Rivers, Year 2005 Journal Highland Lakes, Stanislaus National Forest, Alpine Co., CA Aug. 7 We hiked out of Ediza Lake this morning. I drove from Mammoth Lakes north to Olletts Pass and camped at Highland Lakes. I got there rather late and didn't get to explore much by day. I walked north from the campground along a stream and started looking for salamanders at about 8:15PM at 2650m. The stream ran over granite and dirt and had abundant wildflowers along it, including lupine, dencus, sunflowers, indian paintbrush and others. The lower part didn't look like great Hydromantes habitat, with the exception of a few places where the stream took a small drop creating wet crevices and splashes. The rocks alongside the stream were wet underneath and I wouldn't have been too surprised to see a salamander under one. I found a Pseudacris regilla in the stream and swatted the drink patch for Nance N. (38.491610N, 119.812580W [WGS84, 9m acc.], 2681m elev). I walked up the left branch of the stream and the habitat began to look quite good for Hydromantes as the slope became steeper and the stream was enclosed by granite walls with small gaps. At the top, the stream was in a granite-walled ravine capped by snow, forming a dripping cave that looked very good for salamanders at 2750m. I walked east and walked up the second branch of the stream to where it emerged from the ground at 2800m. It was not enclosed by granite walls and looked less like potential Hydromantes habitat, although some parts along it looked good. This area also had denser vegetation. I walked down the stream flipping rocks until I reached the point where the two branches met at 2650m elev. at 10:25PM. I think this site and the surrounding area merit further exploration.