Eastern Sierras in an El Niño Winter

Glacier carved lake, Volcano Domes and Snow covered landscapes

With an El Niño winter bearing down on the Pacific Northwest, the days to go out photo-exploring are determined most often by road conditions.  It is much wiser to wait out the storm in the comfort of one's home than to become stranded like the Donner Party.

Gauging the weather after a moderate snow storm in early February, I decided to venture toward the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains before warmer temperatures melted most of the snow.  Even in the higher elevations, it does not take much sunlight to raise the ground temperature and within a few hours the snow vanishes.

As I pass by an out-cropping of solidified lave flows, the remaining snow accents the graphic details in the rocks, creating pleasing artistic effects.

Mono Lake is calm on this winter day. Paoha Island, formed by an uplift of lake sediments with volcanic core, reflects to the east in the deep blue water.  A number of smaller Tufa Towers line the western shore.

Driving south after Lee Vinning and Mono Lake, the Mono Craters stand out in the eastern horizon.  The volcanic chain of craters, domes and lava flows stretches 25 miles from the northwest shore of Mono Lake to the south of Mammoth Mountain.  The Explosive eruptions began over 50,000 years ago, with the most recent just 600 years old.

Continuing on and nestled against the steep eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada's is the subalpine valley of June Lake.  At an elevation of 7654 feet. (2333 m), and formed by glacier action, June Lake has been dubbed the Swiss Alps of the Sierras.

By mid-day the shadows grow long and it is time to turn back.  There are so many more natural wonders to explore and I can hardly wait for my return trip.  When the dirt roads dry and there is not as much danger of getting stuck in the deep snow, I hope to continue this photo-adventure to Mono's Panum Crater and hike the trail to the summit.  Follow my blog and check back often to see where my next photo-adventure will take me.

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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. 

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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" 

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