Sierra Nevada
That's what it's all about! *clap* *clap*
May 29, 2015
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CA: Tuolumne Co: Westside of the Sierra Nevada: Stanislaus National Forest: Clark Fork of the Stanislaus River to Carson-Iceberg Wilderness
Today was our first day in the epic Sierra Nevada Mountain Range! We hopped in the vans and rode to a meadow tucked in between Disaster Creek and the Clark Fork of the Stanislaus River. Students piled out to explore the surrounding area where we watched butterflies, identified new tree species, and enjoyed the clear blue skies above. In the shadow of the Iceberg, two of our comrades gave presentations on alpine plant adaptations and a deadly frog disease called chytridiomycosis. After the presentations, students split up to pursue their personal interests. Some wandered along the river bank, while others keyed flowers in the grass. A couple of us traveled up Disaster creek trail, and passing signs of fire, they walked towards the snow until they came to an expansive meadow where they spun the wheel about the formation of the area. Today many critters were observed, mushrooms found, and birds relentlessly followed. We stared up at the Iceberg together, ready for Mountain Time to reach its peak in the stunning Sierras.
May 30, 2015
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CA: Mono Co: Lee Vining: Mono Lake: Simis Ranch
We traveled from Clark Fork Camp on the west-side of the Sierra to Mono Lake on the East side of the Sierra. We made four stops on our journey’s end. We saw and heard a lot of cool things! On our first stop we talked about and observed the trees around us at 8,000 feet elevation. We then moved to Sonoma Pass where Ali gave a presentation on the geology of the region and an epic snowfight went down. We then went to have lunch by the river where Evan gave his management presentation on trout to the class as two cutthroat trout swam by. We continued to Travertine Hot Springs where we soaked in the hot mineral water while bird watching. Chris caught a huge gopher snake that he brought over to us. It was a magical place, we saw pinyon jays, mountain bluebirds, killdeer, and red wing blackbirds . We then continued on to Mono Lake where we where welcomed to beautiful views, warm meadows, and lovely Aspen trees, our wonderful home for the next week.
May 31, 2015
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CA: Mono Co: walk to Mono Lake
We finally made it to Mono lake today! We took a slow walk through Artemisia fields, comparing and contrasting the vegetation to that of the Mojave, and birded intensely along the way. After crossing the street, we arrived in a beautiful meadow roughly a quarter mile away from the lake, where Fred pointed out a great horned owl and its baby perched up in two trees! We all got a chance to look at the pair in the spotting scope; the baby was a fluffier version of its parent, surprisingly of equal size. After eating lunch in the Mono Lake park, we took the vans a couple of minutes away to the Mono Lake Cemetery, where we headed down into the sand surrounding the lake. We finally reached the shore, and we all took the opportunity to float in the salty, brine shrimp-infested waters and emerged as saltier, crustier versions of ourselves. We then listened to a couple of presentations by Selena, Bree, and Max regarding the biology, geology, and native history of Mono Lake and surrounding areas. Following this, we trekked through marsh-like lands running parallel to the lake, and ended up at the entrance to the Fountain of Youth. We crawled in groups of twos and threes through the tight tunnel leading to the fountain, where we were greeted by a fairy-like Abby and abundance of stinging nettle. We departed the fountain as cleaner, slightly stinging, more youthful versions of ourselves and headed back to the vans under the blazing sun. We laughed and sang songs all the way back to camp, and upon our arrival, were astounded by the awe-inspiring display of lenticular clouds above the lake. We embraced each other and silently took in the beautiful sunset, reminiscent to the sight on Gamboa Point. A magnificent end to another glorious day in the Eastern Sierras.
June 1, 2015
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CA: Mono Co: Dechambeau ponds to upper horse meadow
Today we started off by crowdsurfing Darwin goodbye while chanting his favorite song “burn fire burn.” Then we drove to Dechambeau Pond to check out the water fowl, and saw four White-faced Ibis, and watched Cassandra’s presentation on Mono management. Then we drove and hiked to Upper Horse Meadow, saw Mountain bluebirds and a Pygmy nuthatch. Some people went on a bear hunt while others learned about grasses. We listened to more Mono management presentations with a beautiful view of the lake in the background. Abby and Emma hid from people and made bear noises from behind a Jeffrey Pine on the way back to the vans. We finished the day with a full moon, bringing us back to our beginning trip to the Mojave.
June 2, 2015
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CA: Mono Co: Lundy Canyon
Today we drove East to Lundy Canyon in the Inyo Wilderness. We looked at, and walked across, beaver dams and spun the wheel about how beavers construct their dams and huts out of sticks and logs in the middle of a river. Beavers are indeed amazing architects! While exploring the lower pools, we were flanked by a Bald Eagle and a Golden Eagle flying high on either side of the valley. We heard thought provoking presentations from Spencer W. about an endangered subspecies of Willow Flycatcher, and Chad, who spoke on glaciers and how they formed, acted, and shaped the landscape around us. From there the afternoon was free for exploration and the group split up to venture on their own interests. Some went to explore in and around the snowmelt waterfall while Spencer K., Izzie, Max and fearless leader Fred ventured farther up the glacial valley all the way to 9,200 ft. in elevation while scoping for Big Horned Sheep, sliding down snow and soaking in the magnitude of the view. Another group heard the deep bass sounds of the elusive Sooty Grouse and ventured to find the location of the noise. What seemed like a short search in the beginning ended up being a two-hour saga in search of the deceptive ventriloquist that is the Sooty Grouse. Encircled around a Jeffrey Pine, all pointing in different directions where we believed the sound was coming from, we finally realized that the sound was coming from the top of the Jeffrey Pine!
Later, after a lovely purple dinner, we were about to begin nature notes when Chris exclaims “Wait! We need to go out the meadow now!” Confused and excited we hurry outside to see the full moon, gold and glistening, slowly rising over Mono Lake. A nature note that stood out was Allie, who had struggled with birding due to her lesser than ideal eyesight, listed over 10 species of birds she had seen that day to a raucous celebration of cheers and snaps. To round out the night, we talked about the broad but relevant topic of how to tackle the large environmental issues and our place as individuals and as a community within that struggle. “Never doubt the power of a small group of passionate people”-Margaret Mead.
Another wonderful day full of laughter and love in the range of light.
June 3, 2015
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CA: Mono Co: Mono Lake Lee Vining, Rush Creek and Parker lake loop
Today we went to Lee Vining Creek to meet Bartshe Miller where we sat under a Jeffery Pine and discussed the history and politics of Mono lake. We walked only a few feet away to look at the bottomlands Lee Vining Creek. After a few minutes by the creek we left to higher sloped elevation where a dried river bed sat in soil covered in obsidian and we discussed the variability of conservation efforts depending on location. Next, Bartshe took us to Rush creek to see how water diversion affected the sloped ecosystem and the actual gate that regulates how much water is diverted to Los Angeles. We looked at maps together and then left Bartshe to go meet up with River, Nik, Juliet, some Alumni from the 2014 NHFQ. We all hiked down on the S side of a glacier melted stream. First we walked through a chaparral zone of sagebrush, antelope bush, and desert peach plants. Then the land transition as we moved closer to the stream where we were surrounded by pine/conifer forest. We finally got to Parker Lake looking up at the Sierra Crest 12,000 ft high over our heads watching the glaciers melt down waterfalls through the wall of surrounding pines into Parker Lake 125 acres of freezing clear water. We had a few minutes there before we went back to the vans to head back to Simis Campground.
June 4, 2015
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CA: Mono Co: Glass Creek Meadow
We started off the day gathering warmies and rain-layers as cumulus clouds rolled in. We then headed up Obsidian Dome, ooh-ed and ah-ed at the beautiful black glass, and gained some inside knowledge from Dr.V himself; transition lensed sunglasses = the weather will change. After a few moments in the meadow, white beards of hail began to drop down on us. We embraced the wonder with a classic hokey-pokey, and returned to the vans damp but happy. We bomb-proofed camp, spoke of bomb Fred, and ate a bomb dinner
June 5, 2015
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CA: Mono Co: Free Day
Today, the great spirits of Field Quarter gifted us with a free day. Max, Izzie and Spencer K. charged Mt. Warren and realized the intense joy that can come from sledding with a trash bag. Chad and Abby set up a shelter in Lundy canyon to protect their Jepsons as they vigorously keyed. Allison and Emma toughed out the storm up on a mountain as they watched lightning strike Mono Lake. We reconvened after another dankalicious dank crew dinner, and shared our last campfire as a complete Field Quarter family. After pouring our hearts out and shedding many tears, some of us even revisited the salty Mono Lake waters once again; we cannot get enough of this place.
June 6, 2015
CA: Mono Co-Santa Cruz Co
Today marks the last day with our tribe out in the field. We woke up in a cuddle puddle still misty from the night before. We said farewell to the Simis ranch and Mono lake with our last hokey pokey and set out for Yosemite. After making our way up Tioga pass we stopped in Tuolumne meadows, at the Olmstead look out point, in El. Cap meadows and to send our dear Emma on her way to camp. We arrived back in Santa Cruz in the evening after an adventurous car ride home. What a beautiful spring we have all spent out in the field together. Together we, the river bend, have officially crossed the threshold of boredom. With new sets of eyes, we all are eager for the beauty and challenges that await us, knowing we will always have our 2015 FQ family with us. In Aldo’s words “Let’s GO!”
