Speeding to Spooner

Our current home is the Comstock RV Park in Carson City right near the intersection of Hwy. 395 and Hwy. 50 (that takes you up to Lake Tahoe).  It is conveniently located near three large shopping areas (I like that!).  It is about 15 minutes from the Carson Valley Swim Center, which we go to at least 5-6 times a week.  I take the water aerobics classes while Gary freestyle swims and water walks.  I love the swim center.  It is an amazing place and I'll talk more about it in another blog.

Today was a beautiful day in the valley and the temperature was in the high 60s ... awesome!  So, after a leisurely morning at the swim center and doing book work (Gary) we decided to use our new Nevada Trails book and experiment with a little more 4-wheelin'. 

Up Hwy. 50 we headed to Spooner Summit (7,140 feet elevation) and turned off where we thought the trail head was located.  Unfortunately, it wasn't and we could only head down the hill to Hwy. 395 before we were able to get turned around and head back up again.  This time I took Gary's sound advice and we pulled into the Spooner picnic area and trailhead.  Dang-a-roonie if the gates weren't closed for the winter (very disappointing after going up the hill twice).  So I peeked in the trail book and sho-nuf boss, all the 4-wheel trails in the Sierras close the end of September.  We were not deterred in the least.  We quickly elected to go with the undisclosed Plan "B" which was to drive to Spooner Lake instead (only 1/2 mile away). 
 
Spooner Lake is a small, alpine lake at Spooner Summit (not far from Lake Tahoe). It lies within the 12,242-acre Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. The 2-mile Spooner Lake Loop Trail is a well-maintained interpretive trail through meadows, pine and fir forest, and aspen groves. There are developed picnic sites spread throughout Jeffrey pines and white firs on the bluff above the lake. Spooner Lake is also a major trailhead for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians entering the back country. The picnic areas and a loop trail provide an easy, accessible mountain birding experience.  There are also bear warning signs and we saw bear scat near the lake making the warning more "real" than just a sign on the road!
 

Here are some pictures of this lovely little lake.

See those brown leafless trees in the middle of the photo below? Those are aspens, and if we had been here in October, they would have been golden and gorgeous.  Just missed it! 

In the photo (below) you can see how low the lake is--after all the summer has passed and we're now in November. 

Doesn't this photo have a beautiful lake reflection of the surrounding Jeffrey pines?

We walked only a very short part of the 2-mile trail -- Sherwood's pretty gimpy and we weren't prepared for a hike ... we were all set to go 4-wheelin'.  But this photo I took on the trail (using my handy-dandy Gorilla) on our way back up from lakeside.

The lake was rife with water fowl.  I zoomed in all the way to see if I could get a shot to give you a peek at just a little portion of the large number of ducks and other water fowl taking advantage of this lake refuge.





On the drive back, I had Gary safely pull over so I could get a few pictures of the Carson Valley from high up on Hwy. 50. In these photos you are looking across the Valley to the Pinenut Mountains. The Carson Valley is nicely nestled between the Pinenuts (to the east) and the Sierras (to the west).  I love the beautiful Carson Valley … and to think, it’s my new home!

 

 

We have not given up on 4-wheelin’!  There’s the Carson River Trail that is open all year round only 15-20 miles from our location, so that’s our target next week!

Psalms 148:7-14 // Praise the LORD from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills; fruit trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; creeping things and winged fowl; kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; both young men and virgins; old men and children.  Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven. And He has lifted up a horn for His people, praise for all His godly ones; even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.  Praise the LORD!