High Sierra Topix

Great pics SSSdave and Windwalker.

Wife and I may head down to the Carrizo this weekend - thanks for the tip about the insect repellant Windwalker.

ifernau wrote:Windwalker,
Good for you! Let's hope your boss is not a forum member, Those pics are beautiful. You had perfect weather!

Ifernau...Thanks!

My boss is a moderator of this forum. (self employed)

There was a bit of a breeze all day so I never got to pull out the macro lense. Stuck with the wider angles and faster shutter speeds.

Nice work Windwalker, I like the Lupine mixed in with all that yellow. I didn’t
get many pictures at Montana del Oro, too windy but fun hiking around the bluffs with the wind and big waves. I did see the signs posted: “Ticks - Ticks - Ticks”. Didn't find any, hope I didn’t bring any home.

Thanks Mountaineer and Doug !


Even a few poppies out on the bluffs at Montana de Oro

I knew we could get you to migrate westward out of those favorite green Sierra foothills. But we can let you off so easy WindWalker. I see pleasant visions of Shell Creek and Monte De Oro, but no Carrizo...yet?

I picked up 43 each 4x5 slides and they are some of the best I've ever gotten on a road trip. Thanks to great weather. A LF friend of mine is going up to Carrizo this weekend after I mugged him with a report. To save gas $$$ I've conspired to join him so will be riding shotgun. He needs a guide now of course. Well be up there on Simmler Road late Thursday night and certain to be sizing up shots early after sunrise. Since he's a Yosemite climber too I will be taking him into the Temblor heights.

...David

I bet the detail in those 4x5s is awesome....great shot David.

I only worked the Caliente side for a few hours because I was itching to get to Shell Creek. I asked for and got permission to hike up to that huge patch of poppies above that residential part of California Valley. The solid field of poppies came out waaaaay to hot. I'll have to work on those....they may be toooo over exposed to save.

Just got back from the Shell Creek Preserve an hour ago. Nothing exciting to report. Not nearly what it was last year at this time. We have only ahd a couple of warm days so far so maybe I am being impatient. Just telling you folks it isn't worth the effort just yet.

I spent the weekend camping and exploring in the Carrizo Plain. Weather was warm with very hazy sunshine. Some nice wildflower shows down along the plain near the shores of Soda Lake, mainly along Simmler Road, but they are relatively patchy and thin in spots. Also blankets along the Tremblor area and around the hills around where 7 mile road intersect 58 - mostly Hillside daisies. Shell creek road also had some dramatic carpets. This was my first experience of spring wildflower displays of this sort and I was impressed...I can't imagine how they looked last year.

Here are a few along Shell Creek road...





A few more here

Beautiful shots trailblazer! I am sooo mad that I am tied up right now and cannot sneak away for a few days. So, thank you for posting these images at least I can get some views of this wonderfull place.

Thanks

Trailblazer, I don't have any shots of the whole field handy to post, but this one was last year. This is a small patch of the field just west of Shell Creek Rd. The entire field was ablaze just like this patch. At least 20 acres of this, and not a patch was barren of flowers. Every square inch was filled. In the 30+ years I have been frequenting Shell Creek, last year was by far the most spectacular.

BTW, great shots! I suck at macro photography so I really enjoy seeing yours.