Family Reunion Duck Creek 2012 - Part III Hiking

 Hiking to Mirror Lake on a lovely July day

The crusty green, gray and orange coatings on these rocks are lichens. Lichens are actually composed of two tiny organisms from the fungi and algae groups.

One of the jillions of fallen trees.

Mirror Lake at last.

I wonder why its called "Mirror" Lake.

A beaver's work.

 Cedar Breaks on Friday

 We ran into Mark, Des and family at a lookout.

 Wildflower Festival indeed!

 The oldest bristlecone pine at Cedar Breaks is at least 1650 years old.

It was over 1100 years old when Columbus sailed.

In the Great Basin and the Rocky Mountains

these magnificent trees are only found at high elevations.

 Nature, a patient artist, has taken millions of years

to sculpt and paint the scenery at Cedar Breaks.

The freezing and thawing of water breaks up the rock,

pounding rain and wind blown grit sand off the sharp edges,

and water and wind carry away bits of rock.

Calcite, the mineral that makes up limestone, is colorless.

Color in the rocks comes from minerals that are present in small amounts.

Iron oxide, the chemical forming rust, contributes most of the colors here.

Various forms of iron oxide create reds, yellows and oranges.

Purple tints are caused by manganese oxide.

 Amy says there's always bugs on Columbine.  Check it out.

 Dew is charming.

 Surrounded by meadows and forests,

Alpine Pond is an active area.

Because it is a source of water,

and has lush vegetation,

the pond is a focal point of activity for wildlife.

Water enters Alpine Pond from a spring.

 The weather abruptly changed

as it is prone to do on Cedar Mountain

as we left Alpine Pond.

THUNDER, LIGHTNING AND SUDDENLY WE ARE DRENCHED.

What a wonderful day!