Inyo National Forest
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Bishop Creek Flowers Inyo National Forest |
July 28, 2022
For today, Gary and I had originally scheduled a steep climb up to Lone Pine
Lake down at Whitney Portal; however, not only is the air quality pretty poor there,
but I seem to be off my feed as well. Because I ate only half of yesterday's lunch
and forwent dinner altogether, Gary is convinced that I could be suffering from
yesterday's outings in the hot desert. I believe that highly unlikely to be the case;
but in any event we are settling for an easy flower-exploration this morning,
just a couple of miles from our cabin in the mountains above Bishop.
The walk begins on what must be the old road up to South Lake, because some of it
still has asphalt fragments. I remember how it was during my first visit here back
in 1961 — an exciting, curvy, single-lane challenge. They don't
make fun roads like that anymore — at least, not in this country.
Kelley's Tiger Lily
Woods' Rose
Almost immediately, I must get out my only remaining packet of mosquito repellent. It was a good run, though, for I cannot remember being bothered by a bug on the trail for two or three seasons now.
Columbia Monks Hood
Gary proclaims this the best fireweed display he has seen in the area; indeed, it is growing all over the place.
Fireweed (the purple ones)
Mountain Currant ?
Slender Cinquefoil
Wasps on the Ranger Buttons
Bishop Creek is my Eastern Sierra favorite
White Clover
Fireweed does tend to dominate its surroundings
Sierra Rein Orchid
Sierra Bog Orchid
A nice offering from a side stream
Abruptly, we reach the pack station at Parcher's Resort.
They are beginning a ride
Gary and I wait to see which way the group will go before continuing. Luckily for us, they start down the way from which we just came.
Pacific Onion
Crimson Columbine
Western Jacob's Ladder
Gary is the best companion for flower walks, because he likes to shoot them
as well
Swallowtails are responsible for the pollination of Kelley's Lilies
Spreading Dogbane
Spreading Phlox
It's a non-stop garden
Ragwort
Scarlet Indian Paintbrush
Common Monkeyflower
(Monkshood)
(Wax Currant)
That hillside is in the John Muir Wilderness
Brook Saxifrage
Dandelion
Here they come again
I hope that the horses didn't leave behind too many 'memories'.
Gary forges ahead, not to be seen again until the end
I am lagging somewhat, anxious to greet any floral friends that were missed earlier.
Blue Monardella
Narrow-leaved Willow
Tall Buckwheat
Yarrow
Beaked Penstemon
A lovely aspen grove is a fine place to finish a walk
That being said, I would reprise my two favorite specimens of the day, a Woods' Rose and a Kelley's Lily:
I presume that the pentagram-patterned thingy is what remains after the
petals fall off
This is why I go hiking
§: Well, I posted photographs of 25 different varieties today, including
several all-time keeper images. This was one fine outing.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Flowers |  |
