High Sierra Topix

I had another day with no patients scheduled, so I met up with Cori just east of Walker Pass (Hwy 178 through Kernville) to do a weekend warm-up to Backus Peak. As it was slated to be over 90 degrees, we both carried a ton of water, and ended up really taking our time and enjoying all the wildflowers that were still blooming in the desert!

Some notes from the day:

1) Snakes. Yup. Don't like 'em, never have. I sang the 'Go Away Snakes' song, but we still saw three. Identification , anyone??

2) Some really amazing wildflowers , brilliantly colored, still adorning the desert floor and slopes. Neither Cori nor I moved very fast since we were stopping every few feet to attempt to capture them.

3) Hot day, but there was a nice wind, especially on the summit ridge. Cold beer back at the Toaster and Cooler were the best ever!

4) A fun peak, would like to have looped it with Russell, maybe next time! We were both heading to big peaks the next day (Cori did Spanish Needle, and I did Agassiz), so we conserved energy a bit.

5) Had din-din at Indian Wells. I came away with the happiest case EVER!!

Rest of the pics are here.

A few other moments from the day:

From about 8 feet away:


Backus Peak:


Cool Critter:


-L

the lobotomy bock is for sipping only ... not like this guy ok ?

That is one spot-tacular lizard!! It looks to be some sort of leopard lizard, but I don't know what kind. There is a blunt-nosed leopard lizard which is endangered, and a long-nosed leopard lizard, both of which (I think) are indigenous to the area. Yours looks kind of like a medium nosed lizard.

Great photos! Thanks.

Alice

Alice, I think that's a male Collared Lizard.

http://www.desertusa.com/aug97/du_blcollizard.html