Bristlecone-Glacier Trail (Great Basin National Park, Nevada)

Great Basin National Park lies about six hours east of my home in Reno. I took the opportunity granted by this long drive to travel with the top down on my new jeep. Traveling through some of the most desolate land this country has to offer, in 90+ degree heat, and no shelter from the relentless sun was quite an experience. The sense of freedom granted by the open air is amazing.

After the long drive, I arrived at the park in the late afternoon. I decided to make camp at Wheeler Campground, which sits at about 10k feet, alongside the peak of the same name. I put up my tent, prepared some dinner, and got to bed early.

While m sleeping bag kept me nice and warm, crawling out of it at 4:30 am at this elevation is quite the wake up call, even in June. It’s about twenty degrees as I prepare to break camp and start my first trail. I drive over to the trail head, a short distance away and start my first hike.

First on my list is to hike to the Wheeler-Rock Glacier, which is the only permanent body of ice in the state of Nevada. The trail starts out well-defined, though fairly steep. At this early hour, I’m all alone on the trail. There is still a fair amount of snow here, as I surpass the 11k elevation marker.

Soon, I encounter a connected trail, which diverts through a bristlecone pine grove, and I decide to follow it. While not as dense as the Methuselah Grove I visited last year, the ancient trees are still a site to behold. I lay my hand on the tree that is about 3200 years old, and it is as if I can feel the echoes of my ancestors calling to me. I have such reverence for these landmarks of time.

The diversion through the grove was short, but well worth it. I continue on now to the glacier. Snow and Ice become more prevalent as I make my way up a giant-sized version of the gravel pits I played in as a child, all the while under the protective shelter of Wheeler Peak. The trail left by the glacier is quite obvious, as piles of boulders stream down the landscape. Finally, the glacier enters my field of vision. Although not visually imposing, I understand the enormous land-carving power it has from my visits to Yosemite Valley. Crossing a slippery snowfield, I approach the glacier. It seems especially cold here in this land of eternal shadow. 

Having seen the focus of my hike, I turn back and make the two or so mile hike back to my jeep.