09/07/2026
Stan sent me a picture of this last year when on his first time to Twin Lakes. These are the new pics from 8/23 this year. When we got to the exact spot he took his pic last year, it was gone. There was a tree in his original pic that allowed us to match the exact spot he took the original pics and was standing. We went 80' further down the trail and found it had somehow moved. It is an underwater ground star. It had somehow moved 80 feet from it's original position, in tact and in the exact configuration. We were at a loss for an explanation for this. This years photos and last years for comparison.
This is why it is important to take photos of the same things when you return to a research area. Sometimes they are gone, added to are changed in some way. Sometimes it's Natural (weather), sometimes Forest Service removing them and sometimes our Forest Family. Always be aware and strict with your research protocol. Document everything. We experience a lot of things that do not seem to make any sense. Just document it and move on. It sometimes comes into focus at a later time, sometimes never. It's just the way it is in this field. Usually every question answered, spans 100 other questions. Nobody says it will be an easy journey but the adventure is worth every bit : ) Bill 👣
