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Monday, August 6, 2012

Deer Bonanza

Mule Deer along the Sunspot Trail (T105B)
We hiked part of the Sunspot Trail (T105B) this morning, then hiked the Rim Trail (T105) down to the Cathey Vista Trail (T105A).  Along the way we saw many Mule Deer, including a herd of about fifteen individuals.  One of the latter was a little fawn that scrambled away so fast I was unable to photograph it.  I'm not certain about the flower I've labeled "Western Wallflower" here, but these handsome blooms are to be found in the highest alpine settings here in the Sacramento Mountains.
Mule Deer right off the Sunspot Trail

Unperturbed by our presence

Perry's Thistle

'56 Buick bumper?

TImber!

Becca sees deer

Heart-to-heart-to-heart

Western Wallflower (Erysimum wheeleri?)


Somebody loves nectar

Nectar lover


A young buck along T105

Romeo's Juliet?

Peekaboo

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I loved the pics of the buck and "Juliet"...they both really look the part. The buck with his masculine stance, and the doe looking so demure and feminine. The asssortments of colors were WOW-level,especially the orange wildflower followed by the purple. Do you ever make calendars of your photos? You should!

Dr. K said...

I loved all the wildflowers on this trail.

packrat said...

Thanks, Ruby. No, I've never made calendars of my photos, but it's an interesting idea.

Scott said...

Perry's Thistle is something else! The Sacramentos aren't high enough to have alpine habitat above treeline, are they?

packrat said...

Actually, Scott, they are in one area: Sierra Blanca Peak (12,003 ft.) Here's a tidbit of info about it:

"Sierra Blanca Peak is the southernmost high peak above 12,000ft. in the United States and North America. The peak can be seen for many miles, particularly within the Tularosa Basin, and is visible from as far away as Sandia Crest near Albuquerque and is the highest point in southern New Mexico, and is one of the southernmost points at which alpine ecosystems occur in the United States. Rising 8000 feet (2400 m) above the adjacent Tularosa Basin, it has the highest prominence in the state according to Peaklist."

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