Rainbow Falls, Devil's Postpile

Rainbow Falls.  This is what you see when you first hike to it.  This is vista point one.

Just before the vista point you have a better chance of catching the rainbow.

There is also a set of steps and path that takes you down to the base of the falls.  Realize that one is starting at 7000+' elevation to begin with and you have to climb back up the steps when done.

I can not help but wonder how much the drought is having an effect on the falls.  I am guessing that getting this close is easier than it used to be in the past.  I know that during the spring you could not do this because of the increased runoff from snow.  Anyway, people where actually swimming in the pool in front of the falls.

Devil's Postpile Meadows

Here are a few shots of the different meadow areas in Postpile.  The Devil's Postpile is above Mammoth Lakes which is near Mono Lake in East Central California near the Nevada boarder.  I believe this would be called alpine area since it is 7000' or more.

This first picture was the first meadow area seen from the trail after getting off the shuttle bus at the ranger station.  This is the trail head to the Devil's Postpile.

This is on the way to Ash Camp.  Again on the trail to Devil's Postpile.  I believe that the above picture and the following 3 pictures are really of the same meadow but from different vantage points.  The trail itself was only 1.5 miles.

This is the upstream view leading to the meadow above.  These pictures where taken from a small bridge that went over the stream.

This would be mid way between the second picture and the first.  I stopped on the way back to the ranger station to get this picture, thus its ordering.

This is the stream that leads up to Rainbow Falls.

Mono Lake

Ok, I am really bad at processing my pictures.  Anyway, trying to get them out, this is from our Mono Lake trip last week.  I have not been to the other side of the Sierra mountains especially the central range.  This is an area that I wanted to get to and now that I have, I will be going back.  If you are into nature, this area gives a lot of vistas which few see.  (I think many stop at Yosemite but do not go beyond.)

Pictures of Tufas.  The formation from Mono Lake.  Realize that these for under water and these are completely on dry land.  The lake itself is really low compared to its level from the 20's but really low compared to its ancient levels.

This is the famous Tufa everyone pictures.  We did not get to the North side.  It would have been interesting since they have some Tufa's but not as many as the South side.

A Wilson's Phalarope that I caught in the act of catching a fly.  Well I'm pretty sure.  There where a lot of Alkali Flies about and Brine Shrimp.