Re: Ionian Basin from Martha Lake
Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 3:19 pm
I climbed Goddard twice from Martha Lake in the early 80s and don't recall the route particularly difficult except that it was well ducked and across quite a bit of metamorphic talus and scree. Explored the western parts of Ionian Basin also. At that elevation the sky is more saturated so lots of deep blue noname lakes, some with considerable depth. Generally I thought it was unpleasantly sterile with only turf and lichen vegetation and few wildflowers. Of course that is because some El Nino years there is so much snow there it dosn't melt out till late August when it all too soon starts getting cooler so little time for anything to grow. And without plants, one won't find many critters. Much the same as some other sterile high elevation basins in the Sierra up near 12k I've rambled about in like the Ritter Lakes. Both unpleasant dark and too often windy. I much preferred down by Martha Lake even thought that is also alpine with few trees, as there is considerable life down there both plants and animals.