Sagehen Meadow

The meadow is located along a dirt road off Highway 120 which goes along Mono Lake. It is a very popular fall foliage location, but more importantly it is a year-round destination for bikers, hikers, snowshoe hiking, campers and equestrian riders. There is a 20 mile loop which is used by bikers in the summer.

We heard about this fall color spot just as it peaked. There is a road to the summit but it requires a 4 wheel drive. Tom explored the road leading to the summit but we decided we had plenty to photograph in the meadow. While the hill was impressive, I felt the real opportunity was in getting some more practice in pano-photography!

Ah, this could be fun!! Road as we approached our destination.

Yep, I would say it is peaked!

Two image pano.

Two image pano.

Seven image pano.

Lenticular clouds are commonly seen in this part of the country.

Seven or eight image pano. That is Mono Lake on the right.

OK! OK! You have hung around long enough! Welcome to our world. Where do you come from?

Sabrina

Lake Sabrina is a lake created by damming the middle fork of Bishop Creek. It is a short drive from Bishop up into beautiful mountains. The dam was built in the early 1900s to supply a constant flow of water collected from snow melt to the hydraulic power plant downstream. It is a popular fishing and recreation spot with a dock and a very small cafe.

We photographed Lake Sabrina last spring. The water level was low, and there was a great deal of snow. The road had just been plowed and we did not stay long. We returned a few weeks later for the photographs of snow below. It was certainly clearing up! Then we returned again several times this fall. The water level is quite a bit higher and the whole scene is much more colorful!

Mules and pack trains are a thriving business in the area. Cars gladly share the road.

Upper Virginia Lake

This lake is part of a basin of lakes found in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range. It is accessed by turning off Highway 395 at Conway Summit about halfway between Bridgeport and Lee Vining. There are two lakes within the basin, the Little or Lower Virginia Lake and this one which is also referred to as the Big Virginia Lake. We photographed here several times last spring and then again this fall.

The lake is popular with anglers, hikers and campers. There is a trailhead near the lake that serves as one of several gateways into Yosemite National Park and other great hikes in the Sierra Nevada, including the Pacific Crest and John Muir Trails.

Located in the Virginia Lakes area are a resort,[2] pack station,[3] and small community. Virginia Lakes is popular with anglers, hikers, and campers. A trail beginning at Virginia Lakes serves as a gateway to the Sierra backcountry and Yosemite National Park.[4]

This is the Virginia Creek which flows through a number of lakes in the basin, including both Virginia Lakes, Turnbull, Red, Blue, Cooney, Moat and Frog Lakes.

We returned to Virginia Lake this fall when the view from the Highway suggested that fall color was developing.

Ah so!! This lake is so clear! Fall is here!

Fall color here is due more to shrubs on the mountainside than any groves of aspen. That was OK with us. It is still a beautiful lake.