Mono Basin Journal
A roundup of less political events at Mono Lake
by Geoffrey McQuilkin
Mono's fish-free expanse
doesn't satisfy many pelicans, but they pass by
nonetheless. On rambling journeys to Walker and other
Great Basin lakes, they flap high overhead in rough
formation. One April day, however, two hundred spiraled
over Mono's north shore, flashing great black and white
wings, then banking into near invisibleness.
If you've been to South Tufa a million times, or less, it's time for another visit. The rising lake moves relentlessly through the grove, forcing trail rerouting, creating fresh shoreline landscapes. It's a challenge to identify which of the tufa towers now reflecting in the lake once shaded the trail on the long walk to the shore.
A clear sign that winter has been shouldered out by spring came near midnight one night as thunder and lightning played around Lee Vining. After a winter of plentiful snow, my first thought on hearing the crash outside was that another cascade of snow and ice had slid off the roof. A moment later came the realization that it couldn't be so; I stepped outside into the cool spring rainshower to watch the lightning flash. It hit the ground at the far side of the creek, briefly illuminating the water now rushing on through the dark.
Return to Spring-Summer 1998 Newsletter
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