Here's more of the beautiful tree on Mt. Watkins. Can anyone identify the species? I thought it was a Jeffrey Pine, since it's similar to the tree in Ansel Adams' iconic shot from Sentinal Dome (that tree has since died and fallen), but it's not, as the Watkins tree has 5 needles per bunch, and Jeffreys have 3. I'm guessing that we'll lose the Watkins tree someday as well - it has a giant cavity inside, and you can see how far it's leaning.

Sunrise, Sept. 2008:


And sunset from July 2011:





(lens cap is 67mm = 2.6"; so needles are ~1.5" inches, cone is about 2.5 inches


here's the tree as seen from Washburn Point:


here's Ansel's photo of the Jeffrey Pine at Sentinal Dome, shot in 1940:
Ansel's Jeffrey



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2011 01:23PM by vdrummer.

Nice pics. I especially like that sunrise one.
White Bark Pine I think.





(not my pics)

western white pine, common at that altitude, especially on windy ridgelines

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/img_query?where-taxon=Pinus+monticola&where-anno=1

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vdrummer
and you can see how far it's leaning

I didn't think it was leaning...but maybe that's just me!

or Eileen is your photographer?

Was kinda bummed that my perch was no more this spring:

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chick-on
Was kinda bummed that my perch was no more this spring:

Is that the USGS high point marker on the pancake-shaped rock in the foreground (tiny bit left of center), underneath that tree...? Geez. But that happens to me all the time when I'm looking for stuff, even at home. It can be directly in front of me, and I won't notice it until later.

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Ohnivy-Drak
Is that the USGS high point marker on the pancake-shaped rock in the foreground (tiny bit left of center), underneath that tree...? Geez. But that happens to me all the time when I'm looking for stuff, even at home. It can be directly in front of me, and I won't notice it until later.

Nope

Bearproof found it. Had been up there a couple of times... looking all around... and then dat turkey shows the Benchmark...
I wuz like "wutt da! how da heck I miss dat?!?!" (answer: wasn't expecting it THERE!)

Here's a picture:


There is nothing at the top of Watkins. (which is uphill da udder way from this tree)

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A link to that:
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,33885,33905#msg-33905

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2011 05:13PM by chick-on.

Lost Markers

Held for ransom.

Gumby!

(from what I know.. there was never one at 8500 on Watkins... but SUPPOSEDLY
there is one on Basket... but I swear I looked on so many of the rocks up there...
and didn't find one!) (I've had to go back to multiple locations due to this before though!!!!)

Basket Dome marker is stamped "7602"
(so obviously THAT one is a fake)

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chick-on
Gumby!

(from what I know.. there was never one at 8500 on Watkins... but SUPPOSEDLY
there is one on Basket... but I swear I looked on so many of the rocks up there...
and didn't find one!) (I've had to go back to multiple locations due to this before though!!!!)

Basket Dome marker is stamped "7602"
(so obviously THAT one is a fake)

Fedak took a photo of the Basket benchmark during his North Rim hike. Maybe he stole it?
http://www.fedak.net/photos/YosemiteNorthRim/IMG_4052-standard.html

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chick-on

Gumby!

(from what I know.. there was never one at 8500 on Watkins... but SUPPOSEDLY
there is one on Basket... but I swear I looked on so many of the rocks up there...
and didn't find one!) (I've had to go back to multiple locations due to this before though!!!!)

Basket Dome marker is stamped "7602"
(so obviously THAT one is a fake)

Yup. Here's the real one. It's been there since 1906:

Dangitall!

O well... in my defense... there was snow up der when I was up there...
Too many times (since I don't usually bring USGS maps (or any map) with me) I look
after I get home and go "argh!!!!!!!"!)
Been meaning to get back up to Bald Mtn. just to see the tupid BM.

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Dang! someplace else to add to the already too long list!