Solo on the Evolution Loop, John Muir Wilderness and Kings Canyon National Park, California

Nice trip report Bob.

The wildflowers were great. The wildlife was so-so. No bears or large mammals except for deer.

–B.G.–

Sounds like a great trip Bob….any pics????

Need you ask?

I shot a ton of wildflowers and some wildlife. However, those have to be transferred to the computer, edited, and selected for the web site. Due to other upcoming trips, they may not be ready for weeks.

The John Muir Wilderness had the very best assortment of wildflowers that I had ever seen. Other places have a good view of a limited number of species.

I got another pika, a stubborn marmot, and a curious deer.

It's interesting to try to get a correct exposure when you have dark blue sky, bright white snow, and lots of gray rock and green trees. I suppose that is what HDR is all about.

–B.G.–

I saw a Pika a couple of years ago in south of Muir Pass…first time I ever saw one, I was pretty stoked. I was out in Emigrant last week and the area was very light on the wildflower front. Sounds like a fantatic trip! Jealous

When I started from North Lake on August 3 within the first hour, I thought the flowers were nice. Then they were good in Humphries Basin, good in Piute Canyon, and good in Evolution Valley. I was hoping for good ones up around Sapphire Lake and above, but the snow covered lots. LeConte Canyon had some good ones, then Dusy Basin was good. After I crossed Bishop Pass and descended about 1000 feet, they got crazy good right before South Lake. I couldn't even keep up my trail pace since I was so busy shooting wildflowers.

The trouble with pikas… I hear they aren't much good to eat. Although, a light cream sauce with noodles and onions might do the trick.

We should work on such a recipe for Forester Pass. Those little "alpine rock rabbits" will be up there harvesting their little grass bundles.

I saw one for a second on Mount Whitney on August 2, but he was too quick.

–B.G.–

A couple days ago a pika came dashing down a slope towards me and then straight up the trail at me. It had such a great bundle of grass in it's mouth I couldn't tell what the heck it was. For a moment I was sure it was going to be a Chupacabra attack. Then it dodged off the trail and disappeared into the rocks right at my feet. Whew, survived again.

Enjoyed the report Bob, thanks.

Yes, I had thought about a career breeding pikas for security work, like attack dogs. They just don't seem to have the killer instinct for it, though, and they only work at 11,000 feet and above. Now, on the other hand, marmots can be sneaky and mean. I can't think how many items of gear and clothing they have chewed through over the years. Marmots have that "feed me, feed me" expression even when their bellies are dragging on the ground.

–B.G.–

Nice trip report Bob! I look forward to seeing the pictures!
Sounds like we just missed a possibility for a chance encounter in the Whites. I left for home on the 29th after a 2 1/2 week stint up there for my research. Heading back for another two weeks on Friday. It would be great to meet you sometime if you're up there again.
Chris

Chris, as I mentioned, I hiked up White Mountain Peak on the 29th. I kept looking along the east face for bighorn sheep since I had photographed a couple of them there two years ago. Then I was coming back down on the zigzags. Right at the dip, there was a ewe herd of about 23 or 24. How cool is that?

The ewes had their lambs, and the lambs were practicing head-butting. A couple of the ewes had colored ear tags, so I will report that to the WM Research Lab in the valley. There was one sheep that appeared to be a full grown adult male in the herd, and I don't understand that. Maybe it was an adolescent male, but it was fully equipped. I know that the two sexes do not come together except during the breeding season.

I photographed everything, but then I had to get moving after 15 minutes with the camera. That made my whole day.

–B.G.–

That's awesome to see such a big heard! We saw a heard about half that big in that area a couple years ago. I haven't seen any sheep this year but haven't been up the Peak yet. Seems I've been everywhere in the Whites this year except up White Mountain Peak. When I was at the north end of the range on Mt. Dubois, Boundary and Mongomery Peaks a couple weeks ago we saw a lot of fresh bedding areas used by the sheep but no sheep.
Chris

Chris, did you see a heard, or did you hear a herd?

If I see a few bighorns, that is a good day for me. When I see a herd of 23 or 24, that is a good year for me.

You can always tell when the sheep have been around, because they leave their little calling cards.

When I passed the Cal Lab at 12,000', there were about 50 head of domestic sheep all penned up. According to one researcher, they are doing research into some of the high altitude illnesses that all mammals get, and this would apply to illnesses in the high altitude people of South America.

I've photographed bighorns there, inside Kings Canyon, in Glacier Park, and a couple of other places.

The WM trail also had marmot families. You can't get much cuter than a baby marmot.

–B.G.–

Bob, I hear you about herds.
The domestic sheep are being used for a long-term study looking at the impacts of high altitude on pregnancy along with a whole host of other things. If a pregnant person is told by her doctor to avoid high altitude during pregnancy it is because of findings from Barcroft.
Those marmots are cute until they start snooping around the underside of your vehicle, then I start looking at them with derision.

I've added a few wildlife images to the posting at the beginning of the thread.

–B.G.–

Thanks for posting the details of your trip. I can't wait to get out that way later this summer. And your wildlife photos are amazing, carrying the DSLR was definitely worth it. ~ Andy.

"carrying the DSLR was definitely worth it."

My neck is currently debating that.

I had the camera rig in a Lowepro shoulder bag, so it was pressing on one side of my neck. The bag did good when there was a sudden dip into the stream. The advantage of the shoulder bag is that I could whip the whole rig out very silently and very quickly, which is exactly what is needed for wildlife.

–B.G.–

Great pika shots, Bob! Some of the best I've seen of these elusive critters!

Chris, I just have to figure out how to get them to leap into the titanium cook pot.

I got one classic shot of the pika with the bundle of grass in its mouth. Then the one you saw of it hiding in the shade and some others. I have others of them eating flower tops and sunning themselves just after sunrise.

–B.G.–