Here is the continuation from Friday’s long post about hot times in Mineral King.
Evening light
In spite of the ferocious heat down the hill and the uncommon heat in Mineral King, the evenings were very pleasant.
One evening, Trail Guy went in search of his favorite flower, the leopard lily, more commonly known as the tiger lily. This doesn’t make sense to me, since the lily has spots rather than stripes, but the flower namers didn’t ask my opinion.
I followed along with my camera, because the light is so enticing at the end of the day.
There they are! Alas, too hard to get to; keep looking.
Here are some that Trail Guy could stick his nose into.
Popular Sight
When Hiking Buddy and I were trudging up the Nature Trail, I stopped for this classic photo, which never comes out right. My camera sees Sawtooth and the sky as almost the same color and value. (I messed with the sky color on the computer so you can see Sawtooth.)
That’s why I have to paint this scene; my paints can correct many photographic shortcomings.
Popular Hangout
The bridge at the end of the road is a popular place to hang out. Without fail, someone builds a dam every year.
Well-loved Juniper
A few years ago, this juniper was in jeopardy of being chopped down. A few of us protested, (my cousin, a tree guy/certified arborist also told me it still had plenty of life) and whoever was in charge changed his mind. I don’t mean that we marched around with signs and obnoxious behavior; we wrote letters in a very civilized manner.
It occurred to me that I have never painted this juniper. I wonder. . . if I left off the cars with blue tarps, took some license with the parking lot, would anyone else know or care what tree it is?
4 Comments
The tree is also home to a marmot which I photographed last season. I recall that as a pre-teen it was home to prior generations of marmots as well.
Just returned from a fabulous vacation in Europe that included Zermott and came across a store selling various products made from marmot fat. Never would have guessed that one. I’ll share the photos of the shop and brochure of products they are selling with you when I’m up there this September. If someone can do this with marmot fat the Trail Guy might be onto something with the leopard lilies.
Bill, marmot fat is . . . words fail me. Thank you for sharing!
Do those iconic leopard lilies have a pleasant odor? I’ve never smelled one.
I love that iconic view of Sawtooth, and yes, sometimes the iconic bright granite blends in with the blue, iconic sky. Depends on the time of day I think.
I always see that iconic dam by the iconic bridge, and you can usually spot trout in the water from the bridge.
I think you should paint the iconic juniper (sans cars, of course) with the iconic bear patch in the background. It’s an iconic Mineral King scene!
Iconic Sharon, EVERY TIME Trail Guy sees leopard lilies, he sticks his nose in them. Every other time he says, “If you could just bottle that smell, you’d [never have to work again][be a rich man][make a fortune]”
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