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Packing up at the trailhead.
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Starting down, trying to avoid being stabbed by the abundant Ceanothus cordulatus, WHITETHORN CEANOTHUS
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Further down, we made our way through fire-blackened trees
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Once below the brush, we arrive at a meadow bordered by open granite where we can see our route ahead.
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Ominous clouds ahead.
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Calochortus minimus, STAR TULIP.
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Xerophyllum terax, BEAR GRASS
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Nemophilia spatulata, SIERRA NEMOPHILIA (SIERRA BABY BLUE-EYES).
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Diane drinking straight from the big Katadyn water filter.
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Trying to figure out a safe place to cross the creek.
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Craig steps out confidently, though the creek is pretty swift.
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Most of us ended up crossing the creek above this waterfall
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Ranunculus histriculus (Kumlienia hystricula), WATERFALL BUTTERCUP (3-lobed (eaves) and Athyrium felix-femina, LADY FERN.
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Ranunculus histriculus (Kumlienia hystricula), WATERFALL BUTTERCUP
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Ranunculus histriculus (Kumlienia hystricula), WATERFALL BUTTERCUP, with fruits.
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Athyrium felix-femina, LADY FERN.
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Athyrium felix-femina, LADY FERN.
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Taricha torosa sierrae, SIERRA NEWT
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Taricha torosa sierrae, SIERRA NEWT
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Taricha torosa sierrae, SIERRA NEWT
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Castilleja applegatei ssp. pinetorum, WAVY-LEAVED PAINTBRUSH.
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Fresh bear scat with a pine cone for scale. Pretty large!
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Prunus virginiana var. demissa, WESTERN CHOKECHERRY.
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Crossing the granite bowl that leads to the Notch.
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Looking back at Cherry Creek flowing into Cherry Lake.
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We constantly had to cross streams flowing down the granite.
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Diane led us up the high route to the Notch.
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Carol, Ali, Diane and Craig, taking a break in the Notch.
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raining!
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Time to put up some tarps for a temporary shelter
