Monday, July 3, 2023

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.











1 comment:

  1. Wowsers!!! Spectacular show of flowers! Awesome nature you got to see and all getting along on its own. Scenery is terrific. Great finds of cabin, chuckwalla and Vireos. hank you so much for taking the time to share with us. I really appreciate it. Great discovery hikes. Thanks to Bill, too.

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