Back to the top of the plateau and looking back at Arc Dome

Small lake in the valley off to the East.
Last comment 01/22/2006.

One last look at Arc Dome before heading north back across the plateau.
Last comment 11/16/2005.

I had intended to follow the "road" all the way back to the trailhead which required a long stretch along the plateau.

The trail turned and and started turning south. From the map, it appears that if I had continued on I would have been ok. However, I wasn't carrying a map (Thank you Reno REI for having no maps of #$@#$ central Nevada) and I was quickly running out of daylight. I had no real desire to be wandering around up here in the cold and dark so I decided to backtrack and take the known route back to the trailhead.

As I was backtracking, I noticed the party from the campsite heading toward the summit. I suspect they camped somewhere along the ridge, since it was pretty late in the day for a summit attempt. (The summit was completely clouded in the next morning, so I don't think they got much in the way of views)

I headed down into Stewart Creek Canyon as the early 6pm sunset arrived. I made it almost to the last mile before having to break out my headlamp.

Almost a full moon tonight, and the full moon on the aspens was a surreal and somewhat spooky experience.

I holed up in the outback and went to sleep soon after getting back to the trailhead. It hit the mid 20s overnight and by morning the Toiyabe Range was clouded in. Without the clouds, Arc Dome would have been visible in the center of this shot.
Last comment 11/16/2005.