Day 2: Great Basin NP
July 8th, 2007
Today we were up and adam at 7am and in the car by 7:25. After some debate we decided to remain at Baker Creek Campground tonight. The only issue we had was that we did not have the exact amount for the camping fee ($12 per night). So we improvised and wrote a note to the camp host pleading our case that we WOULD be paying for another nights stay. The note read something like this:
“staying a 2nd night but only have $20 bills. getting correct change.”
We placed this note at our campsite and by 7:36am we were on our way to the trail head. En route we stopped at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center to purchase our America the Beautiful NPS Annual Pass. Due to an advertisement in the parks newspaper, we were able to get a cave tour for free so we saved $10. It was a process in order to do this, as yesterday when Kim had made the reservations for the cave tour, they actually ran the credit card. So the ranger today had to do an credit of the full amount and then do two separate transactions- one for the free tour and one for the paid tour. It was worth the trouble. While we were at the visitor center we got the first NPS stamp for the trip and christened our new NPS Passport Explorer Edition binder. After purchasing our traditional pin and patch, we had enough money to make the exact amount for our campsite. So we headed back to the campground and paid the camping fee.
Finally at 8:34am we actually headed to the trail head, arriving at 9am. We started the hike at 9:15am and ten minutes later we branched off for the Bristlecone-Glacier trail. At 10:45 we completed the Bristlecone trail. This was an interesting section as you get to walk through an area with the oldest known trees, some dead and some very much alive. We stopped to have a snack prior to heading on to the Glacier Trail. At 11:30am we arrived basically at the end of the trail- or what we decided was the best spot to stop in order to actually see the glacier in the pictures. We figured that if you were any closer no one would understand what the picture was of. It was very cool seeing the glacier. It is the only one in Nevada, go figure.
On the way back toward the car we decide to take the trail to Teresa Lake. Both of us agree that Teresa Pond is a much more appropriate name for this lake. It was very obvious that the water table was extremely low. Scott took a few minutes to relax and soaked his feet in the alpine lake. Kim was not so brave. While eating a snack, we were joined by another couple who took in the scenery. We learned from the couple that these weird little bugs that look like twigs in the water are called Caddis flies. The female of the duo was extremely excited about the find.
At 1pm we took off to complete the Alpine Lakes trail. Not long into this part f the hike we decide that we should have just gone back the way we had started the hike. This way was taking a lot longer than we wanted it to. Or maybe it felt that way because we were tired. The second alpine lake on this trail is much more impressive than the first, which makes completing this trail worth it. We get back to the car at 2pm and are glad for the air conditioned car.
By 2:30pm we are back at the visitor center and get ready for the cave tour. There was a brief introduction to the cave which included the cave rules- i.e. no touching! It amazes us how many people touch the cave after hearing the harm our human oils do to the cave formations. Maybe its like when someone who has their arm in a sling says for people not to touch their arm and everybody seems to go ahead a touch the arm with the sling on it. Weird. The cave tour was pretty good. Lots of neat formations. Very interesting history of the cave. Some people reading this may have heard of Lehman Caves National Monument which is what Great basin National Park was called initially. We both enjoyed the tour which lasted about 1.5 hours.
Afterwards, we headed into town to get gas. It is a very small town and only can afford two pumps with no building, just vending machines. But they can afford to charge $3.41 per gallon which is the most expensive gas so far. We notice that the town has all this weird artwork all over- on fences and in yards. After filling the tank up halfway, we decide to check out the Great Basin Visitor Center which we were unable to see yesterday due to getting in to the park so late. We quickly realize there really is not much to see and spend very little time in the center.
We head back up Wheeler Peak to take in the view points and exhibits that we could not do earlier in the day. As we drove to Mather overlook we saw a small group of deer maybe elk chowing down on some of the foliage. On the way down the drive to our campground we saw lots of rabbits and deer. Once back at the campsite we take a stroll over to Baker Creek to snap some pictures. It was a nice way to end the day at Great Basin.
By 8:30 we were done preparing and eating dinner. Scott attempted to take pictures of the night sky as Great Basin has the best night sky in the country- free from light interference so that you can actually see the milky way. We saw so many stars and Kim got possibly her first view of the milky way. Very cool. By 10:30ish we were in the tent, ready for a good nights sleep.