http://www.yosemiteconservancy.org/webcams
This long, hot summer (I observed pretty minimal signs of a fall) finally came to an end yesterday when the first winter storm let loose an abundance of moisture on the Sierra. At my home at 3,000 feet, the sound of raindrops was welcome music, and Half Dome's new white face signaled the change of seasons. According to the National Weather Service, Tuolumne Meadows received 5 inches of snow as of this morning. Let it keep snowing! We need the water.
Diagram of a good hiking decision in Yosemite (photo by Beth Pratt)
Mt Conness is my north star in Yosemite. During my frequent wanderings in Tioga Country, the peak provides a constant companion, revealing its varied faces depending on my vantage point or its mood. The light always casts a magical glow on the peak, nature's way of highlighting one of her stunning works of art.
When I began my hike up the Sierra Crest coming cross country from the Saddlebag Lake area, the smooth rock face of Conness gleamed under a blue sky. Yet when I reached the top of what I term "Yosemite's Granite Fence" (Conness marks the park's border), the light over the peak had darkened and the clouds glared at me with a threatening deep gray frown. I stood on the crest, looking down at the 1,000 feet of climbing I had just finished, and stared longingly at the route to the summit. Should I risk it? Could I beat the storm?
My planned route up Mt Conness (photo by Beth Pratt)
After leaving my peak-bagging twenties and even thirties behind, I have become less interested in where I am going and more in what I am seeing. Mortality, perhaps? I still love scrambling up a steep granite cliff, but trying to sprint down that same rocky path while thunder roars overhead and the electricity in the air causes my hair to stand on end no longer has much appeal. Watching the storm form at treeline seems much more fun and rewarding. I've been at 12,000 feet in a lightning storm and it's not really an experience I wish to repeat. So I acknowledged the clouds as the victors in the race to the summit, and dropped back down to the safety of cover. My friend, Mt Conness, will have to wait for my company some other day.
And my relinquishing of the summit was well compensated by the wonderful cloud watching opportunities my lower elevation hike provided. A enormous cumulus congestus cloud rose over Mt Dana, dwarfing the peak in size. Mt Conness is always there to visit, but magnificent clouds are ephemeral.
Cumulus congestus forming over Mt Dana in Yosemite (photo by Beth Pratt)
Mt Dana looks pretty tiny under that cloud! (photo by Beth Pratt)
Doug Smith, the leader of Yellowstone's wolf project, gets to witness some interesting things when he surveys Yellowstone in the course of his research. A recent photo he took while tracking wolves captures an amazing scene: a grizzly bear standing over a fresh bison carcass. I asked Doug about the photo and the origin of the bear's bison meal, as grizzlies are known for stealing kills from wolf packs. His guess is that the "bear found and controlled the dead bison from the start. It's not really touched yet and it's very recent activity so the wolves likely got nothing." From the look on the bear's face, he has no intention of sharing his meal!
Grizzly guarding bison carcass (Photo Doug Smith/Yellowstone Wolf Project)
California coastal bottlenose dolphins off Avila Beach (photo by Beth Pratt)Whales and other marine mammals have been sighted recently in abundance off the Central Coast of California--specifically Avila, Pismo and Seal Beaches. Photos and videos of humpback whales surfacing and surprising boaters and kayakers have gone viral, and visitors have flocked to the area to catch a glimpse of these animals. The San Luis Obispo Tribune has an excellent article and great photos of the phenomena.
Last week I visited Pismo and Avila Beach to check out this new hotspot for marine mammals, all likely attracted by an unusual abundance of fish and krill. I didn't see any whales, but a viewing of several California coastal bottlenose dolphins certainly provided a thrill. According to my friend Bill Keener, a marine mammal scientist, there are only about 500 of these animals in the entire state!
Dolphin leaping from the water (photo by Beth Pratt)
And the adorable pelicans on the Pismo Beach Pier are not to be missed! I was captivated by these birds.
A friendly pelican at Pismo Beach poses for the camera (photo by Beth Pratt)
Resting pelicans on Pismo Beach Pier (photo by Beth Pratt)
2012 is my summer of love-of pika love! I've had unprecedented encounters this year with the little critters as regular readers of this blog know. I'm sharing photos from yet another amazing pika fest at Gaylor Lakes in Yosemite yesterday. Truly, I think we need to name the pika the state of California's cutest animal. These little rock rabbit are just such a wonderful animal to encounter in the high country and I love being greeted by their cheerful chirps.
The infinitely cute pika (photo by Beth Pratt)
I call this, "Majestic Pika Surveying His Kingdom" (photo by Beth Pratt)
Pika in the rocks at Gaylor Lakes (photo by Beth Pratt)
Leaping pika (photo by Beth Pratt)