Near San Simeon
8 July 2007
San Luis Obispo Co., CA
8 July 2007
San Luis Obispo Co., CA
8 July 2007
San Luis Obispo Co., CA
8 July 2007
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We spent the first day poking around San Luis Obispo and the ocean shore. Here are Bill & Patricia hidin' from the sea lions. Near San Simeon 8 July 2007 |
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Coast line just south of the Big Sur. |
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Offshore Kelp forest San Luis Obispo Co., CA 8 July 2007 |
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A piece of Kelp San Luis Obispo Co., CA 8 July 2007 |
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Sea-lettuce (Dudleya ceaspitosa) landscape by the sea. San Luis Obispo Co., CA 8 July 2007 |
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The next day, we packed up to begin the journey to the mountains, ready for camping and photographing. Everything has a place in the back of Bill's Subaru (or in the car-top carrier on top! |
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One of the first things we found was this Tarantala crossing the road near Fresno Dome, CA 10 July 2007 |
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See the face in the rock? While poking along the roadside for leps, we encountered an interesting older gentleman camping by himself. He insisted on showing us an amazing thing he discovered and it could only be seen from just the right angle and from looking through your cell phone camera...yes, it was a face...in the rock... I humored the man as Bill slipped away... Near Fresno Dome, CA10 July 2007 |
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probably Araneus sp. Near Fresno Dome, CA 10 July 2007 |
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Some little day-flying flower moth that the above spider would likely enjoy for dinner! Near Fresno Dome, CA 10 July 2007 |
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This looks like a Virginia Ctenucha Moth (Ctenucha virginica), but I don't know if they occur in California Near Fresno Dome, CA 10 July 2007 |
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Another cool moth Tuolumne Co. west of Sonora Pass, CA 11 July 2007 |
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Exploring roadsides near Fresno Dome, Bill discovers light at the end of the tunnel . . . and turns around. 10 July 2007 |
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Nice pollen sacks baby! Near Fresno Dome, CA 10 July 2007 |
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'Sierra' Northern Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus coeruleus palmeri) Near Fresno Dome, CA 10 July 2007 |
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'Sierra' Northern Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus coeruleus palmeri) Near Fresno Dome, CA 10 July 2007 |
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Cool lichens on the trees near Fresno Dome, Madera Co., CA 10 July 2007 |
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On July 11th & 12th, we hiked the meadows and balds of Sonora Pass for high-elevation butterflies and wildflowers. The scenery wasn't too shabby from up there either. Below are a few shots from the Pass. Sonora Pass, CA 12 July 2007 |
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Bill shoots the meadow Sonora Pass, CA 11 July 2007 |
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Bill pauses to reflect Near Sonora Pass, CA 11 July 2007 |
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Bill pauses to inspect Sonora Pass, CA 11 July 2007 |
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Bill pauses to cook Campbell's Select Near Sonora Pass, CA 11 July 2007 |
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Sonora Pass, CA 11 July 2007 |
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near Sonora Pass, CA 11 July 2007 |
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Meadows west of Sonora Pass, CA 11 July 2007 |
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Mountain meadows with streams are great places to search for butterflies. West of Sonora Pass. CA 11 July 2007 |
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another mountain stream & meadow West of Sonora Pass. CA 11 July 2007 |
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Yet another view... West of Sonora Pass. CA 11 July 2007 |
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Lupines along a mountain stream West of Sonora Pass. CA 11 July 2007 |
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Lupine fruits illuminated by the setting sun at the top of Sonora Pass 11 July 2007 |
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Sonora Pass, CA 11 July 2007 |
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View from Sonora Pass 11 July 2007 |
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View from Sonora Pass 11 July 2007 |
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One of the yellow buckwheats (Eriogonum sp.) Sonora Pass, CA 12 July 2007 |
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Lichen-covered rocks at Sonora Pass 12 July 2007 |
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Lichen-covered rocks at Sonora Pass 11 July 2007 |
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Lichen-covered rocks at sunset at Sonora Pass 11 July 2007 |
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Cliff Swallows dust-bathing near Walker River Meadows 12 July 2007 |
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Cliff Swallows in a line-up near Walker River Meadows 12 July 2007 |
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We enjoyed a delightful night's stay at the Meadowcliff Lodge in Coleville, near Walker, where our motel patio door was visited by this little cutie, one of the longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) Alpine Co., CA 13 July 2007 |
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We drove to Carson Pass the morning of the 13th searching for actics, parnassians, and other goodies. Carson Pass, Alpine Co., CA 13 July 2007 |
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A Mountain Bluebird perches atop a conifer at Carson Pass Alpine Co., CA 13 July 2007 |
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And here I am perched atop a snowbank at Carson Pass Alpine Co., CA 13 July 2007 |
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After lots of camping, Bill & I weren't sure what to do with things like this at the Holiday Inn in Truckee where we were "stuck" while the car was undergoing repairs (like getting new brakes which we discovered were important while coming down from places like Carson Pass at ~8600' elevation). |
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So we did the only thing we've been doing for the last week -- take pictures! |
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The next afternoon (14th), we got the newly repaired vehicle and headed straight to Yuba Pass, where I was able to get this photo of a Western Wood-Pewee with mind-numbing feather detail! Near Yuba Pass, Plumas Co., CA 14 July 2007 |
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Nice trees at our Yuba Pass campsite 14 July 2007 |
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Can't decide which of these two pics I like better... 14 July 2007 |
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A Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel enjoyed a stump at our campsite for its personal picnic table. Yuba Pass, CA 15 July 2007 |
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After a couple of days of camping here at Yuba Pass, we had the strangest feeling we were being watched... |
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A HA! Our keen powers of observation eventually discovered who was spying on us at our picnic table! |
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'Sierra' Northern Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus coeruleus palmeri) Near Yuba Pass, Plumas Co., CA 14 July 2007 |
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Shadowy Arches (Drasteria adumbrata ssp. saxea)Round Lake Loop Trail in Plumas Co., CA 15 July 2007 |
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Shadowy Arches (Drasteria adumbrata ssp. saxea)Round Lake Loop Trail in Plumas Co., CA 15 July 2007 |
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So, after driving for hours down a single-lane dirt road through the forest into the middle of nowhere without seeing another vehicle, Bill and I get out to chase butterflies, and a few minutes later we are astounded to hear voices drifting through the bog! It turns out these ladies are students at a nearby university Biology Station and had come to this area to botanize. |
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Big meadows and big trees near the Gold Lodge and Round Lake Loop Trail in Plumas Co., CA 15 July 2007 |
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Another beautiful meadow off the Round Lake Loop Trail in Plumas Co., CA 15 July 2007 |
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Near Quincy, we visited a special bog full of the incredible Cobra Lily or California Pitcher Plant (Darlingtonia californica). Plumas Co., CA 15 July 2007 |
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These amazing plants have a small opening under the hood where insects crawl or fly in, and then they get trapped inside, to be eaten by the plant. When they try to escape, they fly to the light "windows" in the top of the hood, failing to find the opening nearby. Plumas Co., CA 15 July 2007 |
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Perching on top of the plants, however, is harmless, as demonstrated by this Sonoran Skipper and Mariposa Copper! Plumas Co., CA 15 July 2007 |
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This sphecid "thread-waisted" wasp found a juicy caterpillar for lunch. Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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The next day, we headed for Mono Lake. |
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Lots of desert around Mono Lake...can you spot the Sage Thrasher? Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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Belding's Ground Squirrels made themselves at home near the boardwalk at the Mono Lake Park access. Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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We found incredible numbers of Wilson's Phalaropes and a few American Avocets at Mono Lake from the boardwalk. Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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Billions upon billions of flies lined the shore of the lake, attracting birds like the phalaropes. Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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Violet-green Swallows perching at Mono Lake Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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Later in the afternoon, we headed up slope from the lake to an amazing Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) forest. Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) forest. Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) forest. Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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Lower edge of the Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) forest above Mono Lake. Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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Before sunset we hiked a trail down toward the tufa formations along the shoreline of Mono Lake from the southeast side of the lake. Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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We saw a few Sagebrush Lizards in the scrub along the trail to Mono Lake. Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Getting closer to tufa formations, which are deposits of calcium carbonate. Mono Lake has no outflow, so salt levels are very high, and tufa towers form over centuries of interactions with freshwater springs and alkaline waters flowing into the lake. Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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More tufa formations Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Tufa tower islands Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Tufa tower islands Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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I like the lighting on this shrub & tufa formations. Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Note the smoke in the background sky from nearby forest fires. Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Sunset on the tufa. Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Sunset watchers. Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Bill shoots Jeff shooting Bill... Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Sunset brought out amazing colors in the landscape. Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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And even more amazing colors in the sky... Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Mono Lake, CA 16 July 2007 |
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Beaver lodge Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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Scenic beaver pond en route to Tuolumne Meadows Mono Co., CA 16 July 2007 |
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Nice waterfall near Saddlebag Lake Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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One of the trip highlights was hiking/butterflying around Saddlebag Lake near Tioga Pass by the east entrance to Yosemite. This lake is a little over 10,000 feet in elevation and has some spectacular meadows and rockslides filled with butterflies and wildflowers. Hey Bill, wait up! |
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Life has a tenuous hold in the high elevation rockslides around Saddlebag Lake! Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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Cool grasshopper in the rockslides at Saddlebag Lake Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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Naturally, the best butterflying is at the far end of the lake, over a mile away along a nice steep rocky trail... |
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There are some gorgeous wildflower meadows here above treeline and just below snowmelt. Saddlebag Lake, Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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Hundreds of Castilleja (Indian Paintbrush) flowers were scattered about. Saddlebag Lake, Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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searching for Sierra Sulphurs in the meadows, we ran into fellow lepidopterist Todd Stout! So we had to take pics of each other to commemorate the event! Saddlebag Lake, Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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I think I need some more optical equipment... Saddlebag Lake, Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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Greenstone Lake lies along the trail beyond Saddlebag Lake. Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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Tiny creeks wander through wet meadows of flowers between Saddlebag Lake and Greenstone Lake. Saddlebag Lake, Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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Bill pokes around the river between Greenstone & Saddlebag Lakes. Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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After a successful day of butterflying, one must relax & enjoy the scenery... Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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The next day, we drove over Westgard Pass and up through the Whte Mountains in Mono County continuing into Inyo County, CA near the Nevada border. 18 July 2007 |
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White Mountains between Mono and Inyo Counties, CA near the Nevada border. 18 July 2007 |
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White Mountains between Mono and Inyo Counties, CA near the Nevada border. 18 July 2007 |
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Good thing this sign was there. We almost got hit by all the oncoming traffic up here...(not!) 18 July 2007 |
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Our first White Mountains destination was Campito Mountain. This photo was taken 2/3 of the way hiking up Campito, looking back at the car parked down near the bend in the road. And the steepest part of the hike is still to come! |
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Bill on the hill. |
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View from hiking up Campito. |
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View from hiking up Campito. |
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After reaching the top of Campito Mountain, you feel like you're on top of the world and standing somewhere that nobody has ever been before . . . until you see the lockbox with the notebook and all the signatures of everyone who has been there before! Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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There were lots of cool lichen formations on the high-elevation rocks in the White Mountains. Campito Mt., Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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More cool lichens Campito Mt., Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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And more cool lichens Campito Mt., Mono Co., CA 17 July 2007 |
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Commencing an incredible hike through the ancient bristlecones. |
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Bill says, "It's just a short hike and it's incredible". |
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Several miles later... |
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An infant among the aged... |
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On our last day afield, we arose early and headed to the hills. Alabama Hills, to be exact. A legendary Hollywood filming staple where John Wayne and many others fought through the 'injun' ambushes over the years... |
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Never know what danger lurks behind them rocks... |
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We drove from the Alabama Hills area to the Audubon Kern River Preserve, where hordes of hummers enjoyed their fill from feeders... |
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Alabama Hills, Inyo Co., CA |
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Our next stop was Fossil Falls in the Owens Valley of Inyo Co., CA 19 July 2007 |
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This land was volcanically active several thousand years ago, and lava flows formed much of the geology of the area. Fossil Falls, Inyo Co., CA 19 July 2007 |
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At the end of the last ice age, rivers and glaciers flowed through here, rounding off the rock edges and carving some amazing designs, potholes, arches, chasms, etc. in the hardened lava. Fossil Falls, Inyo Co., CA 19 July 2007 |
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Basalt lava that has been smoothed by thousands of years of water and wind. Fossil Falls, Inyo Co., CA 19 July 2007 |
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Created on ... Aug 29, 2007 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com