High Desert

• Date;  8-7-19
• Day:  2
• Start:  1749
• End:   1774
• Miles: 25
• Hours: 11
• High Temp: 70
• Low Temp: 49
• Thru Hikers Met: 3

---

This mornings sunrise

The day started nicely at 0700 hrs. I experienced slight dampness on my rain fly. Not enough to worry about drying during the day. 

The trail is a gentle one with small elevation changes.  The ground is damp from the night rain releasing multitude of fragrances from sage, lupine, wet wood and other fragrant plants. The wet wood reminds me of Tahoe in the Fall. Soon we are in the trees and we are both happy at the elevation change. 

Wonderful rock formations are beginning to be seen

As we filtered water and enjoyed a break a little dark eyed junco entertained us with it’s antics and interest in our food

Then the high desert returns

Occasional meadows with fresh green grass

Beautiful small groups of wildflowers populate the open range

Off and on there are lodgepole pine forests 

We noticed a mated pair of huge birds. They were about 200’ to 300’away so it was difficult to ID them. They were bigger than herons but similar, they had different bills and sounds than herons and geese or swans. We think maybe sandhill cranes. 

After making camp and eating David pointed out the night hawks hunting bugs in the air above our camp. The interesting buzzing sound they make when they dive for food and the evening night hunting identifies them. 

During the day we enjoyed watching a hawk and a falcon hunt above us as we walked. Too high to ID these birds completely. 

Our camp is in leased public land so a few steers wandered by our camp complaining to us as we were in our tents.  David tossed some stones and sticks in their direction and they moved on.