7 July 2022 Woods Lake to Navajo Lake and back (9 miles, +3,000/-3,000 feet).
Today the weather looked a little better, so Goose and I decided to do a slightly longer hike. This time we drove to Woods Lake where we started our 2,500 foot climb into the Lizard Head wilderness, up to a ridge overlooking the Navajo Basin.
Woods Lake itself was gorgeous, a destination in its own right, and the flowers were spectacular!
Woods LakeShrubby CinquefoilScarlet giliaSpreading dogbaneLewis flaxTwinberry honeysuckleFar side of Woods LakeFivenerve helantheliaCoulter’s fleabaneCommon cowparsnipBog wintergreenRed baneberryElephant’s-Head lousewortWestern sweet-vetchSeep monkeyflowerNevada sweet peaTuber starwortFairy ring marasmiusBroadleaf arnica
Goose pointed out my favorite flower of the day, a tiny little thing right on trail:
At an old trapper’s cabin I had to stop and horse around:
No-oh-oh-oh-oh horses hereRed-berried elderGray’s angelicaSubalpine larkspurGeyer’s onionJimmyJam snaps a close-upParry’s primroseWow!Long-stalked cloverRhexia-leaf and Western Indian Paintbrushes Blue columbine
Above 11,000 feet near the top of the ridge we hit a meadow that was absolutely brimming with wildflowers.
Aaahhhh!Looking back on Little ConeAlpine sunflowerAlmost done with the big climb!Delores and Middle PeaksWestern WallflowerAnd a close-upPygmy-flower rock jasmineIndiscriminate Cuckoo Bumble BeeRed-berried elderFendler’s WaterleafBeautiful sandwortFendler’s PennycressSnowdon LilyDwarf phloxMore Beautiful sandwortArrowleaf senecio
I got really excited when we neared the basin, getting our first view of the aptly-toothy peak called “El Diente.”
El Diente (y El Ganso!)Alpine sandwortStemless mock goldenweedThis is pretty awesome!Tall blacktip ragwortHeading down into Navajo basinHoary pincushionTwinberry honeysuckleParry’s primrose
And in no time we made it down to Navajo Lake.
JimmyJam happyNavajo LakeGoose finds a place to chill
We hung out at the lake for a while, debating whether or not to jump in. In the end we decided to just enjoy the view.
Caltha chionophila
It was one more climb to start back to Woods Lake, but 500 feet feels easy after 2,500!
Back toards DeloresOne more snap with El DienteGoose and his delicious wraps (thank you!)Peak 13,123Alpine buttercupBack at Woods Lake
The JimmyJam Hiking Club 
Love all your photos!
Nancy
Sent from my iPhone
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