Eastern Sierra Cousins

Typically in June we are in the Sierra high country.  With the record high snow fall and slow melt out, we have chosen to focus most of our time on the other side of the Owen's Valley.  We have spent enough time in the Sierra to enjoy the snow, cross some sketchy snow bridges and look at avalanche debris, but haven't felt the need to do anything heroic.  The high country needs some time to melt and dry out.  Fortunately, there are plenty of flowers in the dry mountains.  These trips were inspired by an email from our friend Hikin' Bill.  He sent out photos of some beautiful cactus, and we decided to investigate.  Lots of new to us flowers awaited.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the Whites and Inyos.

Mojave kingcup cactus, Echinocereus mojavensis

Rose penstemon, Penstemon floridus

As you can tell, I like these a whole bunch.

Acton brittlebush, Encelia actonii

Searl's prairie clover, Dalea seaarlsiae

I had no idea this flower even existed, and we didn't see them most hikes.

Thick stemmed caulanthus, Caulanthus crassicaulis

Note the thick stem, like desert candles.

Yes, these were one of my favorites.  So different.

Prince's plume, Stanleya elata

Stansbury's cliffrose, Purshia stansburyana

Mojave fishook cactus, Sclerocactus polyancistrus

Our typical hiking scene, Juniper Peak.

Mojave kingcup cactus, Echinocereus mojavensis

Ok, I really like these too.

 

Grizzlybear pricklypear, Opuntia polyacantha  var. erinacea

Bob is hiking in the brush with Waucoba and Andrews in the background.

White layia, Layia glandulosa

Chuckwalla, Sauromalus ater

Pinyon Mariposa, Calochortus bruneaunis

Cushion Buckwheat, Eriogonum ovalifolium

Clustered broomrape, Aphyllon fasciculatum

Cold desert phlox, Phlox stansburyi 

We found 11 ancient native house rings and there may be more.

Crested onion, Allium atrorubens

Parish's larkspur, Delphinium parishii  ssp. parishii 

Desert paintbrush, Castilleja chromosa

Grizzlybear pricklypear, Opuntia polyacantha  var. erinacea

Pinyon mariposa, Calochortus bruneaunis

Yes, normally these are white, but what a color morph.

Red mariposa, Calochortus kennedyi var. kennedyi

Lilac sunbonnet, Langloisia setosissima ssp. punctata 

Calico cactus, Echinocereus engelmannii 

Ok, I liked these a lot too.

Death Valley phacelia, Phacelia vallis-mortae

Rose heath, Chaetopappa ericoides

A view of the Sierra.  Still plenty of snow up high.

Rayless shaggy fleabane, Erigeron aphanactis

Eureka Sand Dunes

Bitter root, Lewisia rediviva

We did bag a few peaklets during our hikes.

The view from up high is mighty nice.

White Mountain is actually white with its snow covering.

Royal penstemon, Penstemon speciosus

Grizzlybear pricklypear, Opuntia polyacantha  var. erinacea

Erigeron species, these are tricky.

Cushion Buckwheat, Eriogonum ovalifolium

Lewis' flax, Linum lewisii 

Fineleaf hymenopappus, Hymenopappus filifolius var. nanus 

Rose heath, Chaetopappa ericoides

Fendler's sandmat, Euphorbia fendleri

Desert snowberry, Symphoricarpos longiflorus

Parry's Monkeyflower, Diplacus parryi

Desert paintbrush, Castilleja chromosa

Wishbone bush, Mirabilis laevis

Wooly Marigold, Baileya pleniradiata

Mojave indigobush, Psorothamnus arborescens

Mojave sandwort, Eremogone macradenia

Beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris

Clustered broomrape, Aphyllon fasciculatum

Yellow eyed lupine, Lupinus flavoculatus

Pink allumroot, Heuchera rubescens

Booth's evening primrose, Eremothera boothii

Skunky monkeyflower, Diplacus mephiticus

This cabin was completely unexpected.  Most cabins in the area are associated with mining, none of that here.  Other times we have found cabins on old stage lines, or for ranching.  Neither of those seem to fit either.  Another guess was cutting trees for charcoal, but the Veedol motor oil company didn't come into existence until 1918, and that seems too late.  So, my best guess is a mine we don't know of.  This cabin had a stove, so it was used for more than just a very temporary shelter.  A mystery.

Desert Lantern, Oenothera deltoides

Heartleaf jewelflower, Streptanthus cordatus  

Tufted townsendia, Townsendia scapigera

Badger flat threadplant, Nemacladus inyoensis. Rare and among the smallest flowers around

Yes, they are very small.

King's bird's beak, Cordylanthus kingii 

This is an old paintbrush.

Utah juniper,  Juniperus osteosperma

Heartleaf jewelflower, Steptanthus cordatus

Torrey's milkvetch, Astragalus calycosus

Beautiful, but not the place to be when it is hot.

We even saw some petroglyphs.  

Most of these were very old.

Desert collared lizard, Crotaphytus bicinctores

Fossil worm tracks

Pinyon mariposa, Calochortus buneaunis

Pinyon mariposa and native bee pollinator

Inyo Frasera, Frasera puberulenta

On several hikes we heard vireo singing. As both plumbeous and gray are possible we would track them down and get a good look.  One time we were lucky and had Gray Vireo.  This is the much rarer of the two.  Even better, we were able to watch the parents feed a fledgling just out of the nest.  Very, very nice!

Gray Vireo fledgling, Vireo vicinior

Adult, with lunch for the fledgling

A few photos of snow hiking this spring.  The first is Bob crossing the sketchy snow bridge.  Next is the avalanche debris in Tyee Lake.  Yes, it is well on its way to being a meadow.  And finally Lower Lamarck.  What appears to be open water is ice.  It melted and then froze over again.  Happy spring.