High Sierra Topix

Electra wrote: Shawn, always good memories of our meeting out there.

Hey Dan, likewise. It's been so long I didn't think you'd remember. That was my first of about four trips to the area. Sure hope you're doing well.

TT,
I'm really impressed that you still carry books, and not just slinky, dinky little tomes. I used to lug a book along (my wife still calls me out for dragging Rise & Fall of the Third Reich on our honeymoon backpack), but nowadays I'd rather have an extra bag of nuts. Or, nothing.
I'm also impressed with folks who have climbed up Sphinx Creek. I've only ever come down that route and from your report and one a while back from wanderingdaisy, it's a helluva lot easier going down than up. Sliding down on reluctant willows is much easier than hacking up through them. Anyway, kudos for getting up there!
Finally, in the shot right after the columbine close up, were those all columbine? If so, that's definitely one of the mother lodes!
cg

cgundersen wrote:TT,
I'm really impressed that you still carry books, and not just slinky, dinky little tomes. I used to lug a book along (my wife still calls me out for dragging Rise & Fall of the Third Reich on our honeymoon backpack), but nowadays I'd rather have an extra bag of nuts. Or, nothing.

Gotta have the book. Especially on a solo trip. I don't think I've ever finished all of the trail mix I started out with, on any trip, but I have burned through books and been left with nothing to read. I'm careful to make sure that never happens again.

I'm also impressed with folks who have climbed up Sphinx Creek. I've only ever come down that route and from your report and one a while back from wanderingdaisy, it's a helluva lot easier going down than up. Sliding down on reluctant willows is much easier than hacking up through them. Anyway, kudos for getting up there!

Thanks! It really wasn't too bad--where I went up, I managed to avoid the worst of all that.

Finally, in the shot right after the columbine close up, were those all columbine? If so, that's definitely one of the mother lodes!
cg

Yup--all columbine. Patches like that all the way up.

TT,
Instead of book reading, I go wander around and fall down a lot........... the bloody legs remind me I'm not as deft as I used to be. Oh, well. But, the columbines are amazing, I saw a steady sprinkle on a traverse around Glacier Divide several years ago, but nothing like the field(s) you saw. Any more photos of the flowers?
cg

cgundersen wrote:TT,
Instead of book reading, I go wander around and fall down a lot........... the bloody legs remind me I'm not as deft as I used to be. Oh, well.

Heh...nor am I.

I'm a compulsive reader. I would probably have a panic attack if I ever got caught without written material.

But, the columbines are amazing, I saw a steady sprinkle on a traverse around Glacier Divide several years ago, but nothing like the field(s) you saw. Any more photos of the flowers?
cg

Just a couple of close-ups. Too focused on balance to think much about shooting them on the way up the talus.

I also encountered the columbines last year. Your photos are much better than mine. Oh well, here are my shots.

TT/WD,
Thanks for the additional photos, and the incentive to get up there during the bloom! But, I still think I'll aim to go down Sphinx creek........
cg

Wandering Daisy: nice!

cgunderson: I'm not sure down would really be better than up...especially that stretch of talus leading up to (or down from) Sphinx Col.

TT,
I'm sure everyone has their preferences, but I'm not all that indisposed to talus and can kind of develop a zen-like trance whilst hopping. The same is not true bushwhacking uphill. Maybe it's the claustrophobia. Maybe it's just wanting to see where I'm going. Regardless, I generally try to arrange trips so that if there is any bushwhacking, it's at least on a downhill segment. A few years back a buddy and I veered out of Cloud Canyon to go up to Josephine Lakes and we were climbing 15 ft above the ground in the area where we started the ascent. The willows and shrubs were so thick it was ridiculous. But, the last time I went down Sphinx Creek was more than 20 years ago, so maybe my recollections are dimming. I just recall that part of the descent being more work than anything else we'd done to that point (and, it was the standard Bubbs-East Lake-Reflection-Longley-Sphinx loop). But, I'd certainly do it for the flowers!
cg

I have done that area twice, which I covered here:
http://www.doylewdonehoo.com/sphinx/stcoverv1n3.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.doylewdonehoo.com/sphinx/stcoverv1n5.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Those stairs from Bubbs Creek to Sphinx Creek are an engineering marvel and there are not many places like it in the Sierra. My backpacking partner (normally with an extra uphill gear) was totaled by those stairs. I did better: I knew what to expect. The Alpenglow at Big Brewer Lake is one best in the Sierra: only Ottoway Lake is its equal that I have found, it it has a trail to it. Both some of the best hiking in the Sierra.