Barker Lake and Wonderland of Rocks Loop - 1.23.2017

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The Barker Dam Loop is one of the most popular hikes in the park... but on this very chilly morning I was the only person at the trailhead.
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I am in pretty much full winter gear... hope I'm not mistaken for a terrorist.
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It rained last night and there is running water in places on the trail.
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It doesn't take very long to reach Barker Lake. In April, 2015, there wasn't a drop of water in this lake. The dam is around the lake on the left, but I'm going to the right (east) and see if I can't get up above the lake. The rock formation on the far right is the Astro Domes. My plan is to go through a pass on the right of the domes and drop into the 'Wonderland of Rocks'.
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Working my way around the east side of Barker Lake and trying to get higher... the Barker Dam can be seen on the other side of the lake.
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Working my way above the lake... on challenging terrain.
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Slow and steady.
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A little steep... but good sticky rock.
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Weather coming in as I get higher above the lake.
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A little carving by Mother Nature.
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Wow... what happened here?
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Heading for the lone tree.
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Looking into the 'Wonderland of Rocks' from my high point by the lone tree... the Astro Domes are on the left.
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Looking south to Ryan Mountain on the left.
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I was losing my view of Barker Lake... so I decided to go back and look at it a bit longer before continuing on toward the Astro Domes... and this nice hallway led me back for part of the way.
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What a view... Ryan Mountain on the left... with Quail Mountain the highest one on the far right.
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Heading back toward the pass to the right of the Astro Domes... words cannot describe the rock here.
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Another hallway.
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I can no longer see Barker Lake... continuing toward the Astro Domes and looking back at Ryan Mountain.
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The Astro Domes look close from here... but they really aren't.
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Looking back at my route as I continue toward the Astro Domes.
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Pointing at the Astro Domes... I'm trying to reach the pass above my head that connects the Barker Lake area and the 'Wonderland of Rocks'.
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I needed to get lower... so I came down the gully in the center of the photo... a Class 2/3 scramble.
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Did I mention that the weather was coming in... I'm at the pass that connects the Barker Lake area with the 'Wonderland of Rocks'... and I'm looking at snow flakes.
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It snowed fairly hard for at least 45 minutes.
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In the 'Wonderland of Rocks'.
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In the 'Wonderland of Rocks' and heading for the car... the recent rain has brought out the green color.
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Following the water out of the 'Wonderland of Rocks'.
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One of many narrow places in the 'Wonderland of Rocks'.
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Out of the rocks... leaving a third-of-a-mile to get back to the car... a 3 mile loop hike, gaining 330 feet of elevation.