Hiking the Road to Nowhere

It is not the destination but the journey that is important. Thus it was on hike number two. It had a rather unknown air about it. I had a map. I did. I got it from the Forestry Service in Carson City. It was difficult to read though our path was on there. The Waterfall we were seeking was not. Thus, we missed the path to the falls and just kept going. Up and Up and Up.
It was a good hike: Kings Canyon is tucked in the northwestern corner of Carson above a residential neighborhood that I did not know existed. Nice flavor of discovery and it wasn't long before we were up in alpine territory looking at melting snow and realizing we had to come back and take the trail all the way to Spooner Lake at the summit on Highway 50 sometime this spring. We weren't really prepared for more than 4 or 5 miles. SP drained her Camelpak before we were even back to our starting point. I didn't bring anything to eat but trailmix. I think we did 4 miles, two of which were a steady uphill. Waking up those glutes and quads. It was a beautiful day. The waterfall will have to wait for another time. We revelled in the accomplishment.


Heading up, this is just a ways before we crested the trail where it evened off and headed south.

Alpine tree line and snow - really pretty and smelled wonderful


Coming back down looking over North Carson City. It was really hazy that day.


Our first hike two weeks ago was conquering Prison Hill, named mostly for the two prisons you can see from the summit. This is the capitol and I guess we get most of Northern Nevada's prisoners. Maximum security is in Ely. This is reassuring. Anyway, if you are driving through Carson City on highway 395 you can see Prison Hill from every angle. There is a big S on it.
I have been itching to climb it since I moved here just because it is there and loaded with trails meandering all over the place. Being spring and uncertain about snow melt and conditions in Tahoe we have decided to warm up the hiking mojo in Carson City. Summers here are much too hot to be climbing around in and there is very little shade available. Spring conditions are perfect for traipsing around these parts. Up we went, without hesitation I might add, scrambling to the top like mountain goats. Found a flat rock grouping and had a snack and looked out over all of Carson City. Wandered around up there for a while to take in a 360 view and then headed down.
I didn't take my camera but I found a photo from a biking club that has done the hill as well. This is looking south westerly across Carson City across towards Genoa and the Sierras. It was a great start to the season.

Uploaded from facility bike club