Attention Allergy/Asthma Sufferers: Extreme Pollen Levels in Eastern Sierra Nevada / Yosemite at 8500 Ft on up to 10,600' and Higher

2018-07-10 • SEND FEEDBACK |
Related: Eastern Sierra, health, particulate respirators and masks, peak bagging, Yosemite

I posted on pine pollen last week... the pollen is far worse this week (I am in the eastern Yosemite area). The pines at 10,000' on up are going gangbusters—whack a branch and a cloud of pollen puffs off it.

I shot a lot of images yesterday, but I had to wear a P100 (similar to N100) face mask all day long for my hike. The air is way better in downtown Los Angeles, at least if you are allergic. I can’t ventilate my van except minimally because it will suck in gobs of pollen and I start sneezing. Can’t roll down the windows, or I immediately start sneezing. So I run the A/C which filters out the pollen, and keep the windows closed.

I’m working on a bunch of stuff for publication (Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art on Nikon, Zeiss Milvus 15mm f/2.8 Distagon and others on Nikon, Sigma FE 70mm f/2.8 macro for Sony), but I need a day or two to prep and prepare the material I shot.zz

...

3M Particular Respirator 8233, N100

The pine pollen is severe in the Eastern Sierra up to 10,700' feet elevation (and it blows higher and lower, which blows).

Take an N100 / P100*face mask if you suffer from pine pollen allergies.

* P100 same as N100 except that it traps oil particles as well.

Heavy coating of pine pollen on windshield

f1.8 @ 1/1600 sec, ISO 20; 2018-07-10 16:04:44
iPhone 7 Plus + iPhone 7 Plus 4.0 mm f/1.8 @ 4mm

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Pine Pollen blown to one side of Saddlebag lake

f8 @ 1/200 sec handheld, ISO 64; 2018-07-09 10:22:21
NIKON D850 + Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

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Pine Pollen in swirls, blown to one side of icing-out lake

f9 @ 1/250 sec, ISO 64; 2018-07-09 14:19:43
NIKON D850 + Zeiss Milvus 15mm f/2.8

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Murky cloud of pine pollen blown to one side of lake

f8 @ 1/160 sec handheld, ISO 64; 2018-07-09 16:33:02
NIKON D850 + Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art

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Mt Conness eastern drainage looking to Greenstone Lake and Saddlebag Lake

f1.8 @ 1/5300 sec handheld panorama, ISO 20; 2018-07-09 16:25:55
iPhone 7 Plus + iPhone 7 Plus 4.0 mm f/1.8 @ 4mm

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2018 snow is greater than I had expected , with much melting and running water even July 10

f2.8 @ 1/1000 sec handheld panorama, ISO 20; 2018-07-09 23:20:09
iPhone 7 Plus + iPhone 7 Plus 6.6 mm f/2.8 @ 6.6mm

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Time for a lunch break at a high alpine lake

f1.8 @ 1/7400 sec, ISO 25; 2018-07-09 13:17:26
iPhone 7 Plus + iPhone 7 Plus 4.0 mm f/1.8 @ 4mm

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One of many approach routes to Mt Conness summit ridge

f1.8 @ 1/6400 sec panorama, ISO 20; 2018-07-09 16:16:39
iPhone 7 Plus + iPhone 7 Plus 4.0 mm f/1.8 @ 4mm

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Glaciated area in Mt Conness basin, looking north

f1.8 @ 1/4400 sec panorama, ISO 20; 2018-07-09 16:23:24
iPhone 7 Plus + iPhone 7 Plus 4.0 mm f/1.8 @ 4mm

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Mt Conness basin (east), one possible summit ridge approach at left

f1.8 @ 1/6000 sec panorama, ISO 20; 2018-07-09 16:18:33
iPhone 7 Plus + iPhone 7 Plus 4.0 mm f/1.8 @ 4mm

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Lloyd by high alpine lake, temporarily without face mask (features mangled by iPhone panorama stitching)

f1.8 @ 1/5700 sec handheld panorama, ISO 20; 2018-07-09 12:42:59
iPhone 7 Plus + iPhone 7 Plus 4.0 mm f/1.8 @ 4mm

[low-res image for bot]