The mountains are a special place when the beauty of the sagebrush plains has somewhat faded and the warm summer days begin to move in. Retreating to the higher elevations of the mountains is a wonderful way to relive the recent memories of spring in the foothills. Some species of plants are similar to those of the foothills, like Purshia tridentata, however they are shorter in stature and just beginning to bloom in the end of June. The twisted and contorted forms of the Sierra Lodgepole PIne (Pinus contorta var. murrayana) stand like sentinels on the mountain top weathering the harsh winds and storms of all the High Country’s seasons. The harsh conditions and short growing season makes the pondering soul wander how the plants and animals of these habitats and environments endure the rigors of the year.

This past weekend I was able to hike one of the higher peaks on the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada Mtns: Mt. Rose. The snow at the top has just recently come off within the past few weeks and allowed many excited and outdoorsy folks to hike the beautiful 9.8 mile trail and summit Mt. Rose. Mt. Rose is around 10, 600′ tall and the last several hundred feet is alpine environment; one of my absolute favorites when considering plants! At the beginning of the trail and most of the way to the top of the mountain, you are hiking through Sierra Lodgepole PIne forest type. This is a beautiful tree and its forest provides habitat for many interesting and wonderful species of plants. There are many wildflowers that call the higher elevations of the mountains home and each one has a special beauty unique to itself. One attractive specimen was Ipomopsis aggregata and it has long, red tubular flowers that are quite showy. Another wonderful and densely hairy species growing in the forest was Packera cana. Ribes montigenum was also blooming and is a very nice gooseberry species of the higher mountains. Carex sp. were everywhere, especially in the Mt. Rose meadows area where Carex scopulorum var. bracteosa was growing. This is a truly beautiful sedge species and to be able to find it in such a floriferous meadow in the High Sierra was a rewarding experience for sure.

Once into the alpine habitat near Mt. Rose summit the eyes were pleasantly rewarded with small gifts of wonderful species of alpine plants growing in the crags of the rocks. So many different ones are able to call this harsh environment home and cope with the difficult weather in interesting ways. A majority of the plants have very hairy or pubescent leaves, helping to decrease transpiration and build up a thick humidity layer around the leaf surface. Other plants have strongly reduced leave surface area or their leaves are shiny and very thick. Several different plant species seen while traipsing in the alpine included: Ipomopsis congesta, Hulsea algida, Polemonium pulcherrimum, Eriogonum rosense (Mt. Rose Buckwheat!!), Penstemon davidsonii, Streptanthus cordatus, Phlox condensata, Draba densifolia and Ranunculus eschscholtzii. 

These plants seemed to shout for joy as they raised their flowers towards the heavens in hues of color that could only cause one to stop and consider their intricacies in solemn amazement! They seem to live a life remote from most all people; even those who climb the mountain will easily overlook them unless they are aware of the tiny gifts that are beneath their wandering eyes. I am thankful to have seen these plants who dwell in the high country  and ponder the special place they have in the environment. Two friends I was able to see after leaving the summit were very interesting indeed: Draba asterophora and Salix petrophila!!

Carex scopulorum var. bracteosa

Ribes montigenum

Penstemon davidsonii

Streptanthus cordatus

Polemonium pulcherrimum

Draba asterophora – Lake Tahoe Draba!

“It is for all of us to remember that the earth does not belong to us. We belong to it. At best, we are entrusted with a few brief years of life to relish the splendours about us. We are but an infinitesimal fragment of a staggering universe. It behooves us to cherish well those natural liberties entrusted to our care. The humble knowledge that we have no claim upon them other than the honor of passing them on in at least as fine a form as we found them should lend honesty dignity to our efforts on their behalf.” – W. Phillip Keller

Farewell my friends,

Ethan

BLM CCDO