The Benson Lake Loop

From the pass, I could look down on the trail coming from the west. This trail section is fairly steep. Volunteer Peak shows off it unusual profile, seen left of center.

West of Benson Pass

The Benson Lake Loop, August 2002

Once the steep section near the top of the pass was passed, the trail settled down to a southwest slog. After a while I could see a meadow way down trail, and at about 9750 feet the trail dumped out on to another surprise: a very large level open meadow in an area of very few small trees. The meadow seemed groomed enough to have golfers reaching for their putting irons. The trail made is way through the meadow, passing through an area of curious low reddish plants before beginning its next drop. It would have been nice to take the time to wander through the meadow.

Traveling through this good sized open meadow, I saw this large area of curious low red plants. Cross-country still looked good.

I was loosing altitude quickly when the trail headed northwest and actually climbed some. At a point where it headed back southwest at about 9740 feet, I saw a very faint use trail heading northwest towards a small lakelet and Sister Lake.