Great Basin National Park is only three hours from our home and always delivers as a favorite destination for solitude, great scenery and challenging hikes. It had been almost two years since we last visited GBNP and it was high time to return to this special place. We didn't have a specific hike in mind . . . in fact, our only priority was to find a good camping spot . . . which we successfully accomplished!
The next morning we decided to take the scenic drive to the Wheeler Peak trailhead. We followed the path for a couple of miles, passing Stella Lake, and then took a northerly ridge that lead us to the summit of Bald Mountain. After enjoying a break and the views, we descended (using a slightly different route) that brought us back to the Wheeler Peak trail. What a great way to spend a gorgeous Fall day!  |
| Baker Creek Campground was a great place to camp . . . even these turkeys thought so! |
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| A campfire makes camping fun . . . especially if you have to sleep in a tent! |
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| Starting out for our five-mile hike |
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| Wheeler Peak, on the right, is the highest in the Snake Range at 13,063 ft |
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| It's always fun to see deer on our hikes |
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| In a little over a mile we arrived at Stella Lake . . . so pretty! |
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| This chipmunk is pointing us in the right direction |
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| Soon we will leave the Wheeler Peak trail and head cross-country for Bald Mountain |
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| Colorful rocks along the way |
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| There's no trail . . . just a destination ahead |
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| Yes, it's quite rocky . . . aren't all the mountains in the Great Basin? |
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| Looking to the west . . . Spring Valley and it's wind turbines! |
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| Looking south towards Wheeler Peak from the top of Bald Mountain (11,562) |
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| Windswept Limber Pines cling to the rocky slope |
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| A perfect day for a hike! |
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| We drove up to the end of the road and saw these unusual cars from Oregon |
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| Cute as can be . . . but I think I'd rather travel in our 4Runner! |
