Barker Lake and Wonderland of Rocks Loop - 1.23.2017
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.
|
I am in pretty much full winter gear... hope I'm not mistaken for a terrorist.
|
It rained last night and there is running water in places on the trail.
|
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'.
|
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.
|
Working my way above the lake... on challenging terrain.
|
Slow and steady.
|
A little steep... but good sticky rock.
|
Weather coming in as I get higher above the lake.
|
A little carving by Mother Nature.
|
Wow... what happened here?
|
Heading for the lone tree.
|
Looking into the 'Wonderland of Rocks' from my high point by the lone tree... the Astro Domes are on the left.
|
Looking south to Ryan Mountain on the left.
|
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.
|
What a view... Ryan Mountain on the left... with Quail Mountain the highest one on the far right.
|
Heading back toward the pass to the right of the Astro Domes... words cannot describe the rock here.
|
Another hallway.
|
I can no longer see Barker Lake... continuing toward the Astro Domes and looking back at Ryan Mountain.
|
The Astro Domes look close from here... but they really aren't.
|
Looking back at my route as I continue toward the Astro Domes.
|
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'.
|
I needed to get lower... so I came down the gully in the center of the photo... a Class 2/3 scramble.
|
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.
|
It snowed fairly hard for at least 45 minutes.
|
In the 'Wonderland of Rocks'.
|
In the 'Wonderland of Rocks' and heading for the car... the recent rain has brought out the green color.
|
Following the water out of the 'Wonderland of Rocks'.
|
One of many narrow places in the 'Wonderland of Rocks'.
|
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.
|
