Fred Weyman Wilderness and Landscape Fine Art Photography
Lake Tahoe Sunrise
Sunrise from the southern of Maggies Peaks (8,699 ft) with Granite Lake, Cascade Lake, Emerald Bay, and Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe Rock Garden
This lichen-ornamented rock garden sits just below Herlan Peak (8,840 ft.), more than 2,600 feet above Lake Tahoe's northeast corner. The Flume Trail traverses the slope about 1,000 feet below this peak. Much of the distant haze on the lake is smoke from Fourth of July fireworks that has been trapped by atmospheric conditions.
Granite Lake...Lake Tahoe
As soon as I 'saw' the view from the southern of Maggies Peaks (8,700 ft.) on the topo map, I had a feeling it would be dramatic. The short, steep, (about 2 miles, with 1,700 feet of elevation gain) and very scenic hike yields this fine view of Granite Lake, Cascade Lake, Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe. I waited for a day when the weather satellites showed a persistent light band of clouds over the area, and was treated to this wonderful summer sunset.
Emerald Bay
I had tried twice before to get good clouds at sunrise to add color to the well-known silhouette of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe. This time I was too late for the 20 minute hike up to my targeted location. Instead I composed this scene from a pull out on the road. In retrospect, I like this angle better. The higher angle shows more of the bay and lake, but without the foreground presence of the silhouetted trees, it lacks depth, and has more of the detached look of an aerial photograph.
Lake Aloha
It is easy to tell from maps that Lake Aloha (8,116 ft.), in the Desolation Wilderness, 6 miles southwest of Lake Tahoe, has the most convoluted shoreline of any Sierra glacial lake. For a sense of scale, which is lacking even when you are there, the snags on the right are about 50 feet tall. Although Desolation is at a lower elevation and less remote than many parts of the Sierra, it has a wonderful collection of treeline glacial lakes that are relatively easy to access.
Carson Pass Aspens
Hope Valley, on the east side of Carson Pass (8,573 ft. upper left), is known for tree-lined alpine meadows, meandering streams, and colorful fall aspens. Whenever I see nice scenery, the first thing I do is turn around 180 degrees and look for potential outcrops that might yield dramatic views. A dark granite outcrop, about a half-mile, and a few 100 feet of elevation above Highway 88, presented this vista. A few days later, high thin clouds diffused the morning sun and blocked the light of the blue sky, giving the vivid colors even more brilliance.
Headwaters of the Truckee
The ridge going north from Carson Pass to Little Round Top has nice vistas throughout the year and is only about 1,000 feet of climb, mostly on a trail, above 8,600 ft. Carson Pass. Around the Fourth of July Mule Ears, Paintbrush, Lupine and other wildflowers bloom on the gentile slopes overlooking the headwaters of the Truckee River. Meiss Lake (~8,400 ft.) is in the near distance. Barely visible through the haze, Lake Tahoe fills the distant basin.
Carson Pass
The Fourth of July is a good time to view the summer wildflower displays on the west side of Carson Pass (8,600 ft., left, between the grassy and wooded ridges). Elephants Back (9,600 ft., left) and Round Top Peak (10,400 ft, right) form the backdrop for this south-facing patch.
Sand Point
Kayaks added an extra dimension to the arrangement of rocks and patchy, diffuse light at Sand Point Nevada, on the northeastern shore of Lake Tahoe
