Big Falls

Big falls hike. About 3 miles and 1100 feet gain according to my GPS and altimeter.

Fearless leader in the wash leading to Big Falls

    This is the first view of the falls. They are still far away beyond the snow fields. If there was
    continuous snow cover, the path would be more direct.

    The first snow field we crossed. It was very firm but still had a couple of holes to go around.

    More of the same

    The last stretch has a lot of blown down limbs. Mostly White Fir. The only Fir on Mt Charleston.

    Last snowfield and the falls.

           Going past the falls to get to lunch rock

    A fossilized Coral on lunch rock

                    Mary Jane falls from Big Falls

    Clear mountain water.

    Going back down. The last view of the falls

                  Close up of the Falls

    Blue butterfly, but probably not one of the endangered ones. There are other types of blue 
     butterflys on the mountain besides the famous one.

    Close up of White Fir Needles. Single upswept needles.

    Close up of Limber Pine needles. Cluster of 5 Needles about 2 inches long. Bristle cone has 5
    needles too but shorter.

    Ponderosa pine. Cluster of three Needles, 5-10 inches long.

    Wax Currant

    White Fir Bark.

    Ponderosa pine bark

    Common flower on Mt Charles this time of year. Nuttall's Linanthus