traversing the last gap to the 'real' peak wasn't safe.

Before heading back down, we gathered out of the wind behind a rock wall that some predecessor had thoughtfully constructed. It provided a nice break to reflect on our accomplishment before braving the wind and the descent.

Once past the rocky approach, the wind tended to blow us down the slope - which wasn't entirely unwelcome, just unnerving. The trip down to the saddle didn't take nearly as long as going up - go figure.

Once out of the wind and into the little gully, everyone relaxed and enjoyed this little hangover of spring. The trip back included a little circumnavigation of Round Top Lake (which had white caps). The rest of the way back was uneventful, although 'they' did add a few miles to a perfectly good trail since we had come the other way on it.