
(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 |