Wildflowers bloom on Summer Solstice at Corey Peak, Nevada

Delicate flowers bring gentle beauty to a rugged mountain pass

My quest to record photographically the rare occurrence of desert wildflowers that bloom in the spring has taken me to very remote and interesting locations.  Timing is critical and best planned after there has been some rain.  However, trekking out on dirt roads after a desert rain can be tricky and must be approached with caution.

On a calm, fair weather day, just before Summer Solstice, I made a day trip to Corey Peak in search of wildflowers.  Corey Peak is the second highest summit in the Wassuk Range, at 10,520 foot elevation (3206 m) and lies to the east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

After turning off from Lucky Boy Pass. the road to Corey Peak is not as well maintained or as wide as the  Lucky Boy Pass road.

Ascending higher, the road becomes narrow with large rocks and ruts that must be carefully negotiated.

Looking down at the switchbacks that made for an interesting and challenging drive!

The view from the summit is breath-taking with dormant volcano peaks rising  up and the  Sierra Nevada Mountains with traces of snow in the background.

To my delight as I climbed in elevation, I began to see clusters of wildflowers on both sides of the winding road that were thriving in the rocky terrain.  The fragrant, yellow flowers of Bitterbrush seemed to be everywhere, creating a garden setting in the rugged landscape.

The Desert Milkvetch was in full bloom, with its pale purple flowers.

The deeper purple Newberry's Milkvetch shared its space with yellow flowers of Woolly Grandsel.

A beautiful bouquet of red Paintbrush accented with lavender Milkvetch flowers stood out against green and grey desert plants. What an arrangement of nature's artistry!

As the day progressed, clouds started moving in from the west.  I was thankful for the diffused lighting, however I also had to keep a close watch on the weather changes these clouds might bring.  Driving down this narrow, rocky road in a downpour would be next to impossible.

Rounding a curve and I noticed a graphic rock-outcropping.  I  stopped for a photo and the  the moon began to rise in the east, coming up behind the rocks.  Feeling at peace with this awesome landscape, I imagined welcoming the summer solstice with the ancient ones.  What a fun and inspirational adventure this wildflower quest turned out to be.

Check back and follow my blog where I will be posting more details about the wildflowers from my Corey Pass Wildflower photo shoot.

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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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Alum Creek, Mineral County's Unique Ecosystem

Photo-touring in Nevada's Back Country

 
Far off the beaten path and nestled in the rugged canyons of Central Nevada lies a unique ecosystem of Piñon and tall Ponderosa's pines, where nature seems to thrive against all odds.  A small stream flows down between trees that are so huge; they must be over 100 years old.  

This stream is Alum Creek and is located south of Lucky Boy Pass in Mineral County, Nevada.  Around the mid 1800's when mining was in it’s hey day, a creek in the Lucky Boy area flowed from Poison Spirit to Cottonwood Creek.  The presence of alum in solution was discovered in this creek so it became known as Alum Creek.  During this time, the Lucky Boy mines that were located in the Alum Creek district were producing yearly over a million dollars of silver and lead.  

In present times, only a small trickle of water still flows down the creek bed.  With the severe drought that has been plaguing both Nevada and California, I am very surprised the creek has not completely dried up.  Over winter, even the snow pack that replenishes the ground water has become less significant.  

With the climate warming and drying, will the pines that have created this unusual habitat still be able to adapt?   The piñon pine, Pinus edulis, native to the Southwestern U.S. will survive on available water and is drought tolerant.  Piñon can grow to 15-35 ft (4.6-10.7 m) tall and 12-24 inches (.3-.6 m) in diameter.  They produce the edible pinyon nuts which were a staple food source for the Native Americans.

The Ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa is found in mountainous topography at elevations 3,000 and 9,000' (914-2700m) where there is moderate rainfall.  Mature trees can reach from 60-130' (18-39 m) with a diameter of 30-60" (9-1.7 m).  

Alum Creek which at one time was a favorite area for family outings and picnics still offers a peaceful mountain retreat from the high desert landscape. 

 While I sit and admire the green pines that reach for the deep blue sky, two lizards come out to warm in the sun. As I watch them I ask a silent blessing on this unique pocket that time seems to have overlooked.  I hope against all odds that the unique ecosystems of Alum Creek will have the tenacity to adjust and that we will continue to enjoy its peace and oneness of nature for many generations to come.

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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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Nevada, Land of Snow Capped Mountains

From deserts to the alpine forests, 

Nevada lives up to its Spanish name of "snow fall"

I have mentioned my adopted state of Nevada so often when posting photographs that I thought it might be interesting to provide some background information on Nevada. The local pronunciation for Nevada is with a short "a", like in cat and never with the long "a" Ne-vah-da, that is often heard on TV or in the movies. Nevada is referred to as the "Silver State" because one of the largest silver lodes in the world was found at the Comstock Mine in Virginia City. It is also know as the "Battle Born State", which is proudly displayed on the deep blue state flag from achieving statehood in 1864 during the Civil War.

The word Nevada is Spanish, meaning snow fall. The name came from the Spanish explorers after they saw the many tall snowcapped mountains that include 172 summits with 2,000 feet (610m) of prominence, making Nevada the most mountainous state in the U.S. Many of the mountain peaks are above 13,000 feet (4,000m), with the valleys no lower in elevation than 3,000 feet (910m).

The Spring Mountains are the largest mountain range in Southern Nevada and lie west of Las Vegas in the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area, which is in the Mojave Desert.

With the summer temperatures in Southern Nevada reaching well over 100°f (37.7°c), the winters can be cold and bring snow to the higher elevations and even the desert floor. The Aztec Sandstone of Calico Hills stands out against the occasional winter snow storm in the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area. No matter what the weather, the 10,000 acre (4,000 ha) Red Rock Conservation Area is a must see when visiting Las Vegas. The one-way 13 mile (21 km) paved loop is open during day light hours, providing vehicle access to hiking and interpretive trails.

In Northern Nevada, the Sierra Nevada Mountains run for 400 miles (640 km) north to south, through Nevada and California, and are around 70 miles (110 km) across, east to west. The highest peak of the Sierras is Mount Humphreys near Bishop, California and stands at almost 14,000 feet (4,300 km).

Lake Tahoe is set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and is the largest alpine lake in North America. Located along the border of California and Nevada, Tahoe has a surface elevation of 6,225 feet (1,897m) and a depth of 1,645 feet (591m), making it the second deepest lake in the U.S. after Oregon's Crater Lake.

Nevada is certainly a state of contrast with its 110,561 sq miles reaching from parts of Death Valley to the Alpine Lake Tahoe. With a population of 2.7 million, the 7th. largest state is only the 35th most populous state. With so much open space and a warm temperate climate, the State of Nevada is a place for adventure with a lot of nature to explore.

Follow my blog and check back often to see where my next photo-adventure takes me!

For more information on the State of Nevada:

http://travelnevada.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada

http://bonnierannald.blogspot.com/2009/07/weather-tales-of-alpine-lake.html

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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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Aurora Ghost Town

Early Mining Days in Nevada 

A drive through Lucky Boy Pass, off Highway 395, then a turn on a narrow winding rocky road will lead you back into Nevada’s gold and silver history to what was once the bustling town of Aurora.

Located just three miles from the California border, the town was founded around 1836, when a small group of prospectors discovered a ledge of silver and several veins of gold and proclaimed the area “Aurora! Goddess of the Dawn”.

It didn’t take long before word got out and the town of Aurora became established with a general store, post office, some saloons and a hotel. By 1869, the town had grown to a population of 10,000 and the mines were producing a reported $27 million in gold.

Aurora’s heyday lasted about a decade, until the gold and silver ran out. Presently, with the harsh desert environment and human vandalism, only a few structures are left to remind us of how life must have been.

At its peak, Aurora had as many as 17 mills, worth a total of 175 stamps. The elaborate frame from one of the stamp mills can be found just off the dirt road, near Aurora Creek.

The Gyratory Crusher was a large capacity crushing machine. Imagine how it was transported to a location through the desert and up a slope for operation.

The Hardinge Patent Conical Mill was used to reduce various minerals like gold, silver, copper and lead. This heavy mill was built to be sectionalized for pack animal transportation.

Heavy equipment and ladder are clues to how work was once done in the mines at Aurora.

A residence in the bustling town of Aurora.

A cement structure was thought to have once been a bank.

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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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The Stage Stop

Fletcher Nevada

The first winter storm of 2009 covered much of Northern Nevada with snow. The landscape was so beautiful that I had to venture out with my camera, so I took a drive from Hawthorne through Lucky Boy Pass. Lucky Boy Pass was originally used by prospectors during the 1880's as a route from Aurora, Nevada to California. Presently, the winding dirt mountain road is maintained and used as a route between Nevada and California.

While driving through hills green with junipers and Pinyon pines, I came to a flat area of popular and cottonwood trees that was just before the junction to the Aurora road. The view to the west of the snow covered Sierra Nevada range was breath taking.

During the 1880's when mining was at its prime, this remote area was a stage stop that connected the Aurora mining camp to the rail line at Hawthorne. From 1883 to 1919, the Fletcher stage stop offered the traveler an oasis in the desert with its natural springs and tall shade trees. Named for its postmaster, H. D. Fletcher, the settlement received mail delivery until the post office in Hawthorne took over the route on November 30, 1918.

Today, we are left with only a few reminders of the stage stop at Fletcher. Other than the springs that give life to the cottonwood and popular trees, there is the small cabin that was built on to the hillside and a historical rock monument. Any other glimpse into life at the settlement of Fletcher has been erased by time.

As I walk past one of the tall trees, I notice what appears to be an old rusted cross affixed to the trunk. Since it reached out to me, I began to wonder, was it once the frame holding a road sign or could it have been an offering of safe passage to travelers on their perilous journey.

In the spring and summer, when nature has awakened from its dormancy, I plan to return to Fletcher. With the natural springs, wet marshes and abundant foliage this will be a natural habitat for many different species of wildlife.

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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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