Tokopah Falls 5.15.2011

Moving to Southern California occupied my attention for the last month. Now that I'm back, here's a few Spring photos. I don't know what the Sierra looks like now, aside from the Mineral King Webcams, but in May the snow remained thick. One could get up to Tokopah Falls by walking around snow piles, hurtling fallen trees, and praying that the ice over creeks would hold their weight.

Bridge across from Lodgepole Parking Area:

From what I've heard, the rivers are ridiculously swollen now. The Sierra had about 4 times normal snowpack and it's finally summer...

Alta Peak, as seen from Moro Rock summit:

Unfortunately, it was foggy on top of Moro that day. I waited over an hour for some clearing, but didn't get much more.

Up the trail from Lodgepole, it became sunny for short intervals. Air temperature was lower than during my snow shoeing trip in February.

Tokopah Falls was visible toward the end of this walk. Icy rocks prevented me from climbing up there, but it was still inspiring.

Hopefully I can get into Mineral King this summer. I got too close to Sawtooth Peak before that storm appeared. If the snow ever does melt, I'll certainly head up again.

5.21.2011

Skeptical Squirrel just saw his shadow.

This is IRREFUTABLE PROOF that the Rapture occurs May 21st 2011. I reckon that it'll work exactly like how them computers started teh World War Third on January 1st, 2000. WE GONNA DIE. Except for me that is. I'm a proud and outspoken believer in whatfore' religion dat believes in 4.21.2011. Yes sir. At Midnight sharp, God's beeming' me up reel good. Us real faithful folk ar' be sittin on the gold starship's, haulin' round' all of outside space. BeYond the crystal windows, we'll be watching the solar planets explodin with dem' locusts and fire and swine flu...WHATEVA...as Earth people are like AHHHHHHH why did't they send someone believeable to warn us....and it'll be crazy...

Hahaha I'm just messing with y'all.

Everyone knows 2012 is the reel end o' th' wurld...

Marble Falls

At present, deep snow crushes trails in the High Sierra. In fact, the NPS Sequoia website said mountain passes may not be open until early August. few lower elevation paths are open, such as the Marble Falls trail out of Potwishia. Rivers and waterfalls are engorged with snowmelt right now. I hiked the Marble Falls trail on April 30th, 2011.

The river started getting loud around here:

Marble Falls is actually several continual cascades, the highest of which are hidden above cliffs.

My words won't add anything to the below pictures, so I'm stopping here.

Pinnacles National Monument

Pinnacles National Monument is a strange looking place, whose rock formations appear almost otherworldly. This landscape is what remains of an ancient volcano, that erupted near the San Andreas Fault. Today, the California Condor has found a home amid these jagged peaks. I went to the Pinnacles on April 16th and hiked the High Peaks Trail up Scout Peak.

Scout Peak:
Desert flowers:
Easter Island is missing something.

The coastal ranges:

I saw many of the large birds.

This is the only other Condor shot I managed to get. I saw this one closely enough to identify it, but my camera's zoom didn't extend fast enough for get a better picture.

At the summit of Scout Peak:

I'm not that afraid of heights. Yes, I know, because I told myself that a number of times going up the rock. This is another view from the summit, looking toward Hawkins Peak.
This photograph was to prove I left the house that day, you know, like all those people on FaceSpace, or whatever that site is called.

Merica'

Terrorism just lost.

Whiskey Log Camp Trail

Whiskey Log Camp Trail is an offshoot of the more traveled Ladybug Trail. Vague curiosity sent me up this route on April 2nd.

A cascade in the Kaweah River:

There isn't much snow left at 5,000 feet:

Dennison Range:

Rain Break

The above pictures were taken at Kaweah Oaks Preserve, on March 18th 2011.