2016 - Robert's adventures in the Northern Sierra Nevada - California

[Robert]

Hi Ashley,

If you ever find yourself in our part of California there are some great sites to see as well as wonderful wildflowers to see. The following photographs are just a sampling from the Ebbetts Pass area in Calaveras County. I took this outing in August of 2003.



A view to the north from a ridgeline south of Ebbetts Pass.



More of the same.



Red Peak.



Beautiful volcanic rocky peaks.



This ridgeline is at the Sierra Crest. It gently slopes on the other side downward toward the Great Interior Valley of California. There are some fantastic alpine plants that grow up there.

[Robert]

Some of the wildflowers from the Ebbetts Pass region.

Artemisia arbuscula in bloom or shortly afterwards. This species is mat-forming and has very silvery foliage.



Calochortus leichtlinii - a common species in the high Sierra.



Ipomopsis aggregata with a Sidalcea, most likely S. glaucescens.



The stately giant - Juniperus occidentalis.



This part of the Sierra Nevada has some very good dark purplish-blue forms of Monardella odoratissima. The good forms are even darker than the one pictured.

Anyway, if you ever find yourself in or near El Dorado County, California let me know in advance and I will do my best to direct you to some great places that are much less crowded than the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Carson Pass area, or parts of Yosemite National Park. All the wildflower seen at Carson Pass can be found elsewhere without the crowds. Same with Yosemite Park, some parts are much less crowded, however there is only one Yosemite Valley.

[Robert]

Here are a few more photographs from outings taken in 2003. The following are from Mount Price and Pyramid Peak, the two southern most peaks of the Crystal Range.



This is a view from the summit of Mount Price looking south towards Pyramid Peak. The photographs were taken in early October 2003. Notice how much snow still remains on the sides of the summit ridge.

To the right in this photograph there is a granite "bench" perched high on the side of Mount Price. This is where G. Ledyard Stebbins discovered Lewisia longipetala growing with L. pygmaea in about 1968. This is where through observation he concluded that Lewisia longipetela was a distinct species and not a subspecies of Lewisia pygmaea.

This bench has a considerable variety of species. I will return to this site in July and report on the current conditions there.



This photograph is from the summit of Pyramid Peak looking back northward toward Mount Price. High on the south face of Pyramid Peak some of the same conditions exist as on Mount Price. I will be looking for both Lewisia pygmaea and L. longipetala in these locations too.



Lake Aloha from the summit of Mount Price. Again notice the snow. During the last few drought years there was no snow on the high peaks in October. There was not even much snow in May!



Here is another view of Lake Aloha this time from the summit of Pyramid Peak. Beyond Lake Aloha is the southern portion of Lake Tahoe, the gambling casinos at Stateline Nevada and mountains in Neavada beyond.



A good look at Pyramid Peak from near Lake Sylvia. It is still over a 600 meter elevation climb to the summit of Pyramid Peak from this point.

Soon I will be reporting on my last outing to the Van Vleck area near Red Peak and Tells Peak in the northern part of the Crystal Range.

[Hoy]

Looks terrific, Robert!
Calocorthus leichtlinii stands out among the other beautiful plants

[ashley]

What great hiking country Robert.  Just to see those magnificent junipers would be worth the trip.  Many thanks for showing.

[Robert]

I looked again at the photographs from the summit of Mount Price. I must have been there in July, thus the snow. I know that snow can linger into October some years, but the photographs from the two summits have different amounts of snow. 2003 was a year that I climbed all the major peaks of the Crystal Range. As I remember I climbed the first peak in July and finished with Red Peak in October.

[Tim Ingram]

Tremendous landscapes! Very different to our North & South Downs in Kent. Rather nice to see all those Veratrum seed germinating - a long way down the line until they start flowering .

[Robert]

Van Vleck

Highlands Trail Route

Wednesday, 15 June 2016

Sacramento Weather

Weather: Cloudy
Temperature, High: 70 F (21 C), Low: 54 F (12 C)

Placerville Weather

Weather: Cloudy
Temperature, High: 72 F (22 C), Low: 47 F (8 C)

Wednesday morning the weather was overcast and very unseasonally cool. I checked the weather report before departing for the high terrain of the Sierra Nevada. Any precipitation was forecast to stay well to the north for the next 24 hours. My wife advised me to take a few extra layers of clothing, as it would certainly be cold.

My goal was to start at the Van Vleck trailhead and take the northern route on the Highlands Trail. My usual and favorite route is to the south on the Red Peak Trail. I had not been on the Highlands Trail for many years. There are a series of moist meadows I wanted to check on as well as scout out the higher terrain as the trail goes directly to the top of Tells Peak before descending to Highlands Lake, northeast of the Tells Peak summit.



I was very pleased to see Tells Creek flowing well with water. During the last few years of drought the creek has been completely dry by late summer.



This day may have been overcast and cold, however the proceeding weather had been relatively warm. There were a good many plants to see in bloom, including Fragaria virginiana. This species produces very good berries that are rarely seen as the wild animals relish them too.



It seemed somewhat odd to see Phacelia hydrophylloides in bloom. The previous week I had seen them on Lyon's Creek just emerging from the ground.



I was very much aware that Viola bakeri was plentiful in this area. I saw a good number in bloom, but it was great to find Viola macloskeyi in bloom. The first section of the trail before the two trails fork from each other, I hike often. For whatever reason, this is the first time I have observed this species along this section of the trail.



Viola glabella was also blooming abundantly along this section of the trail too. I observed some excellent forms, some I believe are the best I have ever seen of this species.

[Robert]

Ribes viscosissimum grows abundantly along this route. The foliage and young stems are very glandular. In addition, the foliage has a pleasant but unusual scent too.



My first sight of Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata in bloom this season. The terrain along this section of the trail slopes gently to the northwest and can seem very dry in places, especially in the late summer - autumn. From the plant life it is clear that abundant water flows somewhat near the surface during the complete growing season. Last autumn I could easily detect the distress of the mesic and hydric species that grow along some portions of the trail.



A bitter cold wind was blowing and the cloud shield became lower and lower. In this photograph the peaks of the Crystal Range were still visible. This changed very quickly as I worked my way to the first meadow I wanted to explore.



After taking my time and examining many plants, I arrived at the meadow. I knew it was cold as my camera was not functioning very well. It was very difficult taking any photographs at all, partly due of the camera batteries, partly due to my stiff, cold fingers. Gloves were available, however it is difficult for me to handle things with them on.



The first photograph does not depict the floral beauty of the meadow this day. There were thousands of Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii in bloom surrounded by an equal number of the white flowered Bistorta bistortoides in bloom. Ringing the edges of the meadow the bright yellow flowers of Sisyrinchium californicum were out in their full glory.

At this time my camera stopped functioning and it began to snow..... so cold that the snow began sticking and accumulating immediately. I actually was enjoying the snow, however I was not going to get anything done in this weather so it was time to return to the truck.

[Robert]

I left the Van Vleck area (6,500 feet - 1,981 meters) and started down the road towards home. There was still plenty of time left for me this day, but the snow must certainly have been rain farther down the mountain.

My route took me to the top of Peavine Ridge. The snow had turned to rain but now had stopped. I spotted Calyptridium monospermum blooming in mass. I pulled off the road and saw a promising dirt tract to hike down.



The dirt track had once been a logging trail. There were many invasive species such as Bromus tectorum, Hypericum perforatum, Cynosurus echinatus, and Verbascum thapsis. The forest stand turned out to be a monoculture of Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) - not a very promising place to scout around.

I did spot a very nice specimen of Eriodictyon (Nama) lobbii in full bloom. I do not know if it was the lower elevation (5,235 feet - 1,596 meters), the slightly warmer temperature, or the heat from the cab of the truck, but my camera did decide to work again.



It had stopped raining and I did see a much more promising site to check on back up the road a piece. I quickly drove there and immediately spotted a beautiful drift of Mimulus torreyi in full bloom.



I wandered among the conifers for a short distance, when I can across a rocky open bluff. Scattered here and there was the Solanaceae, Chamaesaracha nana. I rarely come across this species and especially so many in one location.

In the sunniest locations grew Eriogonum umbellatum var. polyanthum and Allium campanulatum as well as many other species.



In shadier locations surrounding the bluff Delphinium gracilentum was in bloom. Most were of a pinky-lavender and white shade, however I did see a few dark purple-blue plants in bloom.

[Robert]

Now the day was nearing its end and it was time to return home. On my hike back to the truck I spotted a bluish form of Ceanothus cordulatus in bloom. This species generally blooms with white flowers. The flowers were somewhat faded, so I marked its location and will hopefully return some day to see it in peak bloom. At that time perhaps I can determine the depth of the blue color when they are in their peak of flowering.

This ended my outing. The snow was enjoyable, but did disrupt my botany activities. No matter what, I always seem to enjoy myself on these outings and this one was no exception. 

Until next time.......

[Robert]

I made a brief stop at the Lyon's Creek Trailhead today. There were a number of nice plants in bloom, Penstemon rydbergii var. oreocharis being one.

On the return trip I saw many Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia in bloom. Sorry on photograph today. 



Specimens of Carex heteroneura being prepared for pressing.



The lighting is poor, but a close-up of the Inflorescence (C. heteroneura).

Carex athrostachya is another common Carex species in this area.



I am extremely busy right now, however here is a tranquil seen from Lake No.3 with a beautiful reflection of Red Peak. Aaahhh! Just thinking about being there is a pleasure.



A view from the summit of Red Peak look down to the northeast to Lelands Lakes. I hope that I can get up to the summit of Red Peak soon.... so many wonderful alpine species grow on the slopes of this mountain.

[Hoy]

I am extremely busy right now, however here is a tranquil seen from Lake No.3 with a beautiful reflection of Red Peak. Aaahhh! Just thinking about being there is a pleasure.

. . . .

A view from the summit of Red Peak look down to the northeast to Lelands Lakes. I hope that I can get up to the summit of Red Peak soon.... so many wonderful alpine species grow on the slopes of this mountain.

Robert, I understand quite well why you wish to get there!

The red colour of Read Peak, is it iron or manganese rust?

[Robert]

Robert, I understand quite well why you wish to get there!

The red colour of Read Peak, is it iron or manganese rust?

Trond,

I do not know why the rock on Red Peak has the red color. It would be great to find out. If I get up early I can hike into Lake No.3 and back to the trailhead in one day. It is better to spend the night. There are some prime colonies of Gentiana calycosa near the lake. 

[Robert]

I was out yesterday and managed to take a few photographs. Most of my time was spent trying to hunt down noxious weeds, namely, Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa), Oblong Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata), and Perennial Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium). I did not find any. This was good as we do not want them in California.



Dichelostemma multiflorum was one of the pretties I able to photograph.



Lilium washingtonianum is getting ready to bloom. They generally start blooming the first week of July.



Brodiaea elegans



This specimen of Brodiaea elegans was growing up through Melilotus albus. The Sweet Clover was heavily browsed by the deer, most likely saving the flowers of the Brodiaea.

Some of the other noteworthy plants seen were: Clarkia arcuata - just finishing their last flowers; Stipa nelsonii - A little difficult to key out, however I am fairly sure on this one; Calochortus minimus - in fruit, the nodding pods make identification positive; and still more Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia (I still hope to get a good photograph of this species).

Next time out I hope to have more time for photographs!