Saddlebag Hummingbird and Odell Lakes 2022

20 Lakes Basin 2022

Dale Matson

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Hike Route

    This is my second visit to 20 Lakes Basin in the Hoover Wilderness. I recorded my first visit 6 years ago Here:

https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2016/09/20-lakes-basin.html There are more particulars in that article.

6 years ago, I didn’t complete the whole loop but added Conness Lakes. Did you know that you can see Mt. Conness from the west end of Tioga Lake? This time I wanted to hike to Odell, Hummingbird and Helen Lakes to finally complete the loop. However, the water in Saddlebag Lake is too low for the ferry to run this year, so I had to hike over two miles along the east side of Saddlebag Lake to get to the beginning of the loop trail. The trail along the West side of Saddlebag Lake looked to have more snow. This hike is all above 10,000’ and my watch indicated about 1,300’ of gain along the 6.5 mile out and back course that I took. I was out for about 5 hours.

There were some snow patches along the trail, especially as I got closer to Odell Lake. I began to tire as I reached Odell Lake so, I turned back on the trail once I got to Odell Lake. Helen Lake will have to wait for another time, an earlier start and less snow.

I took photographs and video of my hike with my Sony A1 camera, the Sony/Zeiss 16-35mm f4 lens and the Son 85mm 1.8 lens. 

Saddlebag Lake

Author

North Peak

Mt. Conness

Odell Lake

Hummingbird Lake

White Bark Vista 2022

White Bark Vista 2022

Dale Matson

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Edison Lake Below Red And White Mountain

The more things change, the more they stay the same. (Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr). I think I have made this trip every Spring since 2015. https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2015/05/white-bark-vista-near-huntington-lake.html

Seven years ago I was using the Sony A7R camera and now I am using the Sony A1. I think I have taken photographs also with the A7R2, A7R3, and A7R4. I used a combination of lenses in 2015 and later. This time I only brought my 100-400 GM lens. Frankly the photos from 2015 are nicer to look at since the air is clear and the clouds are great over the mountains.

Kaiser Pass Road to Florence and Edison Lakes opened Memorial Day this year and I suspected I could drive the one mile to White Bark Vista from Kaiser Pass. As I surveyed the beginning of the road, there was no snow but there were huge pot holes in the gravel “road” that leads to White Bark. I decided to park near the potties at Kaiser Pass and walk the two miles round trip. There is about a 275-foot gain outbound and at above 9,000’ it was a bit tough for me this year. I am not trail fit yet. While I have a 4X4 truck with good clearance, I thought it better to hoof it.

The view was hazy and there was not much snow in the mountains. Unfortunately, there were no clouds either. This will be a dry summer in the Sierra. The view is of the central Sierra from Banner/Ritter in the North to Mt. Givens in the near South. If you hike the first portion of the OHV 31-mile Dusy-Ershim Trail to Courtright Reservoir, you can cut off and climb Mt. Givens (10,600’) for a slightly different view. There is no established trail but some cairns.  https://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2015/08/mt-givens-day-hike-2015.html You still can't see Florence Lake from there.

If you have a smart phone, you can get the “Peak Finder” App and it will show you the names of the mountains you are looking at.

Mt. Givens

Mammoth Mountain

Banner Ritter

The last three photos were using the Peak Finder App on my I phone. The North Photo did not align with the mountains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSUHZ8rSTM4 have a brief video panorama on YouTube.

Madera County Golden Eagle Fledge History 2022

Madera County Golden Eagle Fledge History 2022

Dale Matson

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Fledged

 

This is the third year we have followed the progress of a pair of adult Golden Eagles in Madera County. The nest is about 100 meters from a lightly traveled unpaved road.

I have watched photographed and videoed several pairs of Bald and Golden Eagle nests over the years but have never seen a pair of eagles so devoted to their offspring. 

This year the couple only had one chick and we noticed the birds sitting in the nest about mid-February. In March a single chick appeared. At this age they seem so fragile that it is a miracle they can survive predators and the Spring weather. Buzzards seem particularly interested in young eagles with the adult Goldens setting up a “no fly zone” as they chased the buzzards away.

These Goldens usually provided a menu consisting of rabbits and ground squirrels. They initially fed the chick and then shared meals with the chick, letting the chick feed itself. There is no nearby water for fish or ducks. Today was both a happy and sad day for me. The chick had become a fledgling and the fledgling left the nest in the last two days. It is the end of the watching season for this nest of wonderful birds. The adults were patient with us. 

I have included some chronological photos I took with my Sony A1 camera and Sony 200-600mm lens with a 1.4 TC. Hope the reader enjoys the photos.

Empty Nest