CSERC Blogger

This past weekend my co-worker Lindsey and I ventured out of Leavitt Lake (just east of Sonora Pass) down into Kennedy Canyon for a three-day backpack trip into the new western addition of the Hoover Wilderness and the Emigrant Wilderness. During this adventure we were treated to expansive alpine views of granitic and volcanic mountains, as well as an amazing abundance and diversity of wildflowers in bloom. Read on »

This summer CSERC staff is especially busy with field work and much of their work time is spent in the beautiful surrounding mountains, as they conduct research and monitor resources.

Below is a gallery of photos taken by staff members this year as they work and play in this amazing region – we hope you enjoy them and are inspired to get out there on your own! Read on »

There is something truly special about seeing a woodpecker when you are out in the woods. Whenever I encounter one I can’t help but announce their presence to whoever happens to be listening, and I stop what I am doing to enjoy watching them for however long I can.
Actually, there are many different species of woodpeckers found in our region, with twelve species listed on the Central Sierra Audubon’s “Birds of Tuolumne County” page!
This blog describes some of the distinctive and interesting traits of a few of the well-known species of woodpeckers that you might run into in the woods. Here they are, in no particular order: Read on »

I have found that becoming familiar with the local flora, fauna, and natural history in our area truly enhances my outdoor experiences. For example, learning how to identify the different plant species that grow in this area, makes me start to notice more about their habitat: what other plants grow around them, if they prefer shade or sunlight, the kind of soil they grow best on, or what elevation range they grow in. The more I learn, the more I truly appreciate the what an ecosystem really is, and how we are all part of it.

 

With this in mind, I wanted to provide resources for those who prefer to learn about their environment through experience. Getting out there with the experts can really skyrocket your level of knowledge, not to mention help you meet other folks with similar interests! Read on »

Ever since I “discovered” the Highway 49 wildflower bounty between Coulterville and Mariposa last Spring, I have been waiting eagerly for an opportunity to revist this glorious area. If you haven’t been yet, wait no more and get out there today! The variety of foothill wildflowers range from a multitude of chinese houses, poppies, popcorn flower, brodiea, monkeyflowers, jewelweed, fairy lanterns and so much more. Read on »

It was tough leaving Yosemite Valley on Saturday where the waterfalls cascaded over the spectacular granite cliffs as the snow melted in the high country. As beautiful as it was, the descending spring break crowds spurred me back to the Groveland area to stay with friends for the night, leaving the Merced watershed and hoping to find a more quiet corner to hike in the Tuolumne River watershed the next day. There are so many corners of this County that I have yet to explore, so I was excited to find a new trail, hoping for some sun and wildflowers. Luckily, my friends had a great suggestion: to hike along Cherry Creek and the Tuolumne River on the Andresen trail. Read on »

This last week I let the warm weather get the better of me and I decided to head down to the foothills to Table Mountain, near Jamestown and New Melones Reservoir.

Table Mountain is considered by some to be the world’s best example of an inverted stream, as approximately 9 million years ago a volcanic eruption originating near Sonora Pass rushed down a former river channel filling it with a volcanic mud and lava. As millions of years of erosion have taken place on the landscape since this eruption, the softer soils and rock of the surrounding landscape has eroded away revealing this ancient flow and its flat top, as it sinuously weaves in long segments for almost 50 miles leading from the mountains down to almost Knight’s Ferry where it finally tapers out.

Some people head to this area to climb Table Mountain’s steep cliffs, but I had come to hike with my dog companion Monster. Read on »

Recently I was surprised to learn that a friend of mine who I have always known to be an avid backcountry adventurer also happens to be an incredibly talented nature photographer. All of us here at CSERC are very excited to encounter his inspiring artistic interpretation of the natural landscape of this region- reminders of what CSERC works so hard to protect.

Read on »

Love it or hate it, rain and snow can control our life in the Sierra Nevada during the winter.

In the spirit of the season, here are some lightly educational and entertaining links to winter-related topics and activities for our readers to enjoy. Click on the titles of each section to visit sites that provide great info and images on each topic.
Read on »

As we approach the coldest and wettest time of year in the Sierra Nevada, I notice that the shorter daylight hours and sometimes less than sunny weather makes it harder for me to get off of the sofa and into the fresh air after a day at work or school. I still find time to get outside on my days off being passionate about skiing, but overall I am tempted to be much less active in the winter time.

Lately my dog Monster has been especially pitiful when I get home, and doesn’t seem to understand why I won’t take him running in the dark. Feeling guilty, I have begun to make an effort to be active in the cold, wet, darkness of our winter evenings, and have surprised myself with how much I love it! Taking Monster for walks through my neighborhood in the night, I find myself looking up at the sky above and marveling how bright and clear the stars are this time of year.

Read on »