Dan's Outside

I go, I see, I do, I walk, I think, I like…

Just When You Think They Might Be Starting To Get It…

Two stories about the Administration and its bizarre and short-sighted policies on energy and the environment:

White House Offers Advice on Saving Gasoline. President Bush on Tuesday came up with some specific advice for his White House staff: take the bus. And that was just the beginning. By ELISABETH BUMILLER. [NYT > Science]

and…

Interior Secretary Says U.S. Will Push Search for Energy. Gale A. Norton said the Bush administration will intensify its push to expand energy development on public lands, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. By FELICITY BARRINGER. [NYT > Science]

The optimist hopes that the current hurricane-caused energy problems will make the Administration re-think its short-sighted approach to energy policy, environmental policy, and climate issues. The pessimist thinks that they may just use this as an excuse to do more damage.

September 28, 2005 Posted by | Environment | 2 Comments

Ellery Lake (September 2005)

ElleryLake2005|09|16: Ellery Lake. Tioga Pass. September 16, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
Ellery Lake. Tioga Pass. September 16, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
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September 27, 2005 Posted by | Sierra Nevada | Comments Off on Ellery Lake (September 2005)

A Bit More About My Tuolumne Weekend

I mentioned earlier that I was in Tuolumne Meadows last Friday through Sunday. September weather in Tuolumne (and the rest of the Sierra) can go just about any direction you can imagine. I’ve seen it snow and I’ve seen it warm and sunny.

This weekend was mostly sunny – with the addition of a few photogenic clouds – but it was also unusually cold. It was in the mid-20s at night at Tuolumne, which seemed to surprise a few late season campers. It was even getting cold before the sun went down, which made it seem almost winter-like.

On Sunday I was out at Parker Pass at 11,100′ on Yosemite’s eastern border and right on the Sierra crest. It was cold! I was wearing three layers and should have worn another. Other people out near the pass were wearing gloves – except for a few hardy backpackers I saw who were hiking in shorts! Not only was it cold that afternoon, but the wind was howling as well.

This is the time of year when everyone begins to anticipate the fall colors, especially on the east side of the crest where the aspens can turn astonishing shades of yellow and gold. So far, not much has happened. I saw just a few trees that were barely starting to turn colors.

On the other hand, most of the meadow plants and grasses – except in very moist areas – have gone dormant and turned golden brown. A few plants are beginning to turn yellow or red. (See this photo near Spillway Lake.)
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September 20, 2005 Posted by | Trips | Comments Off on A Bit More About My Tuolumne Weekend

Mono Lake Moonrise

MonoMoonrise2005|09|16: Mono Lake Moonrise. September 16, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
Mono Lake Moonrise. September 16, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
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September 19, 2005 Posted by | Uncategorized | Comments Off on Mono Lake Moonrise

Sunset and Aspens at Conway Summit

ConwaySummitSunset2005|09|16: Summit. Conway Summit. September 16, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
Sunset. Conway Summit. September 16, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
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September 19, 2005 Posted by | Sierra Nevada | Comments Off on Sunset and Aspens at Conway Summit

September in Tuolumne

I’m back from a long weekend in Tuolumne Meadows. I had planned on backpacking, but plans change. I ended up camping at Tuolumne and taking a couple of good day hikes on Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday I drove over Tioga Pass in time to catch sunset near Conway Summit and then watch the full moon come up over Mono Lake. Saturday’s hike took me up Budd Creek to the high point on the Saddle next to Cathedral Peak. On Sunday I hiked past Spillway Lake and then cross-country up to Parker Pass.
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September 19, 2005 Posted by | Trips | Comments Off on September in Tuolumne

Near Parker Pass

NearParkerPassBW2005|09|18: Near Parker Pass. Yosemite National Park. September 18, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
Near Parker Pass. Yosemite National Park. September 18, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
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September 19, 2005 Posted by | Yosemite | Comments Off on Near Parker Pass

Spillway Lake Rocks

SpillwayLakeRocks2005|09|18: Rocks near Spillway Lake. Yosemite National Park. September 18, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
Rocks at Spillway Lake. Yosemite National Park. September 18, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
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September 19, 2005 Posted by | Yosemite | Comments Off on Spillway Lake Rocks

Between Townsley and Ireland Lakes

PlateauTarn2005|08|27: Tarn between Townsley and Ireland Lakes. Yosemite National Park. August 27, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
Tarn between Townsley and Ireland Lakes. Yosemite National Park. August 27, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
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September 12, 2005 Posted by | Yosemite | Comments Off on Between Townsley and Ireland Lakes

Rafferty Creek Trail and Fletcher Peak

FletcherRafferty2005|08|28: Rafferty Creek Trail and Fletcher Peak. Yosemite National Park. August 28, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
Rafferty Creek Trail and Fletcher Peak. Yosemite National Park. August 28, 2005. © Copyright Dan Mitchell.
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September 12, 2005 Posted by | Yosemite | Comments Off on Rafferty Creek Trail and Fletcher Peak

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