U.S. 395 - Day One (Friday)

[Mark Walker]

I'm blessed, I truly am.  After a month of putting family first (by decree),
my job requires that I spend a week in Richland, Washington to do some
consulting work.  A week in eastern Washington can mean only one thing -
Road Trip!

So at 4:00 a.m. on Friday, after no sleep on Thursday night, I headed north
from Oceanside in my trusty Geo Metro on my way to the Mojave desert and
beyond.  U.S. highway 395 will take me all the way to Washington, and will
pass through some outrageous countryside.  Naturally, I'm bringing my net
and will take advantage of what little lepping time I can squeeze in between
scenic driving.  By leaving early, I was able to pass through the desert in
the cool of the morning - and was in Owens Valley by 9:00 a.m.

This part of 395 is quite familiar, as this is the main SoCal route for any
eastern High Sierra backpacking and skiing.  While they are improving much
of it to divided highway, most of it is limited to two lanes - treacherous
for the impatient.  Imagine how much more dangerous it is for the
asleep-behind-the-wheel.  Sheesh.  It's only a miracle that I'm alive after
today.

Inyo County, CA

I planned (me? plan? now that's a joke) for breakfast in Independence, but
P.J.'s was packed - so I ate at the family Mexican diner further down the
road.  There were 20 people outside waiting to get in at P.J.'s.  In the
diner, I shared breakfast with about 6.  The chorizo burrito would have won
over pancakes anyway - even though the help was comatose (yah,
wah-dah-yah-wan?).

I stopped to check out the well known Nokomis Fritillary spot at Round
Valley, and was not disappointed.  The large and showy Fritt was active
before 10:00 a.m.(and numerous), along with a number of skippers.  The
female nokomis were particularly common - outnumbering the males by 3:1.  I
didn't have much time, but nevertheless was able to identify a handful of
other late summer bugs as well.  One skipper (and I've seen it here before)
has me confused, though.  It's Hesperia, for sure - but it has a very
unusual pattern on the ventral hindwing.  Definitely not comma.  I think
it's lindseyi - does anyone know if lindseyi is recorded from Round Valley?

As I drove on, for the first time in a long while, I enjoyed nothing but
blue sky.  The temperature soared quickly into the 90's F, and I still had a
long way to go.

Mono County, CA

As I drove past Mammoth Lakes and June Lake, my head seriously began to nod.
I imagined jerking awake to the sound of an oncoming 18-wheeler - or to the
thrill of a through-the-guard-rail downhill short cut.  Finally, in spite of
deadly stubbornness, I decided it was time to find a place to take a nap.
What better place than a 10,000 ft. mountain pass?  "Heck, it's only 15
miles up to Tioga from Lee Vining - I'll bet I can find a great napping spot
up there".  And I did.  After driving up the winding vertical narrow road
with toothpicks under my eyelids, I pulled over at one of the large meadows
before the Yosemite NP entrance.  Of course, after finally stopping I could
hardly call it a night - at least not before having a bit of a look around.

Not much flying up there - besides Mormon Fritillaries (Speyeria mormonia).
Lots of those, though.  There were a few Coppers, and a skipper or two.
That was about it.  In my daze I found a nice comfortable spot - and crashed
hard.  When I woke, it was late afternoon, and getting chilly.  

Driving while awake was a whole new experience.  North of Bridgeport I
stopped to check my favorite spot near the West Fork of Walker River (named
after one of the distinguished Walker's that I'm NOT related to, obviously).
There were a few interesting bugs on the wing - including a small Pontia
protodice (Checkered White) and the northern form of Lycaena arota (Tailed
Copper).  Not much in bloom here but the rabbitbrush - and there was little
taking interest in it.  I drove on and entered Nevada, where the scenery
starts to decline a bit, and continued past the state capital and on to
Reno.  I arrived in Reno by 7:00, exhausted and ready for bed.  That's cool,
I'm not much of a gambler anyway - except with my life, of course.

Inyo Co. sightings:

at Round Valley

Papilo rutulus (Tiger Swallowtail)
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White)
Colias eurytheme (Orange Sulphur)
Lycaena helloides (Purplish Copper)
Strymon melinus (Gray Hairstreak)
Hemiargus isola (Reakirt's Blue)
Plebejus acmon (Acmon Blue)
Speyeria nokomis (Nokomis Fritillary)
Danaus plexippus (Monarch)
Phyciodes campestris (pratensis?) (Field Crescentspot)
Phyciodes mylitta (Mylitta Crescentspot)
Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady)
Polites sabuleti (Sandhill Skipper)
Polites sonora (Sonora Skipper)
Hesperia lindseyi? (Lindsey's  Skipper)

Mono Co. sightings:

at Tioga Pass

Lycaena rubidus (Ruddy Copper)
Lycaena heteronea (Blue Copper)
Lycaena editha (Edith's Copper)
Satyrium saepium (Hedgerow Hairstreak)
Plebejus lupini (Lupine Blue)
Plebejus saepiolus (Greenish Blue)
Speyeria mormonia (Mormon Fritillary)
Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral)

At West Walker River

Pontia protodice (Checkered White)
Lycaena arota (Tailed Copper)
Ochlodes sylvanoides (Woodland Skipper)

Mark Walker
post dated from the exceptional Downtown Reno Holiday Inn and Casino




 
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