Sierra Wildflowers 2011, a set on Flickr.
A collection of wildflowers seen in the Sierra during the summer of 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Virginia Lakes to Summit Lake
Our original plans for the weekend were for a mellow family backpack with the girls but when the girls started to bail we changed plans and headed out to the Eastern Sierra.
After leaving San Jose bright and early we arrived at Bridgeport Ranger Station at just about noon to pick up our supposedly cake wilderness permits. Unfortunately, or maybe serendipitously, our first choice of Green Creek trailhead had filled up with 40 people by 8am that morning. We had three other options but opted to change plans and go in and out from Virginia Lakes.
After a quick burger at Jelly Kone(The Barn line was way too slow but the menu looks better) we were back on 395.
We arrived to a pretty full lot at Upper Virginia Lake, threw the packs on and started the slog up the trail. Since we were starting near 10,000 feet and had come up from sea level that morning we decided to play it by ear to see how we felt along the hike in rather than having a defined itinerary. One option was to clear Summit Pass and camp at Summit lake if we felt we could make it with our big packs(mine was 48lbs with DSLR and beer).
Upper Virginia Lakes
We hiked up past a string of beautiful high mountain lakes (Blue, Cooney and Frog Lakes) and the well built Miner's cabin with one stop for DEET due to thick mozzies.
Blue Lake
Miner's Cabin
After two miles in and a big 700' wall and subsequent 1000' descent ahead of us we decided that it would be wiser to camp at the 10,300' elevation Frog Lakes and dayhike to the Yosemite Wilderness boundary the next day. This would give us a night at elevation to acclimatize without too much exertion. A woman on the trail said that Frog Lake had the best fishing was the best but if you want bigger trouts try fishing at Cooney Lake. Unfortunately we didn't notice any good places to camp around Cooney.
We set up camp on the far side of the main lake and headed down for some fishing. Despite the gusty winds coming down the canyon we were quickly into small browns using Panther Martins. The following morning I landed a nice 12" rainbow and another few browns but the bite was transient and as soon as you were into fish they'd stop biting. Laurent did better on Saturday night fishing the outlet of Frog Lake with a kastmasters, hooking four fish and landing two browns with one being a decent size for this small lake.
Laurent's first brown of the trip
My first brown of the trip
Sunset treated us to some great cirrus clouds and gusty winds.
Enjoying my first beer of the night while watching the guys fish some more
21A Brew Free or Die IPA -- a tasty beer for backpacking
We headed back to camp for dinner and some GARLIC trout (note to self: one clove of garlic per trout is a little too much :-) ). It was a chilly night with the wind so after 30 minutes of perseid spotting(only two for me) we hit the tents. The morning brought nice light, calmer winds and some more good fishing.
Early morning light on the ridge above Frog Lake
Frog Lake
12" Rainbow
Saturday came with mostly clear skies with some light cirrus and mare's tails late in the day. We arrived at the 11,100' Summit Pass about 40 minutes after starting from camp and all felt quite good so set the yosemite boundary as the day's goal with an optional side trip to Hoover Lakes if we all felt up to it. The views from Summit Pass are amazing and this broke mine and Sam's previous records for elevation so we were quite pleased with ourselves. I toyed with the idea of finding Onion Lake as a side trip but had tired feets once back at the pass so bailed on that idea.
Laurent bounds up to Summit Pass
Just below the pass
The 1000' descent down was fairly tame with a well graded trail and many sights to keep the mind off the long hike. We were treated to lots of Columbine in many shades from white to yellow to purple to go along with the Crimson Columbines found in the forest on the other side of the pass.
Summit Lake(left) and Hoover Lakes(right)
Columbine
There was still plentiful snow along the way, some covered with snow algae (Chlamydomonas nivalis) that grows on the Sierra snow fields above 10,000 feet in summer. About half way down we spotted some heathly marmots along the trail.
Once at the junction we crossed a few streams then climbed back up a small canyon lined with lupines before reaching Summit Lake. We skirted the lake and ate lunch inside the Yosemite boundary, just for fun, while looking down and across to the granite of Yosemite.
Pack Mule
Yosemite Wilderness above Tuolomne Meadows
A little fishing and water filtering at Summit Lake and we were back on the trail the way we came in.
Summit Lake
Snow at Summit Lake
The climb back to the pass was long and hot but the views and winds at the top re-energize you for the descent back to camp.
Nicely done trail
Laurent shelters from the wind at Summit Pass, the trail up the valley is visible on the left side.
Summit Pass
Sam coming up to the pass
We finished out Saturday night with some more fishing at Frog Lakes, I was denied but Laurent did well with his kastmasters.
The winds had died down which allowed the mozzies to mount a full scale attack which drove us nuts. In the morning we fished early. We were both denied but one cannot complain while fishing a beautiful lake with jagged peaks bathed in early morning light.
The hike out was slower with lots of wildflower photography and a stop to watch some larger trout (probably over 18") cruise the shores of Cooney Lake below us. We reluctantly decided against unpacking and doing some more fishing and continued on back to the car.
Tiger Lilies
A stop at Mono Lake Visitor Center to pick up some more wilderness maps then a Mammoth IPA and fish tacos at Whoa Nellie Deli rounded out a nice three days in the Eastern Sierra.
Trip Stats:
12.3 miles
3000' elev gain
Pack weight in: 48lbs
Pack weight out: 38lbs
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Yosemite National Park
After leaving San Jose bright and early we arrived at Bridgeport Ranger Station at just about noon to pick up our supposedly cake wilderness permits. Unfortunately, or maybe serendipitously, our first choice of Green Creek trailhead had filled up with 40 people by 8am that morning. We had three other options but opted to change plans and go in and out from Virginia Lakes.
After a quick burger at Jelly Kone(The Barn line was way too slow but the menu looks better) we were back on 395.
We arrived to a pretty full lot at Upper Virginia Lake, threw the packs on and started the slog up the trail. Since we were starting near 10,000 feet and had come up from sea level that morning we decided to play it by ear to see how we felt along the hike in rather than having a defined itinerary. One option was to clear Summit Pass and camp at Summit lake if we felt we could make it with our big packs(mine was 48lbs with DSLR and beer).
Upper Virginia Lakes
We hiked up past a string of beautiful high mountain lakes (Blue, Cooney and Frog Lakes) and the well built Miner's cabin with one stop for DEET due to thick mozzies.
Blue Lake
Miner's Cabin
After two miles in and a big 700' wall and subsequent 1000' descent ahead of us we decided that it would be wiser to camp at the 10,300' elevation Frog Lakes and dayhike to the Yosemite Wilderness boundary the next day. This would give us a night at elevation to acclimatize without too much exertion. A woman on the trail said that Frog Lake had the best fishing was the best but if you want bigger trouts try fishing at Cooney Lake. Unfortunately we didn't notice any good places to camp around Cooney.
We set up camp on the far side of the main lake and headed down for some fishing. Despite the gusty winds coming down the canyon we were quickly into small browns using Panther Martins. The following morning I landed a nice 12" rainbow and another few browns but the bite was transient and as soon as you were into fish they'd stop biting. Laurent did better on Saturday night fishing the outlet of Frog Lake with a kastmasters, hooking four fish and landing two browns with one being a decent size for this small lake.
Laurent's first brown of the trip
My first brown of the trip
Sunset treated us to some great cirrus clouds and gusty winds.
Enjoying my first beer of the night while watching the guys fish some more
21A Brew Free or Die IPA -- a tasty beer for backpacking
We headed back to camp for dinner and some GARLIC trout (note to self: one clove of garlic per trout is a little too much :-) ). It was a chilly night with the wind so after 30 minutes of perseid spotting(only two for me) we hit the tents. The morning brought nice light, calmer winds and some more good fishing.
Early morning light on the ridge above Frog Lake
Frog Lake
12" Rainbow
Saturday came with mostly clear skies with some light cirrus and mare's tails late in the day. We arrived at the 11,100' Summit Pass about 40 minutes after starting from camp and all felt quite good so set the yosemite boundary as the day's goal with an optional side trip to Hoover Lakes if we all felt up to it. The views from Summit Pass are amazing and this broke mine and Sam's previous records for elevation so we were quite pleased with ourselves. I toyed with the idea of finding Onion Lake as a side trip but had tired feets once back at the pass so bailed on that idea.
Laurent bounds up to Summit Pass
Just below the pass
The 1000' descent down was fairly tame with a well graded trail and many sights to keep the mind off the long hike. We were treated to lots of Columbine in many shades from white to yellow to purple to go along with the Crimson Columbines found in the forest on the other side of the pass.
Summit Lake(left) and Hoover Lakes(right)
Columbine
There was still plentiful snow along the way, some covered with snow algae (Chlamydomonas nivalis) that grows on the Sierra snow fields above 10,000 feet in summer. About half way down we spotted some heathly marmots along the trail.
Once at the junction we crossed a few streams then climbed back up a small canyon lined with lupines before reaching Summit Lake. We skirted the lake and ate lunch inside the Yosemite boundary, just for fun, while looking down and across to the granite of Yosemite.
Pack Mule
Yosemite Wilderness above Tuolomne Meadows
A little fishing and water filtering at Summit Lake and we were back on the trail the way we came in.
Summit Lake
Snow at Summit Lake
The climb back to the pass was long and hot but the views and winds at the top re-energize you for the descent back to camp.
Nicely done trail
Laurent shelters from the wind at Summit Pass, the trail up the valley is visible on the left side.
Summit Pass
Sam coming up to the pass
We finished out Saturday night with some more fishing at Frog Lakes, I was denied but Laurent did well with his kastmasters.
The winds had died down which allowed the mozzies to mount a full scale attack which drove us nuts. In the morning we fished early. We were both denied but one cannot complain while fishing a beautiful lake with jagged peaks bathed in early morning light.
The hike out was slower with lots of wildflower photography and a stop to watch some larger trout (probably over 18") cruise the shores of Cooney Lake below us. We reluctantly decided against unpacking and doing some more fishing and continued on back to the car.
Tiger Lilies
A stop at Mono Lake Visitor Center to pick up some more wilderness maps then a Mammoth IPA and fish tacos at Whoa Nellie Deli rounded out a nice three days in the Eastern Sierra.
Trip Stats:
12.3 miles
3000' elev gain
Pack weight in: 48lbs
Pack weight out: 38lbs
Virginia Lakes to Summit Lake
EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in Yosemite National Park
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Rancho Canada del Oro Hike
A nice quick hike along the Mayfair trail in one of my favorite parks. We were treated to a beautiful sunny and warm 75F day (early February in the dead of winter).
Wildflowers are just starting up around here so not much variety but we did see a lot of Hound's Tongue and Milkmaids. The Shooting Stars were a bit sparse as were the Buttercups(1). There was a nice showing of Indian Warriors after the first climb up Mayfair. Unfortunately no wildlife to really speak of today, we usually find lots of newts back in the creek areas and see at least a few deer/hawks and such.
Post hike refreshments were at my brewery which included pitchers of homebrew and good laughs. Beers included Kolsch, RooStoopid(DIPA), Hoppy Pale Ale, Wet Hop Pale Ale, Oatmeal Stout and Becca's Brown Ale.
Good times!
View RCdO 2/5/11 in a larger map
Wildflowers are just starting up around here so not much variety but we did see a lot of Hound's Tongue and Milkmaids. The Shooting Stars were a bit sparse as were the Buttercups(1). There was a nice showing of Indian Warriors after the first climb up Mayfair. Unfortunately no wildlife to really speak of today, we usually find lots of newts back in the creek areas and see at least a few deer/hawks and such.
Post hike refreshments were at my brewery which included pitchers of homebrew and good laughs. Beers included Kolsch, RooStoopid(DIPA), Hoppy Pale Ale, Wet Hop Pale Ale, Oatmeal Stout and Becca's Brown Ale.
Good times!
View RCdO 2/5/11 in a larger map
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