finally reaching Tamarack Valley, and why a meadow grows at 9,100 feet
We are up and up on the first tram on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for this week’s hike to Tamarack Valley. This hike will take us past the 9,100 feet (2,774 m) mark and the trail has an elevation gain of over 1,000 feet (305m) on our 6.3-mile (10.1 km) hike. The air is getting thinner. One thing to know if you are adding on to Round Valley Loop: I like to hike the loop counter-clockwise. There are a lot of rocks and gravel on the first mile or so (if you go counter-clockwise); I find it ok going up, but it’s easier to lose your footing on the way down.
One is not like the others
We were intrigued by one of our crew’s hiking poles. It was not like any of the others. It may have been a light saber, and I may have been looking online for where to find a light saber hiking pole. I will neither confirm nor deny.
We left the Round Valley Loop today and added just a bit of mileage and elevation to first reach Round Valley Meadows, one of my favorite places up in the wilderness. The meadows are a lush green oasis in the forest, and at above 9,000 feet (2,743 m) I don’t expect it. That’s why I love it so much.
Why is there a meadow at 9,000 feet?
I always wondered why a meadow shows up this high. The answer is water: a stream and shallow groundwater keep the meadow wet. By the 2000s, erosion had cut the stream down into a gully, which dropped the water table and started drying the meadow out. In 2010, California State Parks restored the channel and filled the gully, airlifting the equipment in by helicopter, and raised the water table back to its natural level. Since then, the meadow has stayed wet through ordinary summers and usually only browns after late-season frost. So the oasis I love is half nature, half restoration.
On to Tamarack Valley
We finally made it to Tamarack Valley. We tried to reach it last summer and somehow never did. One time we shortened the hike partway through, another time we had to cancel altogether, so it felt good to finally get here. There were a lot of monkeyflowers at a stream. We took a break, crunched on our homemade cereal bars, and poked around for more flowers.
On the way back we passed a skull rock, a rock that looked like a skull. Creepy. We were a bit more tired by now and “lost” the trail three times. Not because it’s easy to lose, but because we were chatting too much.
The Quick Trail Guide
Trailhead: Long Valley, at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (Mountain Station)
Distance: 6.3 miles (10.1 km) round trip
Elevation gain: Over 1,000 feet (305 m)
High point: Around 9,100 feet (2,774 m)
Difficulty: Moderate, though the thin air does some of the extra work for you
Permit: Free day-use wilderness permit required, self-register at the Long Valley Ranger Station
Water: Seasonal spigot at Round Valley Campground, filter or treat everything
Cost: Tram ticket required (check pstramway.com for current rates); parking fee at Valley Station
What to bring: Layers (the top runs much cooler than the valley floor), at least 2 liters of water or a filter, sun protection, snacks, and the ten essentials.
What we saw: Round Valley Meadows, monkeyflowers near Tamarack Valley, and one suspiciously Jedi-grade hiking pole
Discover more from No Heels Just Sneakers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
