North Eureka Peak and Eureka Lake
I've been super busy with "life" lately and haven't had the time to write up all of my recent hikes. So here is a quick summary of some of the hikes I've been on in the last month and a half! Enjoy!
Eureka Peak
About 10 days ago my friends, BJ and Nancy, and I hiked up to Eureka Peak which is near Johnsville, and north of Mt. Elwell. The trail starts at Eureka Lake, and it's about 2.5 miles uphill to the top of North Eureka Peak (which you can see in the above photo). About another mile and half past this peak you reach the "official" Eureka Peak (at 7,447') that isn't discernable from the surrounding landscape, and isn't even signed! However there are glorious views from both "peaks", to the east, south and west. We lucked out and had an incredible show of clouds all day long as well! The round trip hike was about 5.5 miles, pretty evenly divided between uphill and downhill. It had been 10 years since I'd been there! So glad to be back there again. It was gorgeous!
Glorious Clouds
Clouds make such a difference in the day. I just love it when they are around!
North Eureka Peak and view to the east
Though not the official Eureka Peak, North Eureka Peak is an easy scramble to the top, and offers fabulous views.
Mount Elwell
Mount Elwell
About a month ago I hiked up to the top of Mount Elwell, with my friend Hank Meals and five others! We took the Grassy Lake/Long Lake Trail to the summit, about 6.7 miles round trip, with an elevation gain of 1,600'! It's an uphill hike to the summit at 7,818', with the last 1.5 miles being VERY steep! The view is incredible from the top!
View south from Mount Elwell
Although there was some haze in the air, is was still gorgeous! And again, I hadn't been there in 10 years! I was so lucky to be able to get there! What a paradise lay below us, and all around us!
Ranger's Buttons - American Lady Butterflies - Grass of Parnassian
Sphenosciadium capitellatum - Vanessa virginiensis - Parnassia palustris
On the way to the peak we passed several small, wet meadows that were filled with late blooming wildflowers and butterflies. The butterflies were particularly attracted to the Pennyroyal. The Ranger Buttons were going to seed and looked like fancy pincushions. The Grass of Parnassus was gorgeous with its fringed staminodes!
Townsend's Solitaire - Myadestes townsendiiWe saw and heard a group of Townsend's Solitaires calling along one section of the trail. I had never seen these birds in a group before. Usually they're by themselves (hence the name!). We didn't see any juveniles, but they're so cool looking I had to include one for you to see. The white eye-ring is typical, and helps identify these birds in the field.
View of Long Lake from near the PCT
PCT Loop
About a month and a half ago, my friend Diane and I hiked a loop trail up to the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) and back. We had grand views from the top of the ridge, near the PCT. It was a gorgeous, blue-sky day, and a great day to be out hiking!
California Ground Squirrel - fledgling (sp?) - Golden-mantled Ground SquirrelSpermophilus beecheyi - unknown species - Spermophilus lateralis
I was really hoping we'd see a Yellow-bellied Marmot on our hike, as I'd seen them in the area before. Unfortunately, the Marmots weren't out, but we did see a California Ground Squirrel and a Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel.
There were also several birds along the trail, and I managed to photograph the fluffy fledgling pictured above. Not sure what kind of fledgling it is, but I'm guessing it's possibly a Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Upper Tamarack Lake
Tamarack Lake
Again, about a month and a half ago, my friends, Nancy and Patricia, and I hiked up to the Tamarack Lakes. The hike is only about 3 miles round trip, but the lakes are lovely and wonderful to swim in if it's warm. The day we went, there were incredible storm clouds charging past, and we even got a tiny bit of rain. We all swam in the lake, our first swim this summer! It was heavenly! Amazingly we didn't see anyone else there all day!
Olive-sided Flycatcher - Dark-eyed JuncoContopus cooperi - Junco hyemalis
Right near us there was an Olive-sided Flycatcher hawking insects out of the air. On the forest floor and in the trees, Dark-eyed Juncos were foraging. So fun to watch!
Howard Meadow 9/14/23
Howard Meadow
Two weeks ago, my husband and I drove up to Howard Meadow to see what was going on. It was dry and turning a hundred shades of brown and gold!
Just gorgeous!
As we walked up the road to the meadow, we saw about 10 Sierra Tiger Beetles on the road! More than I've ever seen before! They are so beautiful in their green iridescent color! Wow!
Giant Checkerbloom - Orange Sulphur Butterfly - West Coast Canada GoldenrodSidalcea gigantea - Colias eurytheme - Solidago elongata
There were several types of wildflowers still in bloom, mainly Checkerbloom, Aster, and Goldenrod. Butterflies were everywhere among the late season blossoms. Just beautiful!
What's turning fall colors in the Lakes Basin?
What other birds going to pass through our neighborhood on their way "south"?
Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!
Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated!
Please email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com.
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