Fall Drive 2012 - 1

I headed north to do a little hiking in the Sierras.  The plan is to hit several trail heads and see some new country.
I started with a drive up the road west out of Bishop, Ca. up towards South Lake.  The aspen trees are changing colors and I could have spent the whole day taking pictures.  So here are a few.

With a  waterfall / rocks & fall colors, how can you go wrong!

I hope you enjoyed those, but some time you need to see them for yourself.  I found a great camp forest service camp up the same canyon and decided to spend the night.  It put me closer to the next days hike up the trail toward Bishop Pass.  More next time.

problem with blog

I am not able to post anything right now.  It might be a month before I get it fixed......

Sierra Hiking Trip - Part 3

Our route took us over Bond Pass elev. 9,730` and into Grizzly Meadow elev. 9,370`.  When we stopped for lunch, overlooking the meadow, our packers caught up with us.  The next picture is of the packers resting before descending across the meadow and on to Brown Bear Pass elev. 9,750` on the other side of the meadow.

Looking back at Grizzly Meadow, you can see our trail (barely) at the center of this picture. 

Near the top of Brown Bear Pass was interesting with different types of geology on both sides (yes that is my thumb  on the left).

Most of the trail was in good shape but we found several sections that were very rocky and difficult to walk on - see below.

Most times we knew or could find where the packers had established camp (since they were usually several hours ahead of our arrival).  But on this last night`s camp the place they had to use was off the trail.  We found this note in the middle of the trail with a piece of colored tape.  It was a good thing since it had been a long day (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) on the trail. 

And a close up of the note - it was a welcome sign!

Our camp fire was located on top of a large granite boulder and had a great view.  For the first time on our trip the clouds started to form and we thought it meant RAIN!

This picture above was as we hiked down a long canyon on our last day with the clouds but beautiful views of the country.

This is a typical section of the trail (but not always going up) and the clouds breaking with some sun.
We were decending from about 8,400` to 6,320` at the end.  As we dropped down the trees changed from pines & junipers to this stand of Aspen trees.

Again as we were stopped for lunch the packers passed us on their way to Kennedy Meadows pack station. 

We had a great view of the stock from our lunch ledge as you see below.

L -R: Mary, Bill & Maryland.  The next picture is of the mound of our gear (and the packer`s) that the mules carried for us, piled on the loading dock at the Kennedy Pack Station.  Thank you to the mules!!!!!!!

This last shot is the loading of the stock on a transport truck.  Too much fun until of next hike!!!!!!!

Sierra Hiking Trip - Part 2

We are headed toward Tilden Lake elev. 8,900` and slightly off the main trail.  It is about 2-3 miles long and the site of our second layover day ( it is now day 8).
This next is a shot of Tilden Lake taken from the inlet end looking south down the lenght.

As usual I went for a hike up the lake and found this 12-15` high waterfall on the stream that feeds the lake.

There were still some flowers out but most had already finished.

A few high clouds to make a better picture, just the way we like them - NO RAIN!

Up close and personal with one of the mules - I think he thought I might have some FOOD.  Below is part of the "herd" grazing. 

Another morning shot of the Tilden Lake (with the moon still up) as we prepare to leave.

Sierra Hiking Trip 8-2012 Part 1

Our annual hiking trip in the Sierras occured between 8/26 & 9/5/12.  The hike started in Yosemite National Park at Toulumne Meadows area which is in the northern part of the park.  Our route took us north on the Pacific Crest Trail and ended at Kennedy Meadows on Hyw.108, west of Sonora Pass.

There were only four of us hiking this year plus or cook & wrangler.  We covered about 80 miles of the trail and the weather was perfect. 

I know, enough with the details, let`s see some pictures!!!

This is Smedberg Lake elevation 9,219` and our first layover day (a rest day where we camped for two nights).  This was day 3 of our hike and a great place to enjoy.  I took the day off to hike to Rodgers Lake which is off the main trail.  See it below, complete with islands in the middle, elev.9,507`.

During the day (also most evenings) some of the stock would be turned out to graze, as in this shot.  Here they had a marshy area and lots of grass.

Next is an evening shot across Smedberg Lake with the moon reflecting on the water and a rock in the foreground.

Above is our camp (in the trees to the left by that large rock), this shot was taken in the morning before the breeze came up.  The reflection pictures came out better that looking into the bright sky with the light reflecting on the granite mountains.

This is our group: L-R - Our cook, Adell; Maryland; her husband Bill; Mary & our wrangler, Tyler.  We even had sections of trees to use as tables.
The next pictures are of the kitchen area.  First the cook`s tables and then the storage boxes (bear boxes).

To be continued.........

Canada Trip - 7-18

It was a full days drive to reach Crater Lake (my route was Hwy. 58 east from Eugene to Hwy. 97 south and then into the park on Hwy. 138).  It might seem like the long way around but it these were roads that I had not traveled.  Got to the park about 7:00 PM and secured a camping space.  No reception of either cell phone of 3G device for computer access. 
In the morning I headed up to make the drive around the "rim" road.  The day started out to be nice but a storm was visible coming from the southwest.  With the "rim" drive being above 7,000` elevation I could see cloudy weather a long ways off in the distance.
How about some pictures of this large collapsed volcano and the water that filled it in?  Below is Wizard Island which is a secondary volcanic eruption in the middle of Crater Lake.

This is one of the widest views available of most of the lake.  Wizard Island is in the distance just to the right of center.

There was still some snow but off to the sides of the road.  The next shot is a different look at Wizard Island with a little more sun.  The rain clouds had by now passed to the south and were gone.

Next is a view of the island from a point about 400` above the rim drive road.  It was a hike up to a fire lookout tower that had a commanding panaroma of the lake.

Just to give you some prospective of the size of the island, that white streak at the lower left is one of the lake tour boats.  I think it holds about 20-25 people and gives tours around the lake and even lets people get off and hike on the island.  Unfortunatly it was booked up for the next several weeks. 

This gives you a look at the fire lookout tower on top of this hill - it is the square form at the top of the right most peak.  It was about a 30 minute hike up and well worth the time.

Here is the plaque about the hike up to the tower.  The next three pictures are view panning from right to left around the lake from the top of this highest vantage point.

You can see my truck and other vehicles at the left, giving you an idea of the spectacular view from this peak.

One last look (from the top) panning a little farther to the left showing some of the patches of snow.  I recomend a trip to visit Crater Lake and see it for yourself. 
When I woke up  the next morning at Crater Lake and decided that I was "done traveling".  So, after breakfast, about 9:30 AM, I started driving towards home.  After a stop at the factory where my camper was manufactured near Sacramento for about an hour, I got home at 11:30 PM that same day.  About 15 hours of driving and I was home - sleeping in my OWN bed. 
It was a good trip and I covered almost 6,000 miles in about 6+ weeks.  Got to see a lot of beautiful country and made many new friends.
I hope you had as much fun following my rambelings as I did recording them.  Below is the camper cleaned / waxed / vacumed out and covered up until the next trip.  That`s the best "sad" face I could come up with!!!!

And now for "winter" in Santa Barbara!
Carpe Diem