Western Sojourns: Travels with Camissonia: EASTERN & CENTRAL SIERRAS: Summer Vacation July 9, 2016 (Day 8: Sonora Pass Highway, Twain Harte)

Sunday, January 29, 2017

EASTERN & CENTRAL SIERRAS: Summer Vacation July 9, 2016 (Day 8: Sonora Pass Highway, Twain Harte)

Day eight of our 2016 summer vacay took us over Sonora Pass (Hwy. 108) heading west from Bridgeport in the Eastern Sierras to the lovely mountain town of Twain Harte in Tuolumne County in the Central Sierras, where we had a reservation at the Beury Cabin. The views were stupendous along the way, and our fur babies got to enjoy a trek through a spectacular meadow at 9,400' elevation.

USMC Mountain Warfare Training Center, Pickel Meadows,

SR 108, 2 miles NW of Bridgeport

Footbridge at Leavitt Meadow trailhead off SR 108,
8 miles west of Hwy. 395 at Sonora Junction, Mono County

West Walker River at Leavitt Meadow trailhead, Hwy. 108,

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Mono County

West Walker River at Leavitt Meadow trailhead, Hwy. 108,

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Mono County

Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Mono County

Slender Cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis)

Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Mono County

Aspen Onion (Allium bisceptrum)
Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Mono County

Pallid Owl Clover? (Castilleja lineariloba)

Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Tuolumne County

Bog Mallow, Oregon Checkermallow (Sidalcea oregana ssp. spicata)
Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Mono County

Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Mono County

Leichtlin's Mariposa Lily (Calochortus leichtlinii)

Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Mono County

Elk Thistle (Cirsium scariosum)

Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Mono County

Owl's Claws (Hymenoxys hoopesii)
Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Mono County

Alpine Sheep Sorrel (Rumex paucifolius) with Owl's Claws (Hymenoxys hoopesii)
Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Mono County

Wandering Daisy (Erigeron peregrinus)
Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Mono County

Sardine Creek, Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Mono County

Brewer's Lupine (Lupinus breweri), Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy.,
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Mono County

Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Mono County

Castilleja spp.

Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Mono County

Nude Buckwheat (Eriogonum nudum)
Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest,
Mono County

Small-flowered/Jessica's Stickseed (Hackelia micrantha)
Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Mono County

Hwy. 108, Sonora Pass Hwy., Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Mono County

Large meadow off Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation.

Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Large meadow off Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation.

Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Large meadow off Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation.

Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Large meadow off Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation.

Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Pussypaws (Calyptridum umbellatum)

Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation,
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Ranunculus spp.?
Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation,
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

American Bistort (Bistorta bistortoides)
Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation,
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Alpine Shooting Star (Primula tetrandra)
Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation,
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Nevada Lewisia (Lewisia nevadensis)
Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation,
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Silky Raillardella (Raillardella argentea)
Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation,
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation,
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Sierra Penstemon (Penstemon heterodoxus)
Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation,
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Castilleja spp.
Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation,
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation,
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Phlox diffusa?
Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.) at 9,400' elevation,
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Hwy. 108 (Sonora Pass Hwy.), Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne County

Donnell Vista, at around 6,300' elevation, is a day use area off Sonora Pass Hwy., 15 miles west of Strawberry. A 1/4 mile paved trail leads to an overlook with awesome views of the middle fork of the Stanislaus River & Canyon, Donnell Reservoir and the Dardanelles (volcanic peaks in the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness)

Donnell Vista is a great place to park, stretch your legs, take a bathroom break, and enjoy the incredible views. However, it seems like there's a bit of eerie history to this place that involves missing persons (something I didn't know until I did some Google searches for this post). Check it out! http://www.uniondemocrat.com/localnews/4735782-151/donnell-vista-majestic-and-mystifying?referrer=fpblob