Eastern Mojave Vegetation Tom Schweich
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Eastern Mojave Vegetation | Field Notes (Continued) |
| Tom Schweich |
 Topics in this Article: 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Contents Literature Cited | When I first
read the field notes of Annie Alexander and Louise Kellogg, I was fascinated by the descriptions they wrote about the places they went and the plants and animals they found there. By publishing my field notes on the Internet I hope to follow a little bit in their tradition.
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| 2005
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Literature Cited: Other Articles: Field Notes: Coll No. 357 Coll. No. 362
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Searching the Web for Phacelia crenulata found the following: | 1: Contact Dermatitis. 1980 Jun;6(4):272-4. Related Articles, Links A potent contact allergen of Phacelia (Hydrophyllaceae). The major contact allergen of Phacelia crenulata (Hydrophyllaceae) has been identified as geranylhydroquinone. A maximization test of geranylhydroquinone showed this to be a potent sensitizer comparable in degree to poison oak/ivy urushiol. Comparative patch testing on humans with urushiol established that the phacelia allergen does not cross-react with poison oak or ivy. PMID: 7398286 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] |
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| Thursday, 24 March 2005. |
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| Sunday, 17-Apr-05 |
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Today we drove to Atascadero from Alameda |
| Other Articles: CA Hwy 25: at Monterey Road |
At Monterey Road in Gilroy, we left Highway 101, and followed Monterey Road to its junction with Highway 25. On Highway 25 we passed through Hollister and Tres Pinos. We drove through Barado County Historical Park, but saw nothing to make us stop. After re-entering Highway 25, we passed by the San Benito County Fair Grounds.
| |  The
Blossom Hill Winery. Other Articles: CA Hwy 25: Paicines
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At Paicines we looked at the winery building footings to see if we could see some that were being shifted by the San Andreas Fault. We didn’t. Later, I learned that this was the wrong winery. We should have stopped at the Almaden Cienega Winery near Hollister.
| |  Hummocky terrrain across the San Andreas Fault.
Other Articles: CA Hwy 25: 67700
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I stopped to take this photo as a good example of hummocky terrain resulting from repeated landslides. It is likely that the sliding occurred during frequent earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault.
| |  Small valley parallel to San Andreas Fault, looking north toward the Bear Valley Fire Control Station.
Other Articles: CA Hwy 25: 67850
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Between Willow Creek and Pinnacles the road climbs westerly out of the San Benito River canyon and away from the trace of the San Andreas fault. However, this little valley is itself very linear and aligned with the San Andreas Fault. It passes the Bear Valley Fire Control Station, and then descends gently past Schmidt Ranch to Pinnacles.
| |  Small valley parallel to San Andreas Fault, looking south toward the Schmidt Ranch.
Other Articles: CA Hwy 25: 67900
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Looking the other way, down the valley, and to the southeast. |
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 Shutter ridges along the San Andreas fault. 
Sag pong along San Andreas fault. Other Articles: CA Hwy 25: at CA Hwy 146 68065
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We started to drive into Pinnacles National Monument, but when we learned that you have to park outside the park and take a shuttle bus in, we decided to skip to monument for this trip. Instead a few miles south we stopped along the road for lunch. Here we had a good view of some shutter ridges and a sag pond along the fault.
| | Other Articles: Old Hernandez Road: at San Benito Lateral |
A little further on, we saw a road to the east signed “San Benito Lateral.” We took it and soon came to a fork with Old Hernandez Road and __________ Road. We took Old Hernandez Road as it led south, the general direction of our travel.
| |  Looking downstream (north) on the San Benito River, just south of the former townsite of San Benito, Old Hernandez Road.
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About 1.6 miles (2.0 km) east of the San Benito townsite, Old Hernandez Road climbs up onto a small bluff. From this vantage point we can look back toward the townsite. This photograph is looking down river. The pinkish trees along the river are tamarisk.
| |  Cold sulfur spring along Old Hernandez Road, San Benito County, California.
Other Articles: Old Hernandez Road: at Sulfur Spring |
We saw this spring along side the road. Thinking it might be hot or warm, I walked up to check the water. However, the water was cold, even though it smelled moderately of sulfur.
| |  Cows by the San Benito River on Old Hernandez Road.
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At first it was paved, but soon it became dirt, and at one point we had to ford the San Benito River. This ford was a bit deeper than we thought, and we were surprised when the nose of the 4 Runner dipped into the water. Regardless, we made it through, and up the bank on the other side.
| |  "Road Closed" sign on Old Hernandez Road. Other Articles: Old Hernandez Road: at End of Pavement |
When we reached the pavement at the other end, there was a “Road Closed” sign. But it must have been intended for people traveling in the opposite direction.
| |  Coalinga Road looking west from Old Hernandez Road.
Other Articles: Coalinga Road: near Old Hernandez Road |
At Coalinga Road, we looked east … |
|  Coalinga Road looking east from Old Hernandez Road.
Other Articles: Coalinga Road: near Old Hernandez Road |
… and west. | |
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From Old Hernandez Road and Coalinga Road, we back tracked a few miles to Highway 25, and then continued south through Bitterwater.
| |  La
Laguna Vieja Rancho, at Bitterwater Lake, along California Highway 25.
Other Articles: CA Hwy 25: at La Laguna Vieja Rancho Locations: Bitterwater Lake. La Laguna Vieja Rancho. |
Just south of Bitterwater, in Bitterwater Valley, is Bitterwater Lake. I'm guessing someone thought the water was bitter. Gudde (1969) notes at least fifty locations, lakes, and streams in California with a reference to bitterness of the water. "Amargosa" also refers to bitterness of the water, although modern Spanish uses "amargo" or "amargado" for the adjective "bitter." The location of Bitterwater Lake is also occupied by La Laguna Vieja Rancho.
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At the end of Highway 25, where it dead ends into Highway 198, we jogged over to Peach Tree Valley road and continued south on that one.
| |  Hill in Lewis Creek canyon. 
Lewis Creek, sediment load exceeds the capacity of the creek.
Other Articles: Lewis Creek Road: 30000 31000 Locations: Lewis Creek.
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We found a road called Lewis Creek Road. It was a dead end, but we went a few miles up to the first ranch.
| |  View north in Peachtree Valley on CA Hwy 25. Other Articles: CA Hwy 25: 88800 Locations: Peachtree Valley. |
We returned to Highway 25, where it swings west of the fault through Lonoak.
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 Looking west on California Highway 198 in Peachtree Valley.
Looking southeast in Peachtree Valley. 
Looking east along California Highway 198.
Other Articles: CA Hwy 198: near Peach Tree Road 20120 Peach Tree Road: 10010 Locations: Peachtree Valley.
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| |  Intersection of Peachtree Road and Indian Valley Road.
Other Articles: Indian Valley Road: 10000 Peach Tree Road: 90000 Field Notes: 20040418090
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The stopped for this photo at the intersection of Peach Tree Road and Indian Valley Road.
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The fish is still hanging in the oak tree on Indian Valley Road, although weathering a bit now.
| |  View of farm in Indian Valley. Other Articles: Indian Valley Road: 60000 Field Notes: 20040418105 |
In Indian Valley the hills were still a lush green, compared to last year when they were beginning to turn brown.
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Across the Salinas River from San Miguel, we thought to take River Road all the way into Paso Robles. Unfortunately, it is closed, or so the sign says, so we had to detour via Estrella Road and Airport Road.
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| Monday, 18-Apr-05 |
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Today we stayed around the Atascadero – Paso Robles area. |
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| Tuesday, 19-Apr-05 |
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Today, we drove to Zzyzx from Atascadero. |
|  The
hot spring on 19 April 2004.
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Got coffee at Jack’s, took a photo of the hot spring. |
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In Paso Robles, we crossed the river on 13th Street that becomes Creston Road. We followed Creston Road until it becomes La Panza Road, where it crosses Highway 41. From La Panza Road, we joined Highway 58, and continued on to Shell Creek.
| |  Tree along Shell Creek. 
Looking north along Shell Creek Road. 
Looking south along Shell Creek Road. Other Articles: Shell Creek Road: 74990 75000 75010 Locations: Shell Creek.
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At Shell Creek, we stopped to look at flowers. There were a few left, but most have dried up.
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 Looking west from California Highway 58, Cymric Oil Field on ridge.
Looking northeast toward Buttonwillow along California Highway 58.
Other Articles: California Highway 58: 28495 28505 Locations: San Joaquin Valley.
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Back on Highway 58 we proceeded through McKittrick and over the Elk Hills, home of our government’s strategic oil reserves (if there is any oil there). In Bakersfield, we stopped at the Albertson’s for food, and then attempted to stop at a park on the Kern River. I have seen this park on the west side of Highway 99. We got off the freeway at California Avenue. But it was too late. There was a railroad between us and the park. We sat in a shady spot of a nicely manicured corporate parking lot, and had lunch there.
| |  Cheryl at the Desert Tortoise Natural Area.
Locations: Desert Tortoise Natural Area. |
We proceeded to California City, where we got gas (for the car), and then continued to the Desert Tortoise Natural Area. It was cool and quite windy there and, while we took several trails, we saw no tortoises. From the desert tortoise Natural Area, we took back roads to Twenty Mule Team Parkway, which eventually led us to US Highway 395. Between the “golf ball” and the prison, we stopped once to look at flowers, which were nice, but not spectacular. At California Highway 58 in Kramer Junction, we turned left and continued through Barstow on US I-15.
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 Crucifixion Thorn (Castela emoryi) in the central Mojave Desert.
Crucifixion Thorn (Castela emoryi) in the central Mojave Desert.
General view of location that Crucifixion Thorn (Castela emoryi) is found.
Other Articles: Interstate 15: Shore of Lake Manix
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We exited US I-15 at the Afton Road Exit, drove north to see the Crucifixion Thorn. It grows on the edges of some playas that are perched in the small hills there.
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We had dinner at the Mad Greek in Baker, and then returned to the Desert Studies Center at Zzyzx.
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| Wednesday, 20-Apr-05 |
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Today we collected in the Mesquite Mountains. |
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It is 5 miles to I-15 from Zzyzx, 7 miles on I-15 to Baker, and 44 miles on I-15 and Kingston Road to Winters Pass.
| |  View of Shadow Valley, the Mesquite Mountains, and the Spring Mountains.
Other Articles: Kingston Road: 87000
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As we came over a rise on Kingston Road, we were treated to an excellent view of Shadow Valley, the Mesquite Mountains, and Mt. Charleston in the distance.
| |  Eriophyllum wallacei in wash near the Wilson Pass Hills, Mesquite Mountains.
Other Articles: Kingston Road: at Winters Pass Hills Field Notes: 20 Apr 04 Coll No 341 Locations: Goldhammer Mine.
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We stopped on Kingston Road, opposite the Winters Pass Hills, and walked over to south slopes of Winters Pass Hills, elevation 990 m (3500 ft) looking for Lilac Sunbonnet (Langloisia setosissima ssp. punctata). I had collected some here last year. However, there were none to be found. Here and there, I found some tiny bristly plants that I assumed were emerging L. setosissima. I'm thinking that the 20th of April 2004 was just about perfect in terms of a full bloom of the species. However, this year, the 20th of April 2005 was much too early, because the early Spring was cool and cloudy. As a comparison, on 24 April 2005 we found Lilac Sunbonnet in full bloom at the Goldhammer Mine, which is 100 km (62 mi) south, at elevation 675 m (2280 ft), which is 215 m (1220 ft) lower in elevation.
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From Winters Pass we walked about 1 ½ miles south along a ridge, climbing to 1250 m from 1175 m in the process. We stopped at the base of the limestone hills.
| |  Desert Snow (Linanthus demissus) in the Mesquite Mountains.
Collection No. 440 from the Mesquite Mountains.
440 |
Linanthus demissus (A. Gray) E. Greene, growing in open areas, common.
| |  Spiny Desert Olive (Menodora spinescens) in the Mesquite Mountains.
Collection No. 441 from the Mesquite Mountains.
441 |
Menodora spinescens. This plant was in bloom and fruit, so it was a good find for collecting. 3
| |  Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) in the Mesquite Mountains, California
Collection No. 442 from the Mesquite Mountains. 
Collection No. 442 from the Mesquite Mountains.
442 |
Coleogyne ramosissima. One bush, many flowers, Common. 3 labels.
| |  Collection No. 443 from the Mesquite Mountains
443 |
Phacelia. Growing around and under a Joshua tree. |
|  Collection No. 444 from the Mesquite Mountains 
Collection No. 444 from the Mesquite Mountains
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Gilia opthamaloides (?), widely spaced growing in open areas.
| |  Collection No. 445 from the Mesquite Mountains 
Collection No. 445 from the Mesquite Mountains
445 |
Pectocarya | |  Collection No. 446 from the Mesquite Mountains.
446 |
Eriogonum, growing in loosened soil adjacent to a large shrub, perhaps dug up previously by animals.
| |  Collection No. 447 from the Mesquite Mountains 
Collection No. 447 from the Mesquite Mountains
447 |
Camissonia (stigma spherical), growing in, and adjacent to, small shrubs.
| |  Sun
Cup (Camissonia sp.) in the Mesquite Mountains.
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These flower buds on the Camissonia were extremely hairy. |
|  Collection No. 448 from the Mesquite Mountains 
Collection No. 448 from the Mesquite Mountains
448 |
Oxytheca. Very small, red, growing in open areas. |
|  Beavertail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris) near Winters Pass in the Mesquite Mountains.
Collection No. 449 from the Mesquite Mountains.
449 |
Opuntia basilaris, flowers. Occasional, not common. |
|  Collection 450, Unknown species, Mesquite Mountains. 
Collection 450, Unknown species, Mesquite Mountains.
Collection No. 450 from the Mesquite Mountains
450 |
Unknown, found growing out of flat-lying limestone outcrops, at the highest point of our walk
| |  Cheryl relaxes amongst the Blackbrush in the Mesquite Mountains.
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We went to the top of the first hill at the end of the ridge. Here we took a short break, and then headed back to the car.
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Also observed: |
|  View of Clark Mountain from the north. Other Articles: Kingston Road: 56200 Locations: Clark Mountain.
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Our way back to Zzyzx the afternoon sun lit up the Kingston Range and Clark Mountain.
| |  Cheryl relaxes on the lanai at Five-Star Zzyzx Hilton.
Locations: Soda Springs Desert Studies Center. |
Back at the Soda Springs Desert Studies Center at Zzyzx, we cleaned up a bit and then relaxed on the lanai of our luxury hotel …
| | Cheryl relaxes on the lanai at Five-Star Zzyzx Hilton.
Locations: Soda Springs Desert Studies Center. |
Back at Soda Springs Desert Studies Center, we cleaned up a bit and relaxed. Then, being basically lazy, drove into Baker to have dinner at the Mad Greek.
| |  View of Soda Lake from the Lanai at the Zzyzx Hilton.
Locations: Soda Springs Desert Studies Center. |
… while watching the sun set over Soda Lake … |
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typical room at Soda Springs Desert Studies Center.
Locations: Soda Springs Desert Studies Center.
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… then we dressed for dinner at the Mad Greek in Baker. |
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| Thursday, 21-Apr-05 |  Mimulus bigevovii on limestone scree, Mesquite Mountains.
View of Mesquite Valley and Spring Mountains, from Mesquite Mountains.
Unknown species, Phacelia? On the top of the Mesquite Mountains.
Other Articles: Field Notes: 21-Apr-05 at end of old road Locations: Mesquite Valley. Sandy. Spring Mountains.
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Today I went back to the Mesquite Mountains, while Cheryl stayed in Zzyzx. Took the road we used yesterday to its end, and then climbed the mountain right behind it. Found the balloon attached to a Joshua tree. It was a “Happy Birthday” balloon. From the top of this first hill, it was necessary to descend to a saddle. I chose not to attack the cliff face directly, but to skirt around the hill to the saddle. This was very difficult walking as it was across the limestone scree. However, the buff-colored limestone seemed to have an extraordinary number of plants. Chief among them was Mimulus bigelovii. Once across the scree, it appeared that I could ascend the back of the hill as far as a small spur. Then from there I could scramble up a chimney formed by a fault to the top of the second-highest peak. From the second highest peak, it was an easy walk on open limestone slopes to the highest peak. From below, I was quite concerned about the wind on the peak. However, the wind was quite calm at the very top. At the top were Purshia stanburyi, an Atriplex, probably A. canescens, and a single tiny Phacelia.
| |  Collection No. 451 from the Mesquite Mountains
451 | Small
white Gilia, in the saddle on buff-colored platy limestone. |
|  Collection No. 452 from the Mesquite Mountains.
452 | Small
Phacelia, in the saddle on buff-colored platy limestone. |
|  Collection No. 453 from the Mesquite Mountains. 
Detail of Collection No. 453 from the Mesquite Mountains.
453 |
Nicotiana, on steep southeast-facing slope, among large dark-colored limestone boulders.
| |  Collection No. 454 from the Mesquite Mountains
454 |
Galium (?), on west-facing dark limestone slope, near top. |
|  Undetermined Scroph near top of Mesquite Mountains. 
Collection No. 455 from the Mesquite Mountains
455 |
Scroph(?), same place as Galium. I believe this to be the same scroph I saw at Aztec Tank.
| |  Orobanche in the Mesquite Mountains. 
Collection No. 456 from the Mesquite Mountains
456 |
Orobanche, same place as collections 454 and 456. |
|  Limestone slope in the central Mesquite Mountains.
Other Articles: Field Notes: 21-Apr-05 at summit of Mesquite Mtns |
From the top of the mountain, I returned to the south, passing by the east side of the ridge. When I reached the saddle, I turned west along the old road to Winters Pass, where I left the car. From this valley I could see the buff-colored limestone where there were so many different species of plants.
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 View of Mesquite Mountains summit from Winters Pass.
Other Articles: Kingston Road: 56010 Locations: Mesquite Mountains.
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Back at the car, I put my collections into the press and then, after looking back at the peak where I had been, I drove back to Zzyzx.
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| Friday, 22-Apr-05 |
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Papers in the Research Center |
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| Saturday, 23-Apr-05 |
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Saturday was cool and windy. |
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After the papers were presented, we went on a short field trip. The original plan was a field trip to Salt Springs to see Emmet Harder’s mine. However, there was some sort of desert run event that left Baker and traveled north on the same highway we needed to use, CA Hwy 127. As an alternative, we shifted some of Monday’s stops to Saturday, i.e, the Valley Wells smelter, and the arrastres near Halloran Spring.
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At the Valley Wells smelter, we looked at the foundations and tried to guess how they processed the ore. We also noticed the “dug-out” shelters that were dug by the smelter workers under the caliche layer. Some rooms were as large 12 feet across, and carefully squared. The opening was covered by wood, and some had holes in the roof for a stove pipe.
| |  View of the Valley Wells, area, Clark Mountain in the background
Locations: Valley Wells Copper Smelter. |
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 Dugout dwellings at Valley Wells. Locations: Valley Wells.
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 Dugout dwellings at Valley Wells. Locations: Valley Wells.
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At Halloran Springs we parked and walked up to the arrastres. There were two. One still had an iron post in the center. There was little evidence or ore to be processed, nor did we know from where the ore was brought.
| |  Arrastre near Halloran Springs. Other Articles: Halloran Springs Road: at Halloran Springs Locations: Halloran Springs.
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| | Arrastre near Halloran Springs. Other Articles: Halloran Springs Road: at Halloran Springs Locations: Halloran Springs.
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| Sunday, 24-Apr-05 |  View of the Unocal processing plant at the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine
Locations: Mountain Pass. |
| | Literature Cited: Other Articles: Zinc Mine Road: 10200 Locations: Mollusk Mine.
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Also known as the Mescal Mine and the Cambria Mine, the Mollusk Mine produced high-grade gold and silver ore with antimony between 1882 and 1888. The ore was processed at a 10-stamp mill at Mescal Spring.
| |  Striped Mountain in Piute Valley. Other Articles: Zinc Mine Road: 16000 Locations: Striped Mountain.
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Striped Mountain to the south. |
| Literature Cited: Other Articles: Kessler Peak Road: 40000 Locations: Silverado-Tungstite Claims. |
Silver was shipped from the Silverado Claim before 1900. The Tungstite skarn is along a dolomite/granite contact containing epidote, garnet, and scheelite (calcium tungstate); it was prospected until 1951. The four rock ruins were apparently housing and an assay building. Also nearby is rockwork probably associated with an old regional freight road.
| | Literature Cited: Other Articles: Kessler Peak Road: 40000 Locations: Silverado-Tungstite Claims. |
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Literature Cited: Other Articles: Kessler Peak Road: 45000 Locations: Standard No. 1 Mine.
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The Excelsior was located in 1896 and produced copper with gold and silver between 1902 and 1908 from a skarn that contained magnetite, chalcopyrite, and scheelite. Before 1905, ore from the Standard No. 1 was hauled by wagon to a smelter at Needles. Rail service was established to Cima in 1905, and ore was then hauled by 16-horse-team wagons to rail cars bound for smelters in Salt Lake, Utah.
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Literature Cited: Other Articles: Kessler Peak Road: 47000 Locations: Evening Star Mine.
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The Evening Star Mine was the only producer of tin ore (cassiterite, tin oxide) in the eastern Mojave Desert. The mine was in production between 1939 and 1944.
| |  View of headframe at Death Valley Mine near Cima, California
Locations: Death Valley Mine. |
| |  View of Cima Dome from the dump of the Death Valley Mine.
Locations: Death Valley Mine. |
| |  Inclined conveyor belt at the Death Valley Mine.
Locations: Death Valley Mine. |
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 New
headframe at the Death Valley Mine. Locations: Death Valley Mine.
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| |  Goffs School House. Locations: Goffs.
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| |  Dennis Casebier gives an overview of the Goffs Schoolhouse and MDCHA
Locations: Goffs. |
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 Collected equipment at the Goffs Schoolhouse.
Locations: Goffs.
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| |  Bird eggs in a shaft of the Goldhammer Mine.
Locations: Goldhammer Mine. |
The field strip stopped at the Goldhammer Mine, to attempt to learn how the ore was processed and what the remnants of the equipment was used for. Unfortunately, I got distracted by the bird eggs in one of the mine shafts …
| |  Lilac Sunbonnet (Langloisia setosissima ssp. punctata) at the Goldhammer Mine.
Other Articles: Field Notes: 20 Apr 04 Coll No 341 Locations: Goldhammer Mine. |
… and by the abundant Lilac Sunbonnet (Langloisia setosissima ssp. punctata) growing in the gravel around the mine. This was as good of display for this species as I have seen anywhere, and the mine would be a good stop for wildflowers in any good year.
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 View of the Vulcan Iron Mine from Kelbaker Road
Other Articles: Kelbaker Road: 25000 Locations: Vulcan Iron Mine.
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| April 25, 2005
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 The
4Runner with 100,000 Miles. Other Articles: California Highway 58: 36800
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As I was descending into Bakersfield on California Highway 58 on April 25, 2005, the 4Runner turned over 100,000 miles at General Beale Road. We got off to buy some produce and to take this photo.
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| May 1, 2005
|  Mount Diablo as seen from Tilden Regional Park.
Locations: Mount Diablo. |
We hiked up the Big Springs Trail, nearly to Vollmer Peak, then took a shortcut to the ridge for this view.
| |  Bear Valley Reservoir, seen from Tilden Park.
Locations: Bear Valley Reservoir. |
Looking a little farther to the left (north), we could see Bear Valley Reservoir.
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| Friday, May 13, 2005 |  Sierra Nevada from near Merced. Other Articles: California Highway 140: 45000 |
| |  Bear Creek along California Highway 140. Other Articles: California Highway 140: 28000 Locations: Bear Creek.
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| |  California Highway 140 descends the canyon of Bear Creek.
Other Articles: California Highway 140: 27900 Locations: Bear Creek.
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| |  Chinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla along Highway 140 and the Merced River.
Other Articles: California Highway 140: 22020
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| |  Merced River below El Portal Other Articles: California Highway 140: 22010 |
| |  View of Yosemite Valley from Inspiration Point.
Other Articles: California Highway 41: Inspiration Point Locations: Yosemite National Park. |
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 We
get wet at Bridalveil Fall. Locations: Yosemite National Park.
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| |  Yosemite Falls above a full Merced River.
Locations: Yosemite National Park. |
| |  Coyote in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park.
Locations: Yosemite National Park. |
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| Saturday, May 14,2005 |  Cheryl makes it to the top of Vernal Fall.
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| |  Lunch at the Silver Apron, above Vernal Fall.
Locations: Yosemite National Park. |
| |  Tom
on the bridge above Vernal Fall.
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 Cheryl on the bridge above Vernal Fall.
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 Nevada Fall Locations: Yosemite National Park.
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 Vernal Fall from above. Locations: Yosemite National Park.
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| |  Cheryl and Tom at the bridge below Vernal Fall.
Locations: Yosemite National Park. |
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| Friday, 27-May-05 |
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We left home on Friday in the early morning, making good time until we left Barstow.
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Then there was an accident on I-15 between Barstow and Baker that had the highway jammed up for about 10 miles and about an hour. However, we still got to Baker in time to get a placard for the car.
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We had an early dinner at the Mad Greek Restaurant in Baker.
I had a chicken giro while Cheryl had the more authentic lamb giro.
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From Baker we continued up the I-15 to Cima (Kessler Springs) Road. This is the road that goes from Valley Wells in Interstate 15, past Kessler Springs and the Kessler Springs Ranch, to Cima, where it joins Morningstar Mine Road and Kelso-Cima Road. Other sources refer to this as Cima Road, as does CALTRANS.
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Evening Star Mine as seen from Kessler Springs (Cima) Road.
Other Articles: Kessler Springs Road: near Evening Star Mine Locations: Evening Star Mine. |
From Cima Road, we could see the Evening Star Mine. I have driven by here many times, and perhaps seen the headframe from the road, but it wasn’t until this year’s Desert Research Symposium that I went up to the site of the mine.
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We drove in to the Mid Hills Campground arriving at about 630 PM -- plenty of time to set up the tent before dark. We got our favorite camp site (#24) up near the top of the campground, and behind a small hill that gives shelter from the wind. The weather was very nice, about 80-85 in the daytime, and 55 at night.
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| Saturday, 28-May-05 |
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Saturday, I measured my plot in Salvia dorrii. |
|  Tag
showing location in Salvia dorrii plot. Other Articles: Salvia dorrii: Unable to find an article page. |
At the Salvia dorrii plot, we stretched the measuring tape and then added plastic tags to the centerline stakes where I have found S. dorrii. This should help me measure faster and more accurately in the future. Confusion about my position in the plot has caused data problems in the past.
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plot at LoboPoint Other Articles: Salvia dorrii: 210110
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After putting down the tags, I left the tape in place and climbed the mesa rim to the south to take photos. Cheryl went out and stood in the plot for the photo to provide scale.
| | (Large-size Photo) My plot at LoboPoint Other Articles: Salvia dorrii: 210111
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This photo is large-sized (1.2 MB). |
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While on the rim, I collected a little Phacelia that I think is P. perityloides. There were five or six specimens of this plant, and several of them were growing out of cracks in the rocks where there was no soil.
| |  Phacelia at Lobo Point. 
Collection No. 458
458 |
458 Phacelia perityloides |
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Then came measuring the plot. This went a lot slower than I thought it would. Replacing the numbers on the stakes was the main thing that slowed me down.
| |  White 136 on May 28, 2005. Other Articles: Salvia dorrii: 2312313620050528 |
Stakes that had been recycled previously were given new numbers. For example, for the stake that is recorded as “xW036,” the “x” tells me that I have used the stake before, probably in another plot. So I renumbered this one to be W136.
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This year I also started using clear acrylic stakes, instead of the fiberglass stakes. After several years in the field, the fiberglass stakes begin to shred glass fibers. They are difficult to handle without getting the fibers in my hands. Probably it’s better not to introduce the glass fibers into the environment where they might cause similar irritation to some of the small animals.
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There were just 13 live Salvia dorrii, down from almost 100 maximum from before. All live S. dorrii were in bloom except for one small plant. No seedlings survived the recent years’ drought.
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Later, relaxing in the tent before going to sleep, I found myself wondering why we hava a noun “drought” to describe the lack of rainfall, but no simple word for the opposite condition, a period of plentiful rainfall.
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While there were no new seedlings, every live plant, except one, had flowers. The flowers should produce seed that should produce seedlings next year, if we get one more year of good rain. This leads me to believe that Salvia dorrii does not store reproductive capacity in a soil seed bank as does Swertia albomarginata. Instead, reproductive capacity is stored in mature, live plants through periods of drought.
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Some of the very mature Salvia dorrii have split stems, and only one small branch of the large plant is still alive.
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After measurement, I took photos of the live plants, then coiled up the tape and finished.
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For lunch we drive into Lobo Point, where we had a leisurely lunch. I think Cheryl has hummus and pita bread and I have ham and cheese on crackers, while we shared some pistachios and carrots. We also read our books and relaxed a bit.
| |  Keckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla at Lobo Point.
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I walked up the hillside to find the Keckiella. It was in bloom. Then I walked across to a specimen of Horsebush to see if it was blooming. It wasn’t yet. The Symphoricarpus was in bloom, and the Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa) was just beginning to set seed. Wright’s buckwheat was beginning to grow flower stalks but not flowering yet, just like at at home.
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From Lobo Point we went to Pinto Mountain to see one of the plots of Swertia albomarginata. There were many Swertia albomarginata in bloom at Pinto Mountain. In my plot, there was one plant in bloom, two plants still alive from last year, and one new plant this year. I measured and photographed my plots, and then we walked back down to the car. The Cliff Rose was setting seed while still flowering.
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We returned to camp, and cleaned up a bit. After attitude adjustment hour, we had a fine dinner of Frito-Pie: Chili over a bed of Fritos (corn chips), with grated cheese on top. It felt good to lay down when it got dark and a little cool. Tonight, I finished The Dive from Clausen’s Pier.
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| Sunday, 29-May-05 |
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Then Sunday, we went to Wild Horse Mesa and measured the Swertia albomarginata plot there.
| |  Gopher snake on Wild Horse Canyon Road. Other Articles: Wild Horse Canyon Road: 25000
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On our way south on Wild Horse Canyon Road, we came upon this Gopher snake sunning itself.
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The road to Winklers Cabin was nearly washed out, but I was undeterred, and we drove to the usual trailhead.
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We walked up the old road. Since vehicles cannot drive on the road, it is becoming more faint every year. At some point it will just disappear completely. I just wonder whether other people will be able to find the old roads and trails, and follow them up to the rim of the mesa. Or, perhaps, now that we have a national park, no one does that any more, and it doesn’t matter.
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I could not see any water in the Guzzler. Perhaps it has sprung a leak.
| |  Juniper with dead outer branches beginning to sprout inside.
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On the way up to the experimental plots, we passed a Juniper that had nearly died. This year, all the outside of the large shrub is still brown, but it is growing from the inside, and live green foliage can be seen inside the brown dead foliage.
| |  Single-Leaf Ash (Fraxinus anomala) on the north face of Wild Horse Mesa.
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The Single-Leaf Ash (Fraxinus anomala) was in bloom this year.
| |  Single-Leaf Ash (Fraxinus anomala) on the north face of Wild Horse Mesa.
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| |  View from the north face of Wild Horse Mesa.
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From my plots on the north face of the mesa, we got a good view of upper Wild Horse Canyon, and the Mid Hills beyond. Many of the junipers in the middle ground that are brown have died from years of drought.
| |  Some Swertia albomarginata on Wild Horse Mesa.
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The experimental plot had 41 new seedlings this year, with 48 plants surviving from last year, plus three plants from prior years. Outside the plot, many Swertia albomarginata were blooming, but none were blooming inside. I'm not sure why this might be: except perhaps my repeated visits have affected the growth of the plants.
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 General view of my Wild Horse Mesa plot.
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Also seen in bloom were: Atriplex canescens, Calochortus kennedyi, Dalea searlesiae, Fraxinus anomala, Galium cf. parishii, Linanthus (blue), and Penstemon eatonii.
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After we came down off the mountain, we decided to return to Lobo Point for lunch. I took a few photographs around the area, then we drove to Hole in the Wall.
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At Hole-in-the-Wall, we talked to a couple from England, who were visiting for the day. They were on a combined business-pleasure trip that started in San Diego, and would end in Las Vegas the next day. There were quite a few more people at Hole-in-the-Wall, and I am reminded of a previous observation: since the area became a national park, there are more people on the roads and in the campgrounds, but fewer people in the back country.
| |  Running water in Black Canyon, looking north. 
Running water in Black Canyon, looking south.
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Returning through Black Canyon, north on Black Canyon Road, we were surprised to see a large stream running in Black Canyon.
| |  Insect larvae in running water, Black Canyon, May 29, 2005
Other Articles: Black Canyon Road: 17500
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There were also a larvae of some sort clinging to the rocks in the water. Perhaps, these are mosquito larvae, or perhaps the larvae of the little biting flies.
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So far we haven’t decided about tomorrow. I’m thinking of exiting through Macedonia Canyon, and then trying to enter Mormon Canyon before going on to Saint George.
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Tonight, I started The Shadow of the Wind. |
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| Monday, 30-May-05 |
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Monday morning after breakfast we packed the car and attempted to leave the Mid Hills area by way of Macedonia Canyon.
| |  Washout in Macedonia Canyon 
Washout in Macedonia Canyon Other Articles: Macedonia Canyon: 17500 20500 Locations: Macedonia Canyon.
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