Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Zen and the Art of Parent Maintenance

Visits from Mom and Pop are always an adventure, especially in terms of seeing how many miles we can put on the TOF and how much food we can actually eat in one weekend. But gluttony and fossil-fuel destruction aside, we usually can put together a fun weekend around here. (shhh... don't tell anyone just how cool the eastside can be...)

This past weekend was no different. At the slower pace, I decided to try out my new macro attachment for my camera, spending a lot of time crawling around looking for the smallest flowers possible. Saturday was a pic-a-nic lunch out along the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne, watching clouds gather but not threaten and listen to the breeze in the trees. Sunday was a Father's Day brunch at The Store, followed by the long drive out to the Patriarch Grove to see the B-cones. I was shocked to find the ground at 11K completely carpeted by phlox, flax, and the tiniest peas; the air was sweet with their scent.

A sampling of my first foray into the really small stuff, forgive some of the artifact, as these were all hand-held, no tripod...











Anyone who tells me the Whites are devoid of color needs to have their head examined:




[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8161/7391569770_6ac4604a37_z.jpg[/img]
[img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7391570626_ceb1a4a679_z.jpg[/img]
[img]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5080/7391576518_30d9f2f9a3_z.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/7391583638_32153a0e63_z.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7391584434_a9593dca7d_z.jpg[/img]
[img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7101/7391587372_9a896cdc3a_z.jpg[/img]
[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7391591798_31f98a1b62_z.jpg[/img]
And, for reference on the final little purple ones...

[img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7073/7391595204_78be4f4387_z.jpg[/img]

Thanks to my Mom and Pop for another fun weekend.

Off to the races, Summer 2012!!

From the luckiest girl in the world:
Climb Hard. Be Safe.

-L

It is the littlest of things that marvel much.

Great pictures and a perfect title! I'm actually rereading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Mantenance" thirty years after my first encounter with Robert Pirsig's philosophic memoir.

Macro photography can be addicting and frustrating at the same time...

Get yourself some knee and elbow pads.

Thanks, Gary! Indeed, I've always found its worthwhile to stop and notice, but not necessarily dwell on, the small stuff. I've been trying to get in tight enough for these little, precious flowers the past few years, and I'm stoked to now have a system that allows just that. Some time rolling around in the dirt is well worth the payoff!

Jimbo, my mom and I were discussing that book this weekend, too. I think it's time for a re-read, myself. Hmmm... wonder if it's on Kindle...

Really nice Laura! What incredible detail in these beautiful, little flowers....nature is amazing!

...and then I saw the last size-reference picture... very impressive!! They are SOOO tiny!

Laura,

It is on Kindle, and think about "Walden" as a reread also.

Jimbo

Perfect!! What a great combination!

Beautiful! Now I can focus on the hike next week knowing you've captured these beauties! I can't help myself and I break stride to pull out my camera for the pretty flowers! Thank you for sharing!

One of my favorite moments from my first pack up the Main Trail in 06 was stopping to talk to a guy just below Trail Camp. When I asked him about all the flowers I was seeing along the trail, his reply was "What flowers?"

Even above treeline, color abounds! Enjoy your trip!

-L