Yup, we found it -- The Buttes Lookout Tower we'd hope to reach a couple of weeks ago (see post here). We like to finish what we start, if possible, and Jimmy picked today's hike so we COULD reach that lofty goal! Many routes lead to the top of the buttes. Our trail today started at 7,000', through low-growing montane foliage, flowery alpine meadows, and sparse forest cover. Sometimes we could see the tower as we climbed up and around the mountain, other times not. I've marked it's location on several pictures with a red check mark. Initially, it's a tiny square box atop a peak, and that's where Jimmy and I would look at each other, raise eyebrows, and think, "no way." But, you'll see!
I took the above photo at the vista stop on our way to the parking lot. I'm guessing our elevation here at about 5-6,000'. The tower is barely visible at top right. From our home in Nevada City, it's no short ride to this point, on Scenic Hwy 49 all the way, through the small towns of North San Juan, Downieville and Sierra City, roughly 70 miles. As usual, our early start, really isn't.
We bypassed the parking lot we chose last time and drove up an extra thousand feet, parking near Packer Lake Saddle. We weren't sure this was the right spot, but we were pretty sure this would lead us to the summit. Other vehicles were parked here. Hikers and packs on, and with a high-ho, off we go, we set off -- into this wonderful field of wildflowers.
Trail sides and mountainsides were aglow with colorful flowers,
even this late in the summer season.
The day was warm and partly cloudy, but it wasn't hot. We appreciated the cloud cover when we had it. As you see, above, we're still pretty far away from the tower. I'm probably looking at flowers. We saw no critters and heard very few birds, except for noisy Stellar Jays, which don't count, IMO.
But butterflies and bees were abundant, and big black ants, pesky gnats, and even a spider walked across the trail! Huge clumps of the above flowers were everywhere, attracting pollinators. I couldn't identify the plant.
This was an arduous trail, smooth in most places like above, but steep in most places, too. I took a ton o' photos on the trek up -- any excuse to pause and breathe! Plus, the views were breathtaking! We tried to keep a good pace, though. Just prior to this photo, we passed our turn-around place from the last hike, where it intersects with the PCT.
Eye-catching Arrowleaf Balsamroot.
Our trail led us through two fairly-dense fir and spruce forests, where the sighing of winds high in the trees was the only sound. Quite peaceful.
We continued on single-track switchbacks, passing some large, photogenic boulders, many of them twice or three times the size of the "rock" above. I didn't mind stopping for a minute here to catch my breath. On this climb, Jimmy and I both commented that we wished we were a few years younger, or even more than a few!
At this flat juncture, Jimmy stopped to look around. What you can't see is a sheer, verticle drop to the left, and beyond that old dead snag Jimmy is holding onto, is the beginning of a long ascent. But, we're gettin' closer!
As we made our way up, the views grew broader.
You see Young America and Sardine Lakes above.
Low growers and high bushes -- flowers abounded. Top left is Frosted Sulphur Buckwheat and Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily on the right. I'm not sure what the two tiny guys in the lower half are, but the yellow flowers were only just beginning to bloom at 8,000'.
This is a popular hike! Everybody wants to climb to the tower, because you not only have the terrific journey, you have a towering destination (pun intended!). We encountered a number of people (and dogs), all smiling, whether heading up or coming down. A nice lady captured us at this point, so to speak. I'm wearing my Wander Woman T-shirt (thanx, Nannie). The sign above my head reads: Sierra Buttes Lookout 1/2 [mile], and an arrow to the trail. We still had a half mile to go!
Easy to tell which way the wind blows!
Up we go.
Mountain Pride at 8,000' is very colorful amid all the earth tones.
Yup, we are above the snow.
Do you see what Jimmy sees? The steps!
Gadfrey, it's a long way to those stairs.
But, the panoramic views! We could see snowy Lassen Peak, 100 miles to our northwest! Wow! To the south were more high Sierran peaks dotted with snow. We spied narrow trails in the very green and heavily forested North Yuba River drainage below us. And above all was a chicory-blue sky dotted with lacy white clouds.
Almost there. I took photos up here of the distinctive metamorphic rock, with wildflowers at their bases and bees buzzing all around. So beautiful.
Aha! We did it. Four miles and 1600' elevation gain. We did it. Now we had 170 steps to climb, pant pant, huff puff. We did that, too!
Young America and Sardine Lakes, forest and mountain, and patches of snow. We were above it all. 8,567' -- we'll be ready for Switzerland in two weeks! In fact, this hike reminds me of when we climbed to the Tiger's Nest in Bhutan nearly four years ago. You can read about it here. Use your back arrow to return to this post.
Um, it wasn't exactly scary, especially if you didn't think about it, but DANG, we were up high! You can see a couple of people on the trail (looks like they're heading up). The lookout tower was locked, but it had a fridge, stove, sink and counter on one side, and probably a cot opposite. I'm not sure if it's manned during fire season, or if cameras are used nowadays, but this tower was built in 1963 to monitor fires.
Looking toward the south, we're leaning against a graffiti-etched rock, but the picture of the etching below shows that people were climbing up here long before the stairs were built.
At the tower!
Don't look down! Jimmy counted 170 steps.
I could post another two dozen pictures that are representative of our picturesque hike, showing the beauty of these buttes, but I won't. You get the idea, anyway. Our descent was easier, of course, but still tough in the really steep sections. We did roughly eight miles, 1600' elevation gain/loss. We left the house at 9am and got home at 6pm, tired and footsore, but not RUINT, as my sister, Nannie, would say. Truly, we were thrilled by the whole adventure. We turned around at this point (above), looking back towards the tower, saw how far away it was, and could hardly believe we did it. WE DID IT.
One last quick shot through the car window, as the day draws to a close. The hole in the center of the big rock is, in fact, a hole, not snow. So be it. Jimmy mentioned on the way home: Maybe we should do this hike once a year. I agreed. Then I saw his face. He was kidding ... I think.
