Tahoe Meadows: Easy hike high in the sky
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Mon, 07/20/2015 - 8:22am
Half a mile in elevation above lake shore is an easy, handicapped friendly hike less than two hundred feet below one of the highest mountain passes in the entire Sierra Nevada range.
Resting a little below the crest of the Mount Rose summit on Nevada State Route 431 lay a lovely, picturesque alpine meadow near timberline level. In late spring and early summer, Tahoe Meadows is awash with a kaleidoscope of colorful wildflowers and robust green grasses.
Trail terrain is largely flat unless you extend your hike to nearby alpine lakes. Then expect to do some heartier mountaineering.
But much of Tahoe Meadows is a bonafide treat for those of us who are handicapped and have a harder time getting around. Not only are many trails wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers, but they are plenty solid, too.
Hundreds of feet of wooden boardwalks stretch across the lower meadow, and there are several wood-planked foot bridges on the upper meadow loop trail.
This is the hike my wife and I took as May turned into June. It is a 1.2 mile loop that encircles the far eastern end of Tahoe Meadows. The western face of Slide Mountain looms above the trail, and the peak of Mount Rose rises in the sky to the north.
At 8,730 elevation the Tahoe Meadows trail loop has topographical features consistent with timberline elevation: smaller, thinner pines that typically don’t grow very large, and which tend to bend in the direction of high mountain winds that frequently torment the region.
While there were a lot of critters around—squirrels and various kinds of birds—I mostly heard than spied them. They seemed shy and more skittish around people. From a naturalist’s perspective, that’s a good thing.
The east end of the upper meadow features ponds and marshes created from snow melt and run-off. There are even small fish swimming in the little brooks that feed into the meadow marshes.
I advise you wait until well into June or even early July before hiking this trail with assistive devices. I encountered snow drifts left over from late spring storms. These melting, moving micro-glaciers blocked parts of the path, and made the trail nearly impassable in some places.
Because Tahoe Meadows is situated so high up above sea level—more than one and a half miles—an adjustment to the altitude and thinner air is required. Give yourself a little time to get used to the significant elevation gain before starting your hike.
Try not to over-exert yourself. This is hard not to do when the trail looks so easy and inviting. Take plenty of breaks along the way, and stay hydrated. There is a vista point about half way around the loop with a stone bench where you can sit and enjoy the view of the meadow.
Even though temperatures are generally cooler at very high elevations, the sun’s ultraviolet rays are also much more intense at higher altitudes than they are at lower levels. So be sure to apply sunscreen before your hike.
Most of all, have fun and enjoy yourself. Thin as it is, breathe in the crisp, clean alpine air anyway. It’s invigorating and good for your health.
As usual, pack a camera and binoculars for viewing landscapes and wildlife. Tahoe Meadows offers scenic vistas ideal for panoramas that capture the unique beauty of the Tahoe Rim.
Brett and Lisa Fisher are Carson City residents. They welcome leads on handicapped-friendly recreation around the Eastern Sierra and Lake Tahoe regions. If you have ideas or suggestions, please email them at thebumsteads@charter.net.
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