 |
| Shawna & Mike (Photo by Hali) - Sierra Nevada 1980 |
Wow!
So, we were originally camping over in Death Valley, but it got way too hot. So we drove over the mountains to a campsite higher up in Owens Valley. Much cooler!
BTW, those mountains have been the subject of a prior blog post.
Next: Shawna and Hali . . . in Marin County? Alas, no year indicated.
 |
| Shawna & Hali - Marin County |
 |
| Convict Lake - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
Of course, the usual very short drive up to Convict Lake. Not ideal conditions (cloudless sky, too contrasty due to partial sun on the right hand side).
 |
| Aspen Branches & Leaves - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
 |
| Pine Cones, Aspen Leaves - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
So, after getting chased down the mountain by the cold and wind I drove down the road, stopping for some photos. Then over to a picnic spot for lunch and more photos.
 |
| Pine Needles, Leaves - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
 |
| Roots, Granite - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
 |
| Pine Trunk - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
The windchill was making it slightly difficult to concentrate. But at least I managed to remember to take some forest detail photos.
 |
| Aspens, Granite - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
 |
| Aspens, South Lake, Wind - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
I noticed some aspens huddled against a granite wall at the trailhead . . . took a photo using my Sony RX100 (finding it very capable so far - haven't made any prints yet).
It was quite cold, which made me a little apprehensive, what with the wind chill and all. I started off anyway, looking down on the aspens lining South Lake, some leaves still hanging on and the wind rippling the surface of the water.
 |
| Mountain - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
 |
| Wind, South Lake - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
I had tried the hike to Treasure Lakes last year (2024), but didn't make it all the way. This time I thought that I should try it again, with an earlier start and sufficient hydration in my daypack.
But . . . the wind! The temperature was in the 40s when I arrived at the trailhead, and the wind whipping across South Lake made it feel much colder.
 |
| RV, Desert Hills - Owens Valley 2025 |
 |
| Sierra Crest from Saline Valley Road - Owens Valley 2025 |
I walked to the first ridge on the road so I could see the view on the other side. I was able to get a photo of the hills there as well as an RV heading down the road.
To the west, an imposing view of the Sierra crest.
 |
| Moon, Mountains - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
 |
| Aspens - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
Noticed the moon on my way up to the aspens, so used the Sony RX100 for a quick shot before it disappeared.
Vertical photo taken with a Nikon Z7II. Alas, it probably looks OK on the blog, but it's not sharp enough for printing.
 |
| Aspen Trunks - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
 |
| Aspens - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
 |
| Aspens, Granite - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
East of Bishop, on the road to South Lake. I had been up here in 2023, so this was another chance for some aspen photos. Of course, others were there as well . . . very cold!
iPhone photos.
 |
| Photographers - Sierra Nevada 2025 |
 |
| Alpenglow - Bishop 2025 |
Taken during an early morning walk around Bishop. I passed by a large vacant lot featuring some large cottonwood trees, then I noticed the Los Angeles sign.
I've seen those L.A. signs before.
 |
| City of Los Angeles Property - Bishop 2025 |
 |
| Devils Postpile - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
 |
| Postpile Meadow - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
I'm guessing these were taken on the way out after the backpack. I've revisited this area several times since then . . . check out two photos taken in 2014.
Like I said, the film I was using was Kodak's Panatomic-X, a very fine grain 35mm film. Not sure about the camera though. I suspect that it was a Minolta SLR that I had purchased for its autofocus feature.
 |
| Clyde Minaret - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
 |
| Cecile Lake - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
For the main event of the trip Kay, Laura and I hiked up to Cecile Lake at the base of the Clyde Minaret, passing by Lake Ediza and Iceberg Lake.
 |
| Iceberg Lake - Sierra Nevada 2010 |
During the 1989 backpack we hiked up from Lake Ediza, past Iceberg Lake to Cecile Lake. I couldn't find any good photos of Iceberg Lake taken in 1989, but luckily I have the above photo taken in 2010, using a Nikon D90 DSLR.
I don't think I've ever seen any icebergs in Iceberg Lake. Charis Wilson described it thus in 1937: "there it was; a little lake with cakes of ice and snow floating over its inky water." No icebergs now though. Wonder why.
 |
| Pine Trees, Granite - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
 |
| Trees, Fallen & Standing - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
At some point I'll go through the 1989 images to see if any of them should be printed.
 |
| Pine Trunk, Branches - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
 |
| Granite Wall - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
The trail to Lake Ediza had lots of interesting visual details!
 |
| Sunset, Mt. Ritter, Banner Peak, Shadow Creek - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
1989: Kay found an excellent campsite, dry, up and away from Shadow Creek, and overlooking the famous Rain Trip Meadow. Nice location for sunset photos!
Also could be used for early morning alpenglow photos. Mike returned to the same area in 2010 to get the image below of Ritter and Banner illuminated by the rising sun.
 |
| Sunrise, Mt. Ritter, Banner Peak, Shadow Creek - Sierra Nevada 2010 |
 |
| False Hellebore - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
 |
| Ranger's Buttons - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
Plants seen during the backpack. Are those Ranger's Buttons? Maybe.
False Hellebore! A favorite subject of Edward Weston's and me. Below, a 2007 image taken on the Kings River.
 |
| False Hellebore, Kings River - Sierra Nevada 2007 |
 |
| Granite, Mountains - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
 |
| Storm Clouds - Sierra Nevada 1989 |
All backpacking photos taken using 35mm film (Panatomic-X) developed using fine grain developer. Negatives are slightly "flat." Turns out there's a limit as to how much one can boost the contrast using Photoshop.
