Alpine Lake - 04 June, 1995

Susie the puppy and I took an afternoon stroll along Bullfrog Fire Road and a bit of Alpine Lake. It was a sunny day with lots of wind. We stopped along the lake, near where the turtles often show up, for lunch. Nothin' like a bit o' Bud and some KFC Hot Wings under a tree.

Unlike the last time we were here with Trudy and Elizabeth, the hills were becoming golden, covered with lots of Rattlesnake Grass. This time the most prominent flowers were Yellow Mariposa Lilies. The hills along the fire road were just covered with 'em. We had to walk quite far to find a trail that would cross the stream that feeds the lake. Once across, the fields were covered with lots of different kinds of Clarkia. I could only identify the large Godetia and the deep purple ones.

There were lots of Mt Tam photo ops, but we had no camera on this trip. And given that we started around noon, there weren't a lot of birds.

Here's what we saw:

Birds
Turkey Vulture, Scrub Jay, Rufous-sided Towhee.

Reptiles & Amphibians, etc.
Sagebrush Lizard.

Wildflowers
Yellow Mariposa Lily, White Brodiaea, Ookow, Blue-eyed Grass, Red Maids, California Buttercup, California Poppy, Dove Lupine, Checker Bloom, Godetia, Winecup Clarkia, Poison Hemlock, Scarlet Pimpernal, Owl's Clover, English Plantain, Coastal Tar Weed.

Return to [hikes95]

-- Michael Paul Thoma

I'd value your comments. Email me at mthoma@best.com

Last updated 30 Oct, 1995.