Fred Weyman Wilderness and Landscape Fine Art Photography
Convict Lake
A geologist told me that the mountains in the Convict Creek basin had the oldest and most wonderfully colored rocks in the Sierra. Layers of sediment were heated and twisted from below by magma intrusions forming metamorphic rock. Glacial action and erosion revealed unimaginable stripes and patterns. Only a small part of the beauty of this lesser used area is shown in this morning scene near the trailhead at Convict Lake (7,580 ft.) and Laurel Mountain (11,800 ft.) This is the only part of the remote Sierra that I've visited more than once.
Mildred Lake Sunrise
This twisted marble 'signature' of the Convict Creek Basin masterpiece is on a thin ridge separate from the main ridge connecting Mt Morrison to Mt Baldwin (center, 12,600 ft.). The final mile of the trail up Convict Canyon to Mildred Lake does an upwards traverse across the slope far below. Red Slate Mountain (13,100 ft.) catches the early sun behind Mildred Lake (9,800 ft.).
Lake Dorothy
On my first visit to the Convict Creek Basin a constant strong cold wind forced me to strap rocks to the tripod at this same location. On the return trip, calm conditions allowed Lake Dorothy (10,275 ft.) to reflect the sunrise on Red Slate Mountain (13,100 ft.). As it often does, late summer-blooming rabbit brush adds color to the foreground.
Mildred Lake
One of the most dramatic views encountered on Highway 395 just south of Mammoth is the menacing north face of Mt Morrison (12,277). Unseen from the road, the western side of this peak has a much different character; a surreal mix of colors and twisted marble patterns. Mildred Lake (9,800 ft.), about 6 miles from the 7,600 ft. trailhead at Convict Lake, is the first lake on the scenic Convict Canyon trail.
Lake Genevieve, Bloody Mountain
Bloody Mountain (12,552 ft.), Lake Genevieve (10,000 ft) and Lake Edith (left) are just a few of the many striking features in the Convict Creek Basin. Throughout the Sierra glacial action and erosion removed much of the overlying sedimentary and metamorphic rock leaving only light colored granitic rocks exposed. However, in the Convict Creek basin, and a few other places, there are still multi-colored remnants of the metamorphic rocks on the surface.
Lake Genevieve, Mt. Morrison
I scrambled up the small (about 500 ft. above lake level) colorful knoll between Lake Genevieve and Bloody Mountain (see the "Lake Genevieve, Bloody Mountain" photo) in the late afternoon in hopes of getting good a shadow-free, front-lit view of the colorful west side of Mt. Morrison. Several other elements made this scramble worth the effort including: contrasting warm and cold colors, the smooth curves of the lake contrasting with the angular rock patterns, and additional depth provided by some foreground snags. A distant view of the northern end of the White Mountains was another unexpected depth-adding element.
Cloverleaf Lake
The darker, north side of Bloody Mountain is easily seen and overlooked on Highway 395 just south of Mammoth. On the sunlit south side of the mountain is the Convict Creek basin that includes Cloverleaf Lake (10,400ft). Here the seam between the overlying, red, iron-rich metamorphic rocks and the underlying light granitic rocks is clearly visible.
Mildred Lake Sunset
John Muir said that of all the Sierra's features "... none more surely charm and surprise than the glacial lakes." From many different angles Lake Mildred is surely one of these charming surprises. Late summer-blooming rabbit brush (foreground) and early fall yellows on the aspen and willows added more color to this already colorful scene.
Mt. Morrison
If I had to choose a favorite unexpected detail in the Sierra, this huge twisted marble 'signature' on the west flank of Mt. Morrison would certainly make the short list. I waited until late afternoon and hiked up to my most visited viewpoint in the Sierra backcountry. I've hiked this 300 ft hill, located about a half mile east of the trail between Lake Dorothy and Lake Genevieve, at least five times to get good light for this and the "Lake Genevieve, Bloody Mountain" photo. The view of Mildred Lake, Lake Dorothy and much of the Convict Creek basin is magnificent.
