Last Chance

It was our last chance to see some desert flowers and vistas.  We have our friend Carolyn to thank for this one.  She sent us a photo that looked something like this.

We have seen this mimulus before, but never huge like that.  It was larger than my hand.

The others we have seen have looked more like these.

And there were many of the small plants, but medium and large ones as well. 

As you can see, this is one of my favorites.  Just these flowers would have made the day a complete success.  We had even more luck starting with a pronghorn antelope in Inyo County, a first for me, and ending with a peak both unique and inspiring.

Gravel ghost

Allionia incarnata 

Langloisia setosissima ssp. setosissima.  A new subspecies for me.

Naked-stemmed daisy, Enceliopsis nudicaulis.  A new sunray for me, very nice.

The first of many, many, many subpeaks we will have to climb around.

Our first views of the day.

Clustered broom-rape, Aphyllon fasciculata.  A parasite.  

Claret cup Cactus

This is yet another peak to get around.

I should know the name of this one, but can't seem to come up with it.

We can finally see our mountain.  It doesn't seem to be any closer.  The Whites are on the left.

At last we are on top.

The Sierra

The White Mountains with Chocolate Peak in the foreground somewhere.

Death Valley and Eureka Dunes

Nevada is out there with peaks I had never heard of.

Some of the very small flowering plants on the top.

Carolyn, our inspiration for the day. While we didn't get to spend the day together, we did get to chat with her and Jeff at the car.

Carolyn does some crazy mine exploring.

Grand vistas, a unique rolling ridge walk, and more interesting flowers.  It was a fabulous last chance to enjoy the desert this spring before the heat sets in.