Eastern Mojave Vegetation Tom Schweich
|
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 2008 Tour de Swertia albomarginata Mono Lake, August 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.
|
|
|
| Mono Lake, August 2008 |
|
| Wednesday, August 13, 2008 |
|
This morning my plan was to explore the geography south of Mono Lake and east of US Highway 395.
| |  View north in US Highway 395 from Pumice Mine Road.
Other Articles: U. S. Highway 395: near Pumice Mine Road | I drove to Pumice Mine Road (1S40), just south of June Lake Junction on US Highway 395.
| |
 Wilson Butte from Pumice Mine Road, Mono County, California
Other Articles: Forest Road 1S40: near Punch Bowl
|
The first half mile or so of Pumice Mine Road are paved, looking like it is an older alignment of US Highway 395. The road then curves around the sand flat floor, in such a way that the Tom Harrison "Mammoth High Country" map is wrong.On the way to my first stop, Devil's Punch Bowl, there was a nice view of Wilson Butte.
| |
 Punch Bowl, Mono County, California Other Articles: Forest Road 1S40: at Punch Bowl Locations: Devils Punch Bowl.
|
Devil's Punch Bowl, also known simply as Punch Bowl, is a small depression between two moderate size volcanic piles. You can drive right to the lip of the depression. There are several other depressions in the second volcanic pile to the northeast.
| |  View of southwest portion of East Craters Sand Flat.
Other Articles: Forest Road 1S40: near East Craters Sand Flat | Pumice Mine Road passes by the upper, or southwest, extension of East Craters Sand Flat.
| |  West end of Forest Road 1S08. Other Articles: Forest Road 1S08: at 1S40 Forest Road 1S40: at 1S08 | I passed by the west end of Forest Service Road 1S08 on Pumice Mine Road.
| |  East Craters Sand Flat from Pumice Mine Road Other Articles: Forest Road 1S40: on Mono Craters |
Continuing carefully on Pumice Mine Road, because this is a truck haul road for cinders from Mono Craters, there were some good afternoon views of East Craters Sand Flat. Unfortunately, this was a hazy morning, and the view into the sun and haze made photography difficult.
| |  East Craters Sand Flat from Pumice Mine Road Other Articles: Forest Road 1S40: on Mono Craters |
View of East Craters Sand Flat from Pumice Mine Road.
| |  East Craters Sand Flat from Pumice Mine Road Other Articles: Forest Road 1S40: on Mono Craters |
View of East Craters Sand Flat from Pumice Mine Road.
| |  East Craters Sand Flat from Pumice Mine Road Other Articles: Forest Road 1S40: on Mono Craters |
View of East Craters Sand Flat from Pumice Mine Road.
| |  Haul Truck on Pumice Mine Road Other Articles: Forest Road 1S40: on Pumice Mine Rd |
Returning on Pumice Mine Road to Forest Road 1S08, a pumice hauling truck went by. Here, I set my GPS to NAD 1983 instead of WGS 1984. Most of my maps use NAD83 or NAD27 as does the GNIS and, at least in the western US, I don't see the point in using WGS84.
| |  Playa on East Craters Sand Flat. Other Articles: Forest Road 1S08: at bottom of flat |
Turning east on 1S08, I stopped at the lowest point so that I could walk out to the little playa in this basin. The location was 37.82117° -119.00752°, 2332 m elevation. Here I collected a little buckwheat that was much in evidence through this volcanic tableland.
| |
|
#554 buckwheat, many in bloom, East Craters Sand Flat. |
|
 Little plant in the pumice sand flats
|
I also noticed a little plant that I think could be a buckwheat, but is long past flowering. Later I would collect this plant.
| |
 Looking west across East Craters Sand Flat on F. R. 1S08
Other Articles: Forest Road 1S08: about mid-way
|
I continued across the sand flat, stopping for this photo looking back.
| |  Road Intersection Other Articles: Forest Road 1S05: at FR 1S06, 1S08 | Forest Road 1S08 ends at a junction of Bald Mountain Road (1S05) and the "120 Cutoff" (1S06). This location is also right above the Mono Craters tunnel.
| |  Construction works for Mono Craters tunnel. Other Articles: Forest Road 1S06: over Mono Craters tunnel
|
There were some workings that I think must include a shaft to the tunnel, and some sort of water pumping installation.
| |  Pumice Mine on Mono Craters across East Craters Sand Flat
Other Articles: Forest Road 1S07: at edge of sand flat | From here I went on to East Craters Sand Flat on 1S07. There were a few lupines here in flower and fruit, so I collected one. I assume these are L. duranii, but that will have to be verified.
| |
|
#555 Lupine, East Craters Sand Flat. 37.83173 -118.98622 NAD83 2402 m. All material from the same plant.
| |  East Craters Sand Flat, looking southwest from the approximate center.
Other Articles: Forest Road 1S07: East Craters Sand Flat Locations: East Craters Sand Flat. |
| |  East Craters Sand Flat, looking south from the north end.
Other Articles: Forest Road 1N24: near divide Locations: East Craters Sand Flat. |
I continued on a road, name probably 1N24, across the north end of East Craters Sand Flat. From this perspective, it is clear that most of the flat has an internal drainage. Only a very small portion at the extreme northern end drains into Mono Lake. Water from East Craters Sand Flat may move underground into Mono Lake, of course, appearing as springs on the lower slopes or under water.
| |
|
At the north end of East Craters Sand Flat, I was very surprised to see this Umbelliferae.
| |  Collection No. 556 Other Articles: Forest Road 1N24: near divide | #556 Umbell. 37.85388° -118.98754° 2421 m |
|
|
#557 Eriogonum | |
|
#558 Eriogonum | |
|
#559 Eriogonum. This is the little buckwheat in <-- IMG01266sm.jpg -->
| |
|
I drove back to the divide at the north end of East Craters Sand to check the geographic location. It was: 37.80990°, -118.96841°, NAD 1983.
| |
|
I wandered around for a while in the area east of East Craters Sand Flat, on roads 1S42 and 1S43. The maps of this area are incorrect because the roads have been re-routed to keep vehicles off of the small sand flat in section 23.
| |
|
Then I returned to Bald Mountain Road. In this section, above the Mono Craters tunnel, I drove back and forth a couple of times, looking for the divide between the Mono Lake Basin and the Owens River Basin. The topography in this area is complex, probably caused by both faulting and volcanic activity.
| |  Looking into Mono Basin on Bald Mountain Road Other Articles: Forest Road 1S05: inside Mono Basin Locations: Mono Basin.
|
Mono Basin Divide. Looking west on Bald Mountain Road (1S05).
| |  Looking out of Mono Basin Other Articles: Forest Road 1S05: outside Mono Basin |
Mono Basin Divide. Looking east on Bald Mountain Road (1S05).
| |
|
In reality, though, it probably does not make much difference whether the divide between the Mono Basin and the Owens River watershed can be accurately located. So far, I have seen no obvious significant changes in the vegetation across this volcanic tableland, and I doubt that placement of the boundary a mile (or kilometer) one way or the other would change the taxa listed in the checklist flora.
| |
|
I continued on Bald Mountain Road (1S05) to Bald Mountain Lookout. This is a fairly easy drive with just a few rocks on some upper steep slopes. The lookout was not staffed when I visited. I made lunch and sat in the shade of the lookout to eat.
| |  Little Sand Flat from Bald Mountain, California
Other Articles: Forest Road 1S05: at Bald Mtn Lookout | Little Sand Flat is visible … |
|  Unnamed sand flat south of Bald Mountain Road.
Other Articles: Forest Road 1S05: at Bald Mtn Lookout | ... as well as other large unnamed sand flat to the south …
| |
|
Between them, the southern divide of Mono Basin is not obvious, being forested broken areas of internal drainage.
| |  Deadman Creek basin from Bald Mountain, California
Other Articles: Forest Road 1S05: at Bald Mtn Lookout | A little farther to the west, the basin of Deadman Creek can be seen. This would be the northwest corner of the Long Valley Caldera.
| |  Owens River from Bald Mountain 
Owens River from Bald Mountain Other Articles: Forest Road 1S05: at Bald Mtn Lookout
|
Just off the mountain to the southwest is the headwaters of the Owens River and the Alpers' Owens River Ranch.
| |
|
There was also a nice view of Mammoth Mountain, the Sierra Crest, and Mono Craters. On the other hand, you can't see much of Mono Lake, and neither East Craters Sand Flat nor Big Sand Flat can be seen at all.
| |
|
Mileage 7965, 1:00 PM, leave Bald Mountain Lookout. |
|  South end of Forest Road 1S88. Other Articles: Forest Road 1S05: 50000 |
Turned off of Bald Mountain Road (1S05) onto 1S88, a little road that crosses the south end of Little Sand Flat.
| |
 South end of Little Sand Flat Other Articles: Forest Road 1S88: at south end of Little Sand Flat Locations: Little Sand Flat.
|
Little Sand Flat is really pretty, as you can seen in this photo of the south end of Little Sand Flat. Mileage 7970.
| |  Skunky Monkeyflower in Little Sand Flat Other Articles: Forest Road 1S88: in Little Sand Flat
|
There was a lot of Mimulus mephiticus in bloom, perhaps as a result of summer thunderstorms.
| |  Little Sand Flat from burned forested island. Other Articles: Forest Road 1S88: on forested island
|
From a fomerly burned forested island in the middle of Little Sand Flat, you can see the northern portion.
| |  Mono Craters west of Little Sand Flat. Other Articles: Forest Road 1S13: Little Sand Flat Locations: Little Sand Flat. |
View of Mono Craters across Little Sand Flat.
| |  Intersection of 1S06 and 1S13 Other Articles: Forest Road 1S13: at FR 1S06 | Intersection of 1S06 and 1S13. Turned northeast on the "120 Cutoff," Forest Road 1S06, and drove to California Highway 120.
| |
 Intersection of CA Highway 120 and "120 Cutoff Road," F. R. 1S06.
Other Articles: Forest Road 1S06: near CA Hwy120
|
View of intersection of California Highway 120 and the "120 Cutoff," Forest Road 1S06.
| |
|
Drove up the Taylor Canyon Road (1S17) to Pilot Spring Road (1S04), and then on to Pilot Spring.
| |  Pilot Spring, Mono County, California Other Articles: Forest Road 1S04: Pilot Spring Locations: Pilot Spring. | There was no running water at Pilot Springs that I found.
| |
|
#560 Pilot Spring. 37.82772 -118.87098 2655 m |
|
|
Returned to Taylor Canyon Road, and drove to Crooked Meadows. |
|  Crooked Meadows from the north. Other Articles: Forest Road 1S17: near Crooked Mdws. |
The intersection of Taylor Canyon Road (1S17) and 1S56 appears to be in the Mono Basin divide. Dry Creek is to the north and Dexter Creek, draining Crooked Meadows is to the south.
| |  McLaughlin Creek watershed Other Articles: Forest Road 1S17: 59900 | Continued on Taylor Canyon Road (1S17) as far as a pass overlooking Sentinel Meadows and then turned back.
| |
 Crooked Meadows Other Articles: Forest Road 1S17: 62000
|
View of the south end of Crooked Meadows.
| |  Crooked Meadows Spring Other Articles: Forest Road 1S17: at Crooked Mdw Spr | At Crooked Meadows Campground, there was a fairly large spring. (7985/280 Crooked Meadows Camp)
| |  Crooked Meadows Campground Other Articles: Forest Road 1S17: in Crooked Mdws CG |
The campground overlooks northern arm of Crooked Meadows.
| |  Wild Horse Meadow Other Articles: Forest Road 1N02: at Wild Horse Mdw Locations: Wild Horse Meadow. |
From Crooked Meadows, I headed across 1S56 to Wild Horse Meadow (Mileage 7988). Wild Horse Meadow drains into Dexter Creek.
| |
|
While on my way to Sagehen Meadow, I noticed a little road going in the direction of Sagehen Peak. Folloed to road all the way to the top. Although, I would have to say that the last 100 meters was a little hairy.
| |  Wild Horse Meadow from Sagehen Peak Other Articles: Forest Road 1N02: at Sagehen Pk Locations: Sagehen Peak.
|
From the top of Sagehen Peak, was a good view of Wild Horse Meadow …
| |
 Glass Mountain from Sagehen Peak Locations: Glass Mountain.
|
... Glass Mountain … |
|
 Dexter Canyon from Sagehen Peak Locations: Dexter Canyon.
|
... and Dexter Canyon. |
|
 Sagehen Meadow from Sagehen Peak Locations: Sagehen Meadow.
|
There must be a little bit of private land at Sagehen Meadow, as there is a house under construction.
| |
|
I stopped to get gas at Mobil Station, and returned to Aspen Camp about 4:15 PM.
| |
|
| Thursday August 14, 2008 |
|
The June Lake Loop Trail Plan (2003) shows a trail up onto the glacier cut plateau on the southwest flank of Reversed Peak. Local residents call the ponds on this plateau "Snow Ponds," but the Geographic Names Information System does not recognize this name.
| |
|
Thinking I would go up to Snow Ponds, I parked below the water tank on North Side Drive. Walked up to the water tank. In retrospect, I could have driven up here. Now, I tried to figure out which way to go.
| |
|
Chose to follow the tracks around east side of ridge. This was a bad mistake. I ended up climbing the boulders on the ridge.
| |  June Lake from the north side Locations: June Lake.
|
The only reward were some nice views of June Lake …
| |  Gull Lake from the north Locations: Gull Lake.
|
... and Gull Lake from above. |
|  Morainal plateau on flank of Reversed Peak
| Reaching the top of the boulder ridge, I had to bush-whack across a brush-covered moraine to reach …
| |  Trail
|
... a small trail following the watercourses.
| |  Ephemeral pond
|
The trail crosses two morainal basins, and comes to first pond.
| |
|
Here I made three collections in the drying margin of the pond. |
|  Collection No. 561
|
#561 Camissonia, abundant. |
|  Collection No. 562
|
#562 Potentilla, less common. |
|
|
#563 Cryptantha, occasional, higher on the dry pond margin than the Camissonia and Potentilla.
| |  Snow Ponds on the southwest flank of Reversed Peak.
| Climbed a small hill a little farther to the west to see the remaining ponds.
| |  Upper Rush Creek Canyon
|
Farther to the west, I could see upper Rush Creek and the Gem Lake dam.
| |  The
way up Reversed Peak. Locations: Reversed Peak.
|
To the north, I could see the way to the top of Reversed Peak would include a lot of bush-whacking through the Bitterbrush and Sagebrush. Not to mention the southern exposure to the hot sun. There is no way I'm going to climb up there today.
| |  Ephemeral pond
|
Looking back to the east, I could see the first pond.
| |
|
I returned to the truck by way of the trail. The portion I missed on the uphill trip goes right down the watercourse. It is fairly steep, and composed of loose sand in some areas.
| |  Silver Lake Other Articles: California Highway 158: at Silver Lake Locations: Silver Lake. | Finding a good place for lunch can be difficult. You have to have the right mix of shade, peace, and space. Never did find the perfect place. The north end of Silver Lake had shade, a little space, but not much peace.
| |
|
After lunch, I headed down US Highway 395 for Wilson Butte and Hartley Springs. Turned off US Highway 395 at Glass Flow Road (2S10).
| |  Wilson Butte from Glass Flow Road on the south side.
Other Articles: U. S. Highway 395: near Wilson Butte Locations: Wilson Butte. |
Took this photo of Wilson Butte from the south.
| |
|
Drove up to Hartley Springs Campground. Along the way, noticed several groups that were "dispersed" camping. The campground itself had available sites on a Thursday afternoon, but the campground was quite dry and dusty.
| |
|
From Wilson Butte, drove over Deadman Summit to Owens River Road. Drove east looking for a place to see the Owens River. First, it was posted, with lots of warning signs. After a few miles, the signs stop, but the river is more than a mile away and there are no roads.
| |  Glass Mountain, northeast wall of Long Valley Caldera
Other Articles: Forest Road 2S07: near Glass Mrn Locations: Glass Mountain. | View of Glass Mountain, and the northern wall of the Long Valley caldera from Owens River Road.
| |
|
So, I turned around and headed back to camp. |
|
 US
Highway 395 just south of Crestview and Deadman Summit
Other Articles: U. S. Highway 395: near Deadman Creek
|
On the back I stopped for a few photos, including this one of US Highway 395 north past Crestview …
| |  Obsidian flow to west of US Highway 395 Other Articles: U. S. Highway 395: near Deadman Ck |
... this one of an obsidian glass flow west of the highway …
| |  Bald Mountain from US Highway 395 Other Articles: U. S. Highway 395: near Deadman Ck |
... Bald Mountain and its fire lookout … |
|
 Deadman Summit in the southbound direction. Other Articles: U. S. Highway 395: at Deadman Summit, south edge of Mono Basin Locations: Deadman Summit.
|
... Deadman Summit … |
|
 Looking north into the Mono Basin from Deadman Summit.
Other Articles: U. S. Highway 395: near Deadman Summit
|
... looking into the Mono Basin and at Wilson Butte from Deadman Summit.
| |
|
Back at camp I had a really nice nap, relaxed and read, and had dinner.
| |
|
[Previous Page]
[Next Page] | Go to page: [1941] [1942] [1943] [1944] [1945] [1946] [1947] [1977] [1978] [1995] [1996] [1997] [1998] [1999] [2000] [2001] [2002] [2003] [2004] [2005] [2006] [2007] [2008] [2008-2] [2008-3] [A] If you have a
question or a comment you may write to me at: tas4@schweich.com I sometimes post
interesting questions in my FAQ, but I never disclose your full name or address.
|
| Date and time this article was prepared: 11/23/2008 10:44:25 AM | ||