PICTURES!

Okay...pictures from my 8 day backpacking trip as promised...almost a month later. This was by far one of my most memorable experiences. I admire field scientists so much for all the hard work and dedication that goes into each and every one of their trips. I am super grateful to have been a part of it.

I was lucky enough to tag along with the USGS Toad Crew. Our trip started in Sequoia National Park at Florence Lake. From there, we took a ferry to Kings Canyon National Park. The woman who drives the ferry was a complete hoot. As my friend Kelly put it, the odd combination of isolation and subjection to tourists made her a bit crazy. She honestly believes in aliens, yetis and 12 foot rattlesnakes. She is a complete control freak about her boat and tells stories (which she believes to be true) that would give JK Rowling a run for her money.

She did point out a mountain that is called "the chief." It looks like a profile of a chief head and his head dress.

ANOTHER RANGE THAT LOOKS LIKE A PROFILE

MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE

Throughout the day, I would hear an incessant pip, pip, pip and finally discovered the source of the call. It was really fun watching them fly, too, because they look like they're drunk.

There were yellow bellied marmots running around and this little fellow let me get close enough to take pictures.

TIGER LILY IN THE MORNING

SAME TIGER LILY LATER THAT DAY

I love that the other bud opened up by the end of the day. :)

I saw these growing all over the alpine terrain. I don't really know why, but I just really like them. They seemed like sea creatures that belong in a tide pool or something.

Of course, one of the perks of being in this landscape are the stunning lakes and swimming holes. For the most part, the water was fresh snow melt. That didn't stop us from jumping in and running right out.

SAY HI TO ALEXA KILLIAN

YELLOW LEGGED FROG TADPOLES

These tads are actually really big, the body is about the size of a quarter.

ADULT YELLOW LEGGED FROG

These frogs are endangered so it was a real treat to see them.

AND...we found what we came to find! The yosemite toad!

YOSEMITE ADULT TOAD

SAY HI TO KELLY SIVY

Below are some pictures of my favorite meadow of the trip and things growing in it.

One of our campsites was at Martha Lake at the base of Mt. Goddard. We were caught in some heavy thunder and lightning storms while camping there. It made me a little nervous (especially when I had to hold my tent up because the wind was squashing it), but it also made the experience that much more memorable.

To be honest, I don't think any of my pictures does justice to the beauty of the landscape, but here are some pictures at different times of the day. The colors were spectacular. I feel like they should make a box of crayons specifically based on colors found in the Sierra Nevada.