Scenery in the Eastern Sierras

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We were able to hike several days on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California in late July, 2007. We stayed in Bishop, California, which is at about 4000 feet altitude, and drove up into the mountains to hike.

Below are some pictures with a narrative beside each one. Click on an image below to see a larger version of the picture. When viewing a larger picture, clicking "Next" allows you to look at the larger pictures one at a time.




East of the Sierras, when the sun is low in the western sky, the whole range is back-lit. This panoramic composite of several pictures was snapped high in the White Mountains looking across the valley to the Sierra Mountain Range.



After driving westward to about 9000 feet altitude in Rock Creek Canyon, there was a fine walking path going further up the valley.

This view of Rock Creek includes wildflowers on the bank. I think the flowers are mountain lupines, but I really don't know the correct names of California wildflowers.



A close-up of wildflowers.



On the right in this picture is the path going up the valley. Ahead is the hill forming the side of the valley.



As the valley opens out around a small lake, apparently a remnant of the Glacier Age, the majesty of the Sierra peaks come into view.



It is a rather spectacular view for a lunch room.



This meadow has a rather thick growth of lupines. The hiking path is on the far side of the meadow.



These colorful wildflowers were in the same meadow, but weren't nearly as prolific as the lupines.



If the sky were more blue these pictures would be about perfect. The water reflecting the trees on the opposite shore, with the rugged peaks in the background are great.



The stream flowing between trees with one of the Sierra peaks beyond



The view of the next lake from the hiking path.



Wildflowers on each side of the path.



This view is looking back eastward.



Reflected symmetry with the path in the foreground



As we were returning back down the valley, this view is looking back at the Sierra peaks.



There are wildflowers on both sides of the path as we descend.



These wildflowers in the high Sierras in midsummer interest me because there are spring flowers in Texas which look similar.



The Sierra lupines grow higher than the Texas variety.



Along the main highway in the valley there were spectacular sunset views to the west.



This stitched together panoramic view attempts to convey the breadth of the sunset behind the mountains.



Another day we drove to the head of Bishop Canyon and left the car near the dam forming this reservoir.



We wanted to record that the area is named for John Muir, a nineteenth century Scottish immigrant to California.



What a spectacular peak! And viewed from the green environment of the valley!



I don't know the name of this peak.



This peak is also spectacular.



Great views in every direction!



This photo was snapped less than a minute later



The brown hill is called Chocolate Mountain.



One can see how someone would think of milk chocolate poured over vanilla ice cream when seeing that hill.



Some geological upheaval seems to have caused a rock with traces of iron in it to be piled on top of a large layer of quartz.



Yet another picture postcard scene.



And another perfect spot for a lunch.



Another view from the same spot.



Continuing up the path, that awesome ridge is coming more fully into view.



The comparatively gentle nearby terrain with green trees provides such a contrast to the mountains in the distance.



I'd like to know the name of this wildflower.



I don't know the name of that mountain, but it's impressive.



About half way up to the next lake it seemed prudent to turn back so that we could get back to the car in daylight. This is the view back downhill as we turned back.



As I'm writing these captions, I don't have the map we hiked with, so I can't provide the name of the various lakes along the path. This view is looking away from the Sierra peaks.

By the way, the background blue on this web page is a photo of the sky snapped while walking that day.



Going back along the lake-side path.



By the time we got back to the car, the sun was still shining on the highest peaks.



That's an awesome skyline!



This is a close-up of a wildflower we saw a different day.



On a different day we walked in the Bristlecone Pine forest in the White Mountains. Those ugly but awesome trees are described in another web page.

Click here for more on Bristlecone Pines.

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