Clark's Nutcracker, Saddlebag Lake, CA

Went for a walk today with avilover and her father around Saddlebag Lake, just east of Tioga Pass on the road to Yosemite. The walk was cut short when a midday thunderstorm rolled in and proceeded to pelt us with giant drops of freezing cold rain. The original plan was for a leisurely stroll past the lake and beyond, spending the afternoon observing the birds, wildflowers and butterflies of the Sierra Nevada. Instead the excursion turned into a race back to the car as the occasional lightning bolt lit up the peaks and ridges around us, a simultaneously exciting and sobering reminder of the dangers of the high country.

Before all the drama started we did come across our fair share of peaceful nature experiences though, including this fledgling Clark's Nutcracker being fed by its parents in what is either a Limber or a Whitebark Pine.