Grassy Hillside
Posted December 20th, 2009 in [hide]
Just above timberline, grasses take over the landscape. The pines give up their turf slowly, however; the tree line looks smoothly cut, like a razor, from the valley floor below. When you get closer, however, the line isn’t so definite - more like the edge of a lake. There are still a few trees dotting the hillside, although these are stunted, and spaced much further apart than in the forest below.
This photo was shot at an altitude of about 4,000 feet ( 1,300 meters ) above sea level. My trail climbs the south-facing side of Granite Mountain, collecting more sunlight in the winter. On the north side, the trees stop growing a bit further downhill.
The map below shows Talapus Lake to the west of Granite Mountain. Talapus can be reached from two trailheads - more easily from Exit 45 than from 47, but the trailhead this hike begins with will lead there.
