A Few Photographs From Tuolumne Meadows And Mono Lake

Dale Matson

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I have a motto, which is, “Never pass up a photo opportunity on the way to a photo opportunity”. This is especially true when we travel through Yosemite on the Tioga Pass Road (Highway 120).

We were recently on our way from Fresno CA to a long hike to the base of Split Mountain (14,065’) in the eastern Sierra Nevada near Big Pine. Along the way we spent much of the drive going through Yosemite Park. Tuolumne Meadows has several ponds along the road near Tioga Pass and this time I couldn’t resist the opportunity with a bright blue sky and scattered clouds. There are plenty of pullouts along the highway. Each of the many times we have done the Tran Sierra drive the view has been different. This time there was no smoke from wildfires or management burning.

After you exit Yosemite on the east side (nearly 10,000’), there is a long somewhat intimidating descent toward Lee Vining and Highway 395. Highway 395 runs north and south between the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the west and the White and Inyo Mountains to the east. This golden corridor ends just south of Olancha Peak south of Mt. Whitney near Lone Pine. As you descend from Yosemite there is a large lake (nearly 700 square miles) looming below in the high desert landscape. It is a fascinating place to visit for historical, ecological and photographic purposes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_Lake

The lake can be viewed from the Mono Lake Visitors Center in Lee Vining and/or from the South Tufa area further south off Highway 395. Clint Eastwood selected Mono Lake as the location for the mystical town of Lago in his movie “High Plains Drifter” because it was so photogenic.

My photographs were taken with the Sony A7R2 and 24-70mm 2.8 GM lens. 

 Bridal Veil Falls Viewed Through Smoke

 Driving Along The Merced River In Yosemite 

 Tuolumne Meadows Area

 Mono Lake From The Visitors Center Area

 South Tufas

 Crop With Osprey On Nest On Top Of Left Tufa

    

Day Hike To The Pond Below Split Mountain

Dale Matson

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On Highway 395, Split Mountain (14,065’) is nearly hidden from view because it is behind Mt Tinemaha (12,519’). Most of the people who travel this trail intend to climb Split Mountain. They are young, strong and fit. Few folks would do this as a day hike but after seeing photos taken of Split Mountain by climbers, I was amazed by the beauty of this mountain. I had seen and photographed it from the west in Upper Basin along the JMT but never realized how beautiful this mountain (also known as South Palisade) is from the east side. I knew I wanted photographs of it, considered the “cost” and was willing to pay the price. I was even able to convince my wife and two friends Annie and Steve to accompany me on this hike.    

This is really an esoteric but legendary effort even to find the trailhead. I have researched this hike for two years. The folks at the White Mountain ranger station have a single sheet map of the route to the trailhead that begins off Glacier Lodge Road east of Big Pine. There are other routes listed on the Internet. I would not take any vehicle on the “road” to the trailhead that was not a high clearance 4x4 no matter what others may state. I have driven the road to the Taboose Pass trailhead and it is an expressway by comparison. A short wheelbase vehicle is not necessary but is preferred. My crew cab Silverado had a hard time crossing Tinemaha creek because of the sharp turn immediately before the crossing (see photographs). We also crossed Fuller Creek, which was dry for us this time of year. On the return trip, you have quite a climb after crossing this dry creek bed. There are also several washed out areas, which make the road narrow in spots. This is NOT a drive I would recommend at night.

This is a 10 mile round trip hike to the pond below Split Mountain with about 4,000’ of elevation gain overall. The trail essentially follows the north side of Red Mountain Creek. The hike is on an exposed use trail with some Cairns and yellow flagging tape to help find the way. The trail travels through two areas of brush. The first area (marked CREEK on the Topographical map) has a nice creek for filtered or treated water resupply. The second brushy area can be confusing. Outbound we came to a fork in the trail. We should have turned right and followed the wet rocks up rather than continuing on the wet grassy trail. You can see us climbing because we went the wrong way. Inbound you will come to small campsite by a big pine tree. The correct trail back leaves from that area.

We began the hike at 7am on a cool morning and it took us 6 hours to reach the pond. You will not see the whole mountain until you are near the pond. We spent a half hour resting, eating and admiring this magnificent mountain and then headed back to the car. Our return took us 5 hours. Steve went all the way to Red Lake and caught some Golden Trout then headed back to his truck. He needed a headlamp to finish the hike back. We ate dinner in Bishop and didn’t get back to Mammoth Lakes until 9:30pm.

I took the photographs with the Sony A7R2 and the 16-35mm 2.8 GM lens. I also used a backup Sony A6000 with a 16-70mm Zeiss f4 lens. I probably have too many photographs but each one was bought and paid for by great effort. As I approach my 73^rd birthday, this is my hardest day hike since Baxter Pass.       

Birch Mountain

 Tinemaha Reservoir

 Small Waterfall

 Steve The Local Being A Docent 

 Paying The Price For A Wrong Turn In The Brush

 Pine Grove

 Resting With A View

Red Mountain In Sunlight With Inyo Mountains To The East

 Be Careful Here

 Morning Light From Highway 395 

Green Outline Of Red Mountain Creek Leading Toward Split Mountain