Mount Rose and Church Peak - an easy hike to some high peaks at Lake Tahoe

A. a friend visiting from Switzerland wanted to go hiking with me. His goal was to climb a high peak with a good view and it shouldn't be difficult, but a marked trail. I suggested Mount Rose with the option to also do a little side tour to the close by Church Peak. There's no marked path up to Church Peak, but judging from the map, I didn't expect it to be difficult at all.

The trail from the parking lot up to the top of Mount Rose is well marked and you definitely can't miss it. It's not difficult (T2) and even though at the trail head they claim it's strenuous, I would consider it only moderately strenuous. There is a "New Mount Rose Trail" (our route) and an "Old Mount Rose Trail". The first bypasses Mount Tamarack on the northern side and the second one, which is slightly longer (and includes a little more elevation gain) on the South side. The old and new trail join at the Meadow NW of Tamarack Peak and continue as one and the same. This is where the elevation gain really starts.

From the meadow the trail follows in direction NW up a little valley on the southwest side of Mount Rose leading to a small pass and turns northeast there. Several switchbacks lead the way to the saddle between Church Peak and Mount Rose and the final stretch to the top first follows the north side of the ridge and at the very end the ridge itself..

The view up there is indeed impressive, not only to Lake Tahoe and it's surrounding mountains but also down to Reno with all its skyscrapers and casinos. On the way down I convince A. to also quickly visit Church Peak. He agrees even though there is no path which leads up there. From far away it looks like there might be a short scramble involved, but the closer we get the easier it looks and it turns out to be a walk-up (T3). After Church Peak we head back to the trail and get down to the parking lot the same way we came up.