Well, it was another epic day for photographing bighorn
sheep with Steve (aka ‘sheep whisperer’) Yeager. We began on the Silver Canyon
Road out of Laws (near Bishop). The morning sun was in our eyes as we headed
east but Steve was able to locate a small group high above us glassing with his
Swarovski binoculars. They were continuing to climb and would soon be out of
sight over a ridge.
Sheep Making Their Way Over The Ridge And Out Of Sight
I was able to get several photographs with my 70-300mm lens
at 300mm but the images needed cropping to appear large enough. There were 4
ewes and 1 lamb. We did not see any other signs of sheep as we headed east to
join White Mountain Road. Steve’s aging 4X4 Tundra aged another year as we
bounced over the sharp rock “road” that was really a trail.
After joining White Mountain Road the route heads north as
the relentless climb continues. I must add that White Mountain Peak is one of
the most colorful mountains I have ever seen. The trail passes the Patriarch
Grove of Ancient Bristlecone Pines to the east and eventually arrives at the White
Mountain Research Center, Barcroft Station (elevation 12,500’). The station is
just east of Mt. Barcroft (13,046). There is a locked gate and trailhead
parking with a potty for those who want to hike the 12 miles round trip to the
top of White Mountain Peak. At 14,252’, it is the 3rd highest
mountain in California. It is rather ironic to me that Mt. Whitney and White
Mountain peak have buildings on top.
Steve helps the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
with bighorn sheep census as a volunteer and thus has access beyond the gate.
He has magnetic signs that he puts on each side of his truck so folks don’t
think he is a trespasser. We came upon the next group of about 28 bighorn sheep
at about 13,200’ just as I was about to run out of courage with Steve driving
on such a narrow and steep trail. I was also feeling a little dizzy having
driven from my home in Fresno that morning, which is less than 300’ in
elevation. Steve said, “There they are. Can you see them?” I said, “No”. He
asked three times and I said “No” three times. Finally, I did see them as Steve
parked the truck. The sheep were east of us along a steep ridge with a nearly
sheer cliff to the east of that.
We walked slowly up to the group from below so as not to
frighten them. Steve said that sheep don’t like it when you are above them but
tolerate you if you carefully come up from below them. I was taking photographs
almost immediately and forgot all about the elevation. We were close enough to
the sheep that I went back to the truck and got a Zeiss 85mm lens, which made
for smaller but tack sharp photographs. We were there for at least an hour and I
took so many photographs that I needed to put a fresh battery in my camera.
Steve noted that one of the ewes had mucus on her nose and thought she was
pretty sick. Eventually, the sheep began heading below us along the ridge. We didn’t know it at the time but there were
other sheep that they were joining down below.
White Mountain Wilderness
Colorful White Mountain Peak With Building On Top
Steve Counting Sheep
Sheep Elevation
Palisades And Clyde Glaciers In The Sierra Nevada
Young Ram And Ewe
Ram
Sierra Glaciers To The West
Sick Ewe
We finished the day with a brief visit to the Patriarch
Grove and back down Silver Canyon. What an epic day topped off with some
homemade soup at Steve’s place. Thanks again Steve!
I have a YouTube video with photographs and video clips here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc9LHCeCCps
I have a YouTube video with photographs and video clips here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc9LHCeCCps
Dale--what an epic day! The great photos and video clips doa great job of documenting this adventure. Dave
ReplyDeleteDave,
ReplyDeleteThanks for you kind words.