Snippets

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted here, and I’ve actually had a few adventures in the meantime!

In mid-August, Steph and I played in the Bridgeport-Mono Lake area for a few days, starting off in the Little Walker, stopping off at Bodie State Park, only to find a big line (no way!), so we turned around and headed on out to Mono.  We drove around for a little while, enjoying the view, before heading east of Mono to a wonderful old pinyon-juniper stand, where we read for awhile before setting up camp.  We had a beautiful sunset – I went for a little barefoot jog in the sandy road, and enjoyed myself immensely – and had a happy view of around 120 Pinyon Jays flying overhead towards the mountains.

Ambling up Molybdenite Creek.  Gorgeous day! Hi Steph!

Minnie enjoying a quick moment off-leash.  Still healing well, but I don't want her to overdo it!

Cash and I run barefoot in the Pinyon-Juniper stand :-)

Gorgeous sky.  Turning around from here, I took an extraordinarily poor photo of the flock of Pinyon Jays.

 Morning light on the Sierra. 

Then in late August, I headed north.  I’d been debating which way to go (faster vs. scenic route), and eventually decided I’d north via the (even more) scenic route, going through Burns and the John Day.  I’m so glad I did.  I’ve never witnessed anything like the blizzard of Pine White butterflies that I drove and ran through, particularly just north of Burns.  Miles upon miles of butterfly clouds.  Sadly, none of my photos of the clouds of fluttering wings really turned out very well – the camera had problems focusing on them.    But the roadsides were covered, as they are here.

Eventually, I ended up in the headwaters of French Cabin Creek, near Snoqualmie Pass, where I manned an aid station and cheered on the intrepid 100-milers at the Cascade Crest Endurance Run.  (I watched a nanny goat and kid grazing below the rock outcrop on the right.)

After a happy visit up north, where I got to be a one-woman Geek Squad, I headed back south, and stopped for a snooze at the Warner Wetlands, which FINALLY have water once more.  Enjoyed this gorgeous sunset, and then the next morning found a lot of these Western White Butterflies nectaring on rabbitbrush near Hart Lake.  

 

Late September, Mo and I got together for a few days of R&R at Hart Mountain.  Some hiking, some soaking in the hot springs, and a lot of reading!  

  Mo kicking back in camp.

Cash posing for a vegetation overview shot for my plant identification manual I’m compiling.

 Monster and Friend.

 All in all, the past few months have been awfully happy.  And busy.  Now work is calling me rather insistently, but I've got a few more adventures calling to me now.  Maybe next weekend...