Bonnie Rannald's Photo-Explorations in focus with nature. : Sego Lilly

Sunday, September 4, 2016

View from Lookout Mountain, California

Photo-exploring on a crater's summit

Where would you go to spend the day on top of a mountain, among tall pines with a 360° view? If you are in eastern California, that might be at Lookout Mountain.

Lookout Mountain is located on the Eastern Sierra and within the Inyo National Forest. The name Inyo is Native American meaning dwelling place of the great spirit.

To reach the summit of Lookout Mountain one must travel a gravel, dirt road that is opposite of the Mammoth Scenic Loop turnoff and is not maintained during the winter months.

The narrow, one vehicle trail wanders through ancient Jeffery Pines that have their legacy almost as far back as the volatile creation of this peaceful mountain.

Today, Lookout Mountain appears to be a peaceful retreat. However, its inception was due to a violent volcanic eruption around 677-692,000 years ago. The summit crater that is just over a half mile, 1 kn, in diameter, is covered with gravely pumice and shards of obsidian which offer the few traces of this mountain’s volcanic features.

Up high on this ancient summit, 11,158 feet, 3,401m, wildflowers have managed to adapt in this harsh environment.

Yellow blooms of sulfur buckwheat accent the landscape against black obsidian and grey pumice.

A walk toward the west gives a view of volcanic domes that run north to south: Deadman’s Creek Dome, Glass Creek Dome and Obsidian Dome.

Grey slopes, Precaldera Rhyodacite Flows tower on the northern horizon.

To the south are the Inyo Craters and the east side of Mammoth Mountain.

Delicate white flowers of sego lily Calochortus nuttallii stand out in the dense chaparral.

The tulip shape draws in pollinators and the entire plant was used as a food source by Native Americans.

Brilliant red of Desert Paintbrush, Castilleja, accent the grey alkaline soil. Native Americans enjoyed the health benefits of this stunning plant which is similar to that of garlic.

The shadows grow long, clouds flow across the western sky signaling it’s time to start my descent back down from Lookout’s summit. With so many wonders to explore in the Mammoth, Mono County area, I am anxiously awaiting my next adventure. When I go out on my adventures I try to have a blank slate which allows for the story to come into focus.

Follow my Blog and check back often to see where my next story will take you.

For additional reading:
https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/long_valley/field_guides_lookout_mountain.html

With my Nikon and tripod, my goal is to recreate the scene as it appears in nature, to preserve in a photographic image the awesome, yet simplistic beauty of the scene that waits around a bend or over a hill. Sometimes it's a colorful landscape, and many times I'm allowed in the presence of the numerous creatures that adapt to life in the wild.

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.

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.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Wildflower Adventures and Summer Solstice

Exploring Further up the Mining Trail on Spring's Finale

Still determined to go all the way to the top of the mining trail, I choose a day when calm winds were in the forecast. Around these mountains, changes in pressure systems may come with strong winds which can be dangerous to be caught outside.

I wanted to make my trip on the Friday before the Summer Solstice and catch the moon just as it was setting over the mountains, which would be around 13:10 PDT. Summer Solstice for the western U.S. would occur on June 21st 3:51PDT when the moon would not be showing.

On this morning the summer heat was arriving early and it was already beginning to feel hot. However, it was a clear day and the moon was hanging high in the deep blue sky.

After turning off the main highway and putting the Jeep in 4wheel drive, I noticed the moon just beginning its descent over the canyon. I was hoping to get a view of the moon as it was hovering over the top of the ridge. Just as I approached the entrance to the canyon, a red-tailed hawk began to circle. What an awesome photo this would make if the hawk came down closer to the moon. Sure enough, by the time I was set up the hawk flew lower over the top of the canyon. From all indications, it had a nest on the back side of the rocky slope. In respect and appreciation to the hawk's space, I slowly drove off after several photos and was thankful for getting to observe this unique moment.

Heading higher up the trail I reached the point where I was level with and across from the Slim Pickins Mine.

The landscape appeared barren and the dry heat was taking its toll on any plants that might have bloomed.

Off to the trail's edge, a Grizzly-Bear Prickly Pear was enduring the harsh environment and striving to produce one flower.

Reaching a higher elevation, Sulfur Buckwheat was doing well and many were showing yellow blooms.

The Rabbitbrush were also in full bloom and accenting the desert with bright yellow.

As I turned to walk back on the trail a single white flower caught my eye. It was the stunning Sego Lilly that blooms in early summer. Native Americans roasted, boiled and made the bulbs of this Calochortus species into porridge.

Stretched out across the trail was an interesting arrangement of Leafy Spurge that was turning shades of red, perhaps due to its water source drying up.

The day was moving on and the heat was becoming more intense. I was beginning to feel like the Leafy Spurge, red and dried out. Whether to turn back or keep heading up was the question for the moment.

I always remember some good advice from an older flight instructor, "You've had a good day when you return to the destination with a safe landing". So I didn't reach the top this time, I did have some interesting adventures and I can plan a return trip in late summer when it cools down. Just like in the airplane, you get to fly another day if you set your limits and don't go past your abilities. I was looking forward to a nice cool shower and some cold lemon tea when I arrived back home.