Photo-exploring the Walker River

A day of discovery, getting in focus with the spirit rocks

Taking advantage of the record breaking warm temperatures in the autumn of 2017, on the first day of December I traveled up to the higher elevations in Mono County, California. Turning on Highway 395 North, I ended up in Bridgeport which is a quaint town that welcomes the adventure minded, out-door enthusiast and has some of the best trout fishing too!

The Bridgeport Reservoir is just past the town and to the north.  Its deep blue water holds plenty of brown and rainbow trout. The snow capped peaks of Yosemite National Park and eastern Sierra Mountains accent the sky in the background. 

Seven miles further to the north on Highway 182, the East Fork of the Walker River flows under the road.  On its 95 mile run the Walker River cuts through mountains, canyons and valleys to finally terminate in the high desert of Walker Lake, Nevada.

In many areas along its banks are wetlands and riparian habitat that provide ideal conditions for much wildlife including the brown and rainbow trout. 

Following a dirt turn-off from Highway 182, I noticed a most intriguing out-cropping of boulders.   

A closer view revealed rocks that were lying askew in various layers.  I began to marvel at the artistry of nature and felt a preview back in geological time with signs of glacial activity, volcanism and fault movements. 

Some of rocks were topped with tall, pointed pinnacles.

Other boulders had been eroded to form hoodoos.  Hoodoos or “fairy chimneys” are sediment pillars of rock that are created from weathering and erosion in desert climates.   As I stood and quietly observed, various forms began to materialize on the hoodoos.  A tall hoodoo at first seemed to have a mushroom shape.  But then with longer observation it took on a human facial silhouette with the hair tied back.    To the left, a hoodoo resembling a dog was watching the humanoid form.

Looking further to the right and the statue of a warrior caught my attention as it appeared to be screaming out a warning not to deface any of these natural monuments. 

My imagination was running wild while I was so caught up in the moment.  There is a belief that the spirits of ancestors dwell in rock formations like these at the Walker River. 

 What an inspirational and peaceful day this had become.  So many times I have a yearning to go to an area in hopes of get interesting photos.  What I sometimes receive is a sensory journey back in time and become caught up in that moment.  I am left with an even deeper appreciation of the magical awareness of being there and focusing on the image through my camera.  It is in the stillness and solitude that I become one with the environment as I focus on the wonders of nature.  

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level. 

Follow me as I continue on more of my photo-explorations and see where the next adventure is! 

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level. 

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Lundy Lake an Autumn Retreat

 Mountains, a clear lake with an iconic tree and sunny aspens!

What better way to spend a warm autumn day than at a quiet lake near the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains?  Lundy Lake was my photo destination for this Indian summer day.  The 7858 feet (2395 m) elevation lake is located in Mono County near Lee Vinning California.

I was hoping to catch some color changes in the aspens up in the higher elevations but this autumn of 2017 the weather has been so mild for the central areas of California and Nevada. 

Arriving at the 100-acre lake, I was excited to see that the trees were accented in various hues of color.

Lundy Lake which was formerly know as Mill Creek lies in Lundy Canyon near the towering edges of Yosemite National Park.

With its clear water, the lake is a popular spot for trout fishing. 

Rather not go fishing, then how about a picnic by the calm water in shade of a tree surrounded by the serenity of nature? 

The trunk of a bare cottonwood tree stands in the shallow water near the shore and has become a symbolic icon to the natural beauty of Lundy Lake. 

 

Driving on past the lake and the dirt road is lined with aspens, some are still green and many are turning brilliant shades of yellow. 

Further along, the serenity of autumn envelopes the scene as the colorful aspens shroud the landscape. 

As daylight winds down shadows grown long, time has come to make my departure from this autumn retreat.  

What an inspiring photo-adventure this trip has been.  Standing on the shore and looking across the deep blue water of this pristine lake, I am alone in the moment feeling the solitude of nature.  There’s just something about the season of autumn that stirs my soul but brings such a feeling of peacefulness too.  

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level. 

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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Golden Aspens of Green Creek Road

 A day exploring autumn in California's gold

What do you do when your photo-exploring plans must be changed due to weather conditions or a wildfire that has highway traffic diverted?   Well sometimes that change of plans might just take you on a fantastic path to discover hills of aspen trees in stunning shades of autumn colors. 

Thus was the case when I decided to head in a different direction and try out a new road that I had been curious about.  Between Virginia Lake and Bridgeport, California lies a dirt passage at an elevation of 7,400 feet, 2255m, named Green Creek Road.  To my surprise, the Green Creek Road was both wide and well maintained for a back country byway. 

Driving just a few miles, I began to notice rolling hills accented with yellow aspens. 

 

A short distance ahead and a large stand of aspens stretched across the road.  I was getting excited with this new adventure that I just happened upon.  

The road continued on straight through the stands of aspens and suddenly it was like being surrounded by nature in all her splendor.  I could hardly believe where I was being lead for this photo-adventure.  

 

I came to a much narrower turn-off on the left and the GPS indicated it was the Dunderberg Meadow Road, it was going to take me to even more aspen groves.  

 

After four-wheeling over bumps and dips, the trail narrowed through aspens that were showing a much older growth. 

    

 The feeling of autumn was definitely in the air and I was enjoying the quiet,  peacefulness that only nature can give.  

I could have lingered here for hours watching the golden leaves drift down in the gentle breeze. 

The sun’s rays were growing long with deepening shadows.  It was time to begin my departure from this  garden of autumn serenity. 

 

Maybe next year if my timing is right, I’ll make a return visit to linger even longer in the peaceful comfort surrounded by these aspen groves.  

Subscribe to and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be.  When I follow my heart, nature reveals her most intimate moments for me to share. 

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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A Photo Hike in Panum Crater

 Photo-exploring a dormant volcano

Since witnessing the fiery red lava fountains on Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano from the air, I have always had a fascination for volcanoes.  It was just by chance that I decided to relocate to an area in Northern Nevada that is an hour's drive to the Mono Craters which are the youngest volcanic chain in North America.  

 Located in Mono County the Mono Craters are a volcanic chain of craters, domes and lava flows that stretch 25 miles in Eastern California from the northwest shore of Mono Lake to Mammoth Mountain.  

My goal with weather permitting is to explore as many of the Mono Craters as possible.  In early April between spring storms, I began my photo-exploration to the Panum Crater which is the most accessible of all craters.

Panum Crater is a 650 year old dormant rhyolitic volcano that formed over two stages.  The first eruption blew out cinders, ash and pumice, forming the outer rim.  

In the second stage, lava continued to rise and eventually formed a hardened dome or Plug Dome.  The hot molten lava squeezed up through cracks in the dome forming obsidian spires.  The spires toppled under their own weight, leaving colorful bands of pumice and obsidian. 

A hiking trail, the Rim Trail runs along the outer rim of Panum Crater. 

 Following the walking path is taking a step back in time, which lies over fine gravel that is composed of small bits of pumice, ash, obsidian fragments and granitic pebbles that were ejected during the eruption. Due to the sharp, glass like edges on the obsidian, it is best to wear sturdy, enclosed shoes. 

  

 Along the Rim Trail colorful rocks with green hues are stacked like a crumbling fortress that overlook a scenic view back toward pumice slopes.

An additional trail, the Plug Trail leads up to the center of Panum Crater and the lava dome. 

 Climbing higher, just past the Crater's slope a nice view of Mono Lake comes in to sight.  

Continuing up to the summit of the dome the trail becomes narrow, requiring careful footing.  

Jagged rocks colored with streaks of pumice and black obsidian reach toward the sky and must be what remains of the collapsed spires. 

Dark obsidian shines in the light and stands out against the grey pumice.  

Obsidian was used by the Native American Paiute Tribe for making arrowheads. 

Swirls of obsidian and pumice lie forged together giving the appearance of cooling magma. 

An abstract palette of nature's creative design. 

As the day wears long, a breeze reminds me that it is time to carefully plot my steps back down this sharp, rocky trail.  What an adventure this has been!  To stand inside a dormant volcano and experience the creativity of nature.  Descending the Plug Trail, the  view of the Eastern Sierra come into sight.  I can hardly wait to come back and explore one of the other Mono Craters.  Follow my Blog and check back often to see where my photo-adventures have been.

 

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What an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been.  I love it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get treated to new experiences. 

Sign up and follow my blog to see where my next photo-adventure will be!

Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.

 "Reflecting Nature's Artistry" 

Many of these images are available on my website:

 http://www.bonnierannald.com/ 

For custom matted and framed images:
Off The Wall

No images on this blog are within Public Domain or are available for free download. 

 All rights reserved, world-wide and images protected by Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All photography, graphics, text, design, and content is copyrighted by Bonnie Rannald and should not be copied, down-loaded, transferred and re-created in any way without the express consent, in writing to Bonnie Rannald. For information on Bonnie Rannald licensed, right-managed images, please submit a written request.

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