(2560 x 1920) Our first view of the mountains, coming into Rocky Mountain National Park on our way to Nevada	(2560 x 1920) The very common scene of the Olds Achieva cooling off after a strenuous climb	(2560 x 1920) Danielle hikes across the edge of a frozen lake in RMNP	(2560 x 1920) Sitting on a ridge in a small valley, with a ring of mountains all around us
(2560 x 1920) The main road into and through the Park was still closed, but we still got high enough to get alot of snow	(2560 x 1920) Following the highway south along the eastern side of the Rockies	(2560 x 1920) Danielle cooking on the campfire in western Colorado after we'd crossed the Rockies	(2560 x 1920) We took a detour to Colorado National Monument and were very happy we did
(2560 x 1920) Another view of the massive valley at Colorado NM	(2560 x 1920) Last view of the eroded pinnacles as we left to hit the road again	(2560 x 1920) Surprisingly, I caught this guy with my bare hands, then kept him for a photo as he tried squirming out of the bander's grip	(2560 x 1920) Evening as we entered Arches National Park
(2560 x 1920) The castle rocks in Arches, before we left on our "backcountry trip"	(2560 x 1920) The world's most famous arch, in a rare view without a group of tourists all around	(2560 x 1920) The omnipresent La Sal mountains southeast of Arches	(2560 x 1920) Danielle and I found some shade under a juniper to spend the afternoon
(2560 x 1920) The contrast of red rock, blue sky and white flowers...	(2560 x 1920) This was one of the most photogenic places I've ever seen!	(2560 x 1920) Danielle walking amongst the hoodoo	(2560 x 1920) Balanced Rock, under which Edward Abbey had his ranger's cabin in the 50's
(2560 x 1920) One of my favourites pics: Paintbrush flowers against the red rock	(2560 x 1920) Finally at work just north of Las Vegas as Desert National Wildlife Range.	(2560 x 1920) A view from Desert NWR across to the Spring Mountains	(2560 x 1920) Sunset over our camp at Desert
(2560 x 1920) The Sheep Range, seen from the Corn Creek Field Station which was our very ritzy bunkhouse on two occasions	(2560 x 1920) Danielle spotted these Desert Bighorn Sheep as we were driving up to do a Pinyon-Juniper transect	(2560 x 1920) Camping out near our transect in the southern end of Nevada	(2560 x 1920) I was just getting into "bed" when I looked up and saw this silhouetted Cholla cactus right above my head
(2560 x 1920) Our campsite near Laughlin in southern Nevada	(2560 x 1920) The extreme southern region was an interesting desert, with lots of exposed rocks and various cactuses	(2560 x 1920) Cholla and Yucca; you really have to watch where you step here, especially if you are wearing sandals!	(2560 x 1920) The rugged landscape and diversity of plant life made this area really exciting to camp and work in
(2560 x 1920) Danielle preparing some supper in our portable "kitchen"	(2560 x 1920) One of the few times I took my guitar out all summer.  It had to be detuned every time and buried under half our possessions so it was always a hassle.	(2560 x 1920) The "Trail Canyon" trail in the Spring Mountains outside of Las Vegas	(2560 x 1920) After a couple weeks in the lowland desert, we were very happy to get up in the cool elevation
(2560 x 1920) A particularly large Joshua Tree in Desert NWR.  At one point there was nothing but Joshua Tree as far as we could see	(2560 x 1920) A Pinyon-Juniper transect in Desert NWR	(2560 x 1920) We had several transects in Mormon Mesa, one of our study sites from last year's job.	(2560 x 1920) Although it was nice to be in familiar area (and see Virgin Peak at sunset for once) we were not enthusiastic about being back in the Tamarisk jungle!
(2560 x 1920) Danielle towering over the top of the Mesa during "the orange phase"	(2560 x 1920) Driving around the edge of Lake Mead	(2560 x 1920) Prickly Poppies were all over this transect, a "Pinyon-Juniper" transect that had been burnt	(2560 x 1920) Danielle and I were doing veg work on this transect, trying to finish up before it got too hot out
(2560 x 1920) Getting ready to veg a Sagebrush transect... boring bird surveys, but easy veg!	(2560 x 1920) Our first Coniferous transect, above the eastern side of Lake Tahoe.  This transect was along the Tahoe Rim Trail and was one of our most memorable	(2560 x 1920) We stopped at a small beach along the Lake to make lunch, but were approached by an attendant asking for a $5 entrance fee.  We promptly left!	(2560 x 1920) Driving from Lake Tahoe, south to our next back of transects along the Eastern Sierra
(2560 x 1920) Our first Aspen transect was a real treat.  We hadn't realized how much we missed broadleaf trees	(2560 x 1920) The transect started at about 8200 feet and took us up nearly 1000 feet along a mountain creek and through pockets of Aspen and meadow	(2560 x 1920) Danielle starts some paperwork for the veg	(2560 x 1920) A cold front came in as we worked.  By the end we were shivering and the wind was now carrying snow!
(2560 x 1920) The view into the heart of the Sierras	(2560 x 1920) Looking across to these peaks I felt like I was looking down on the top of the world	(2560 x 1920) Sagebrush and Aspen, with the Matterhorn Peak in the background	(2560 x 1920) An open spot on the way back down to the truck
(2560 x 1920) After getting to our site we had the pleasant task of scoping out the area to make sure out transect was where it was supposed to be	(2560 x 1920) This montane riparian transect was beautiful from start to finish!	(2560 x 1920) We set up the tent for a change to take refuge from the cold winds that evening.	(2560 x 1920) That evening and through the night it snowed on us, and we woke up to about a -5 degree morning!
(2560 x 1920) The snow on the hills was spectacular the next day	(2560 x 1920) A small marshy area (beaver pond) along the transect	(2560 x 1920) Pockets of Aspen like this one could be found along the length of the creek	(2560 x 1920) Danielle gets ready to do veg under the shadow of the eastern Sierra peaks near Bridgeport, CA
(2560 x 1920) On our way to go camping along highway 395 in California	(2560 x 1920) This clear stream near our camping spot was begging for us to grab inner tubes and jump in	(2560 x 1920) Our bedroom, in a different spot every night!	(2560 x 1920) A montane lake on the climb up to the Tioga Pass into Yosemite Park
(2560 x 1920) The famous domes of Yosemite as we enter from the north east side	(2560 x 1920) Danielle stands in the hollowed-out (and now dead) Sequoia that once had a road going through it	(2560 x 1920) Yosemite Valley.  Beautiful but packed with more people than I have ever seen in one place in my entire life.	(2560 x 1920) Along one of the trails in Calveras Big Trees state park in California
(2560 x 1920) I am standing inside the partly decomposed trunk of a fallen Sequoia, taking this picture of Danielle sitting on the other half	(2560 x 1920) An underexposure made this rose flower glow	(2560 x 1920) Mosquito Lake on the way back over the Sierras near Ebbet's Pass	(2560 x 1920) Looking East from Ebbet's Pass
(2560 x 1920) A montane meadow near the town of Markleeville, CA	(2560 x 1920) The beginning of our Wilson Canyon transect in western Nevada	(2560 x 1920) The sunset at Wilson Canyon	(2560 x 1920)D Despite being right next to a road, the Wilson Canyon transect had really nice scenery
(2560 x 1920) Another shot of Wilson Canyon	(2560 x 1920) Walker Lake, a dying saline lake fed by the eastern Sierras	(2560 x 1920) Mono Lake, another saline lake along the border of California and Nevada	(2560 x 1920) Taking a rest along an empty highway near the Anchorite Pass
(2560 x 1920) A deserted building in the ghost town of Grantsville, where we had two transects	(2560 x 1920) An alkali flat in Railroad Valley	(2560 x 1920) A view across the flat and toward the mountains on the Eastern horizon	(2560 x 1920) Despite being in a dry flat, flooding and game management was allowing the wetland sites we were supposed to survey
(2560 x 1920) Just after sunrise on my transect	(2560 x 1920) This lake bed had mostly dried up on top, leaving a muddy trap just below the surface	(2560 x 1920) An aspen transect near the Success Summit outside of Ely	(2560 x 1920) Sunset in the Schell Creek range near Ely
(2560 x 1920) This "salt desert" transect was definitely my most boring; nothing but Horned Larks!	(2560 x 1920) The Kalamazoo Pass in the Schell Creek Range	(2560 x 1920) Looking south from the Kalamazoo Pass before heading back into Spring Valley and north to our next transects	(2560 x 1920) After hearing so much about it, we finally got into the Ruby Mountains near the end of the season for a couple transects and a few days off
(2560 x 1920) Beginning along the Ruby Crest Trail, which runs over 40 miles along the backbone of the Rubies...	(2560 x 1920) Looking back at Lamoile Canyon as we climb	(2560 x 1920) The relative lack of trees along this trail led to a profusion of wildflowers	(2560 x 1920) These were growing at exactly 10,000 feet and was the first time all summer we'd hiked that high
(2560 x 1920) My only footwear all summer long were my Chacos, seen here once again boldly going where sandals fear to tread	(2560 x 1920) Danielle crossing a snow patch, getting closer to the Liberty Pass	(2560 x 1920) Stopping to eat lunch at Liberty Pass at 10,450 feet elevation	(2560 x 1920) Having passed the Pass, we descended slightly to overlook Liberty Lake
(2560 x 1920) The view of this lake was incredible and I couldn't stop taking pictures!	(2560 x 1920) Liberty Lake, at just over 10,000 feet is the highest point I've ever been swimming (the water looked way too clear and inviting!)	(2560 x 1920) Another view of the lake as we head back up and over the Liberty Pass again	(2560 x 1920) Hiking back down...
(2560 x 1920) A marshy lake at the foot of the mountains	(2560 x 1920) The next morning we hiked the Island Lake trail, which switchbacked up the west side of the mountain	(2560 x 1920) The bright sun on the slope was perfect for wildflowers, more than I have ever seen in my life!  This picture doesn't even remotely do it justice!	(2560 x 1920) Heading back from doing veg in the evening and this guy was crossing the road.  It was the only rattler I saw all season, and it happily posed for my telephoto lens
(2560 x 1920) Having worked alone all summer, Danielle and I were happy to get back with the rest of the crew during the last week	(2560 x 1920) Tom, Danielle and I passed through Bridgeport, CA one afternoon and get caught in the first rainstorm we'd seen all summer.  This guy wasn't too impressed!	(2560 x 1920) The whole crew relaxing as the sun sets on Wilson Canyon.  From left to right: Tom, Danielle, Mike and Gustavo	(2560 x 1920) Mesa Fall, Idaho on our way back to Ontario
(2560 x 1920) We stopped at Yellowstone for a week to visit our friend and former boss, Karen, and were fortune to help out on the wolf and bear projects, too	(2560 x 1920) Danielle and Karen working on supper at a park cabin on our backcountry trip for Bear Management	(2560 x 1920) We hiked up along a ridge to survey for Army Cutworm Moths (a bear food source).  It was a long day and we didn't find anything, but the hike and view were awesome!	(2560 x 1920) Right before turned around and started hiking back.  We were getting quite tired at this point and the wind was almost blowing us off our feet