Living Things

Near Round Top Lake

Sierra Nevada Mountains

Carson Pass Management Unit, El Dorado National Forest.

9360 Feet.

June 8, 2009 

The flowers were just beginning to burst out of their pods.

This flower was very early. The majority of the terrain was still covered with Spring snows. Here's a picture of the snowcover from that June 2009 trip:

Snowplant lifecycle

The five images of Snow Plants growing out of dry soils are from Dumonts Meadow to Falls Meadow along the East Fork of the Carson River. It's dry up in there.

The one completely vibrant Snow Plant is growing in the saturated soils of the South Upper Truckee River during the height of the Spring Thaw just below the snow line.

Below: Snowplants bursting through ground.

Fungus in the High Sierra Nevada Mountains north of Spicer Meadow Reservoir in the Carson Iceberg Wilderness. Tahoe to Yosemite Trail.

Between the North Fork of the Stanislaus River South to Spicer Meadow Reservoir we are hiking through an old burned area. This fungus is complimented by a lot of after-burn shrubbery and forests of snags falling across the trail route.

Blue Butterflies, Carson Gap, High Sierra. Meiss Country Roadless Area.

Date: July 16, 2009 

Elevation: 8800 feet

Pussypaw, flower, High Sierra, hiking Emigrant Wilderness, backpacking Stanislaus National Forest. North side of Bond Pass.

Date: July 27, 2010

Elevation: 8800 feet

Trail Guide: Not Constructed

Butterfly, Burnt Orange, and Buckwheat, High Sierra, Emigrant Wilderness, Stanislaus National Forest. Sighted approaching Bond Pass to enter Yosemite from the High Emigrant Basin.

Date: July 27, 2009.

Elevation; 8400 feet.

Trail Guide: Not Completed...yet

Fluorescent Purple Beetle, Big Sam, Emigrant Wilderness, July 30, 2009. 10,000 feet +.

Trail Guide: not finished

Topo Map: Sonora Pass to Bensen Lake

Identification?

Bear Track and Crap, High Sierra, Yosemite Backcountry.

I spotted many bear tracks climbing South out of Stubblefield Canyon South to Kerrick Canyon. And lots of fresh bear crap. The above was among the biggest, freshest sets of tracks.

Hibernating Snake heading South to Stubblefield Canyon from Wilmer Lake after crossing Macomb Ridge. Fall, Late September 2009.

This snake was "pulled-in" at both ends. You could not tell the head from the tail. The snake was nestled below a rock making up a step of the trail.

Trail Guide Page: Not Completed

Purple High Sierra Flower, Sonora Peak, Carson Iceberg Wilderness, Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest.

 September 27 2009.

Elevation: 10,200 feet

Trail Guide: Sonora Peak Flowers