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| Note the huge exposed roots snaking along the ground. |
| Two rather amazing bulbs grow on the seemingly barren granitic slopes in what appears to be pure sand and small gravels -- a fritilary (Fritillaria pinetorum, on right) and an onion (Allium burlewii, Burlew's onion), which Matt said tasted great. |
| We explore the West-facing ridge on May 21, 2005 |
| Yup, Matt confirms they 're all Jeffrey pines (which smell like vanilla). |
| Almost on top of the ridge we find the biggest, most awesome tree around. |
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| It would seem that there were a lot of these big trees quite awhile back. This stump was cut flat and straight-though with a handsaw, and note the spot for a springboard hacked into the side with an axe. Springboards are an old techniqe that got loggers up and away from the fat base of the tree. |
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| Near the top, there were dramatic views--we could actually see distant Mt. Whitney. There were lichen-covered granite outcrops and lots of flowers, as well as bleached skeletons of old oaks and pines. We also found one lone sugar pine, better known far north. |
| This chunky sunflower (Balsamorhiza deltoidea) smellled powerfully like some exotic incense. |
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