Pagoda Trail
A Pagoda
September 7, 2023 - It’s our first day in the Flat Tops and we plan to hike the trail closest to our camp. The Pagoda Trail is named after a mountain shaped like a pagoda. The mountain was not that interesting, although it was shaped like a pagoda. We didn’t take a photo of it. But if you don't know what a pagoda looks like, there is one above. Our objective is a small alpine lake, Lost Lake. It’s not fall yet, but a group of shepherds is moving their flock, which is currently grazing across the road from our trailhead. They’re waiting to be loaded onto livestock haulers.
Our trail crosses a meadow then enters a grove of Ponderosas. I notice the trees that are standing all look healthy. In other areas, we have seen a significant number of trees are dead or dying from pine bark beetles. This native beetle can survive temperatures below -30F but early fall hard freezes, before the beetle has prepared for winter, can keep their numbers under control. Since we are at 10,000 ft in elevation, sudden freezes in early fall and late spring are probably more common here.
Healthy trees along our trail
We soon enter a second meadow. There is a good mix of native wildflowers. The main ones still blooming are yarrow, fleabane, and some yellow flower that I have not been able to identifying with certainty.
We see other plants too, elkweed, buckwheat and gentain. Elkweed, while not a particularly pretty plant, is the most interesting. They live around 80 years before they bloom then die. There have been a lot of them blooming this year. That might have to do with water from all the snow we had last winter.
Elkweed, Wild Buckwheat, Gentain
If we look behind us we can see the main range of the Flat Tops.
I think I mentioned them in my volcano post. At one point the entire area was a high plain. Three periods of volcano activity covered a large part of the area with lava. Glaciers then eroded portions of the plateau leaving U-shaped valleys and ponds throughout the area. It makes for nice hiking as the altitude keeps it cool but unlike most mountain trails, this one is relatively flat.
The trail alternates between forest and meadow occasionally crossing small creeks.
Eventually we come to a trail marker that says “bridge 1/4 mile.” It‘s getting close to noon and I‘m hoping for a pretty lunch spot by a lake but all we see are damp grassy areas. We hike on still expecting to see the small lake around ever bend. Then we come to another sign facing in the opposite direction that says “bridge 1/4 mile”. We didn’t see any bridge! We stop and consult our map. Then turn around and start back up the trail. Then we see a small trail, heading off to the south and turn down it. After only a few steps we see a log foot bridge with a dirt surface. The dirt surface, complete with plants, makes the bridge easy to miss. We cross it continuing up a small hill then round a bend to see our destination.
Lost Lake
It’s really pretty and peaceful here. We haven’t seen any people since the shepherds. We find a nice spot for lunch near the shore. This spot has been used as a campsite but it’s too close to the lake. You’re supposed to camp at least 100 yards from water and in a place that has been used previously. After lunch we decided to walk around looking for a flat open spot to camp. We weren’t camping but this would be a perfect place to come back to in July when the wildflowers are at their peak. We ended up walking all the way around the lake. At the far end, we found a great place to camp. This one is far enough away from the water.
Walking back to the trail via the opposite shore we cross a cute creek and stopped for photos. Click the link or photo to see more.
There are other interesting plants here. We could easily spend a few days exploring and taking photos around the lake.
A mushroom in the Gomphaceae family. I had never seen a mushroom like this before!
Soon, we start back down the trail. The view is prettier in this direction, as the mountain are now in front of us.
On the trail we see a butterfly then several more of the same species. When we got back to camp we looked up the butterfly and found out it is a Mormon Fritillary. If you just glance at it you might think it was a Monarch.
Mormon Fritillary
As we reach the end of our trail we see the flock of sheep. They rotate toward us like a slow-motion wool hurricane. It’s an odd but fascinating sight. They don’t seem at all concerned about us. Then we see why they are so unconcerned. Their guardian see us and comes bounding in our direction barking and showing his teeth. He’s just a sheepdog doing his job. We walk on without pausing and he returns to his flock.
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