birthday meditation/celebration.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
2010 Birthday Celebration
Last year's trip to the Sequoia National forest and Morro Rock for my
birthday meditation/celebration.
birthday meditation/celebration.
Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite, July 7/8, 2011
Whenever possible I go into the wilderness on my birthday. For me it is a time for reflection and gratitude. This time I was on the trail high above Hetch Hetchy Dam. My original goal was not attainable. Extremely high water washing over the bridge at Wampama Falls caused two experienced hikers being washed over the 1000 foot falls, one’s body not yet recovered.
Due to this danger the Park Service closed the trail to Rancheria Falls indefinitely, my original destination. Seeing the waters from the distance thundering over 1000 feet into the lake is inspiring, but knowing that two people lost their lives, was very sad.
I lugged my 25 pound pack, tent, sleeping bag, bear canister, food, water filter and extra clothing up 8.7 miles, almost to Lake Vernon, then turned around, and lugged it back down to camp in a dryer area with fewer mosquitoes. But the hike was worth every step.
Beauty around every corner! I had one-way conversations with butterflies, chipmunks, squirrels, dragon flies, marmots, a rattle snake, bees and birds. A canyon wren sang beautifully. A meadow of ferns which grew in a burned area, devastated not too long ago, an entire bird orchestra serenaded me. New life was everywhere! All along the path I admired the diversity of flowers and shrubs. Water ran along some trails, so soaked were the upper meadows, it was impossible to follow the trail and I had to gain elevation to pass. Wood violets framed some trail on both sides. The amount of water was like a miracle. It came out of the granite, dripped, out of rack faces and formed its own biosphere with grasses and ferns not seen elsewhere. Arriving back down at the dam, I was very tired. A young couple from Potsdam( Berlin) were here on vacation and drove my pack and I to my campsite. We shared a picnic before they drove back to the Evergreen Lodge.
No rain threatened and so I was able leave off the cover off my tent and watch stars all during the night. (And maybe see bears foraging, but none did that night…)
Tioga Pass Road to Lee Vining had just opened, so I was able to drive back through what many consider one of the world’s miracles of nature. The road is an engineering marvel, bridging solid granite, rivers, valleys and forests. You can look into the Yosemite Valley and see Half Dome clearly from one of the outlooks. Waterfalls thunder by the wayside, often water spilling over the road. The highland meadows are still more like lakes than meadows. If you can break free, come and see these wonders yourself. In three months the road may be closed again due to snow.
Whenever possible I go into the wilderness on my birthday. For me it is a time for reflection and gratitude. This time I was on the trail high above Hetch Hetchy Dam. My original goal was not attainable. Extremely high water washing over the bridge at Wampama Falls caused two experienced hikers being washed over the 1000 foot falls, one’s body not yet recovered.
Due to this danger the Park Service closed the trail to Rancheria Falls indefinitely, my original destination. Seeing the waters from the distance thundering over 1000 feet into the lake is inspiring, but knowing that two people lost their lives, was very sad. I lugged my 25 pound pack, tent, sleeping bag, bear canister, food, water filter and extra clothing up 8.7 miles, almost to Lake Vernon, then turned around, and lugged it back down to camp in a dryer area with fewer mosquitoes. But the hike was worth every step.
Beauty around every corner! I had one-way conversations with butterflies, chipmunks, squirrels, dragon flies, marmots, a rattle snake, bees and birds. A canyon wren sang beautifully. A meadow of ferns which grew in a burned area, devastated not too long ago, an entire bird orchestra serenaded me. New life was everywhere! All along the path I admired the diversity of flowers and shrubs. Water ran along some trails, so soaked were the upper meadows, it was impossible to follow the trail and I had to gain elevation to pass. Wood violets framed some trail on both sides. The amount of water was like a miracle. It came out of the granite, dripped, out of rack faces and formed its own biosphere with grasses and ferns not seen elsewhere. Arriving back down at the dam, I was very tired. A young couple from Potsdam( Berlin) were here on vacation and drove my pack and I to my campsite. We shared a picnic before they drove back to the Evergreen Lodge.
No rain threatened and so I was able leave off the cover off my tent and watch stars all during the night. (And maybe see bears foraging, but none did that night…)
Tioga Pass Road to Lee Vining had just opened, so I was able to drive back through what many consider one of the world’s miracles of nature. The road is an engineering marvel, bridging solid granite, rivers, valleys and forests. You can look into the Yosemite Valley and see Half Dome clearly from one of the outlooks. Waterfalls thunder by the wayside, often water spilling over the road. The highland meadows are still more like lakes than meadows. If you can break free, come and see these wonders yourself. In three months the road may be closed again due to snow.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Hiking the High Sierra Nevada
Admission is by lottery to the High Sierra Camps. 
The lucky campers get to stay in tent cabins equipped with a stove and firewood. Four beds with sheets and blankets, one table and chairs are provided. All food you bring is kept in iron, bear safe lockers. Food is offered family style in the lodge. Dinner and breakfast are generous in portions and delicious. Lunch packs can be ordered.
I was very lucky to be invited to be the fourth in our group by my friend who has been hiking in Yosemite for decades.
Many High Sierra Camps are at 10,000 feet of elevation. The camps are arranged so that you can hike from one camp to another.
We visited Tuolumne Meadows, the largest camp, and Glen Aulin, the smallest camp. The hike around Saddleback Lake was our first adventure.
Crystal clear lakes, framed by carpets of wildflowers, ringed by mountains that still bore last season’s snows, made us grateful to be here. A 1,000-foot waterfall rushed to the valley below.
The trail to Glen Aulin was spectacular. Actually, everything is spectacular in Yosemite! The Tuolumne River flows through wild meadows, forests, glacier polished granitic rock, cascading for a while, and then flowing through sandy glens.
Glen Aulin, without shower amenities, offered a big bonus. A roaring waterfall steps from our cabin!
Our chef who cooked the salmon should get an award! (All supplies here are brought by mule trains.)
One day we chose to explore individually. I explored the Tuolumne River below Glen Aulin Camp. I saw many enormous cascades of white water over granite.
I even saw two Ouzels dipping in the water. Every so often a roaring water fall would form a large basin, ideal to swim in. I sampled four natural pools and two deep river bends.
The walk through aspen and huge conifer forests at the bottom of the massive, granitic domes was magical. I saw deer, coyote, signs of bear, lots of birds and a weasel.
In the evening after a leisurely dinner we watched stars, enjoyed a ranger’s camp fire or read by headlamps. We plan to return next season.
The lucky campers get to stay in tent cabins equipped with a stove and firewood. Four beds with sheets and blankets, one table and chairs are provided. All food you bring is kept in iron, bear safe lockers. Food is offered family style in the lodge. Dinner and breakfast are generous in portions and delicious. Lunch packs can be ordered.
I was very lucky to be invited to be the fourth in our group by my friend who has been hiking in Yosemite for decades.Many High Sierra Camps are at 10,000 feet of elevation. The camps are arranged so that you can hike from one camp to another.
We visited Tuolumne Meadows, the largest camp, and Glen Aulin, the smallest camp. The hike around Saddleback Lake was our first adventure.
Crystal clear lakes, framed by carpets of wildflowers, ringed by mountains that still bore last season’s snows, made us grateful to be here. A 1,000-foot waterfall rushed to the valley below.
The trail to Glen Aulin was spectacular. Actually, everything is spectacular in Yosemite! The Tuolumne River flows through wild meadows, forests, glacier polished granitic rock, cascading for a while, and then flowing through sandy glens.
Glen Aulin, without shower amenities, offered a big bonus. A roaring waterfall steps from our cabin!
Our chef who cooked the salmon should get an award! (All supplies here are brought by mule trains.)
One day we chose to explore individually. I explored the Tuolumne River below Glen Aulin Camp. I saw many enormous cascades of white water over granite.
I even saw two Ouzels dipping in the water. Every so often a roaring water fall would form a large basin, ideal to swim in. I sampled four natural pools and two deep river bends.
The walk through aspen and huge conifer forests at the bottom of the massive, granitic domes was magical. I saw deer, coyote, signs of bear, lots of birds and a weasel. In the evening after a leisurely dinner we watched stars, enjoyed a ranger’s camp fire or read by headlamps. We plan to return next season.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Another Winter in BVS, 2010
3-20-2010
Today is the first day of Spring and these snow photos are late, the next post will show the glorious wildflower carpets on road 123 to Arvin. Thanks to our wet Winter this year, we are given a great treat from mother nature.
But here are the beautiful winter scenes in my neighborhood I see when Tashi and I go on our daily walks. The dramatic scenes between the storm are my favorites.
We had so much snow, that one day even Highway 58 was closed for most of the day. All was still and beautiful.
Now the springs in the mountains are active and on Surrey Way, Goldspike Road, and other drainages the sound of running water can be heard. The deer are moving up the mountain...
Here are the photos I took on 3-16-2010 on road 123 and some are from the rugged Canyon Road leading to lake Isabella. (Hwy 178 out of Bakersfield.)
Tashi grazed on the lush green grass, drank all his and my water on our 2 hour journey through these meadows. Meadow larks sang, bees hummed, butterflies flew by. It was magical.
It only will be good for a short one, maybe two weeks if we get some more rain and cold weather.
In Bear Valley the flowers will come later, as we are at higher elevations.
Today is the first day of Spring and these snow photos are late, the next post will show the glorious wildflower carpets on road 123 to Arvin. Thanks to our wet Winter this year, we are given a great treat from mother nature.
But here are the beautiful winter scenes in my neighborhood I see when Tashi and I go on our daily walks. The dramatic scenes between the storm are my favorites.
We had so much snow, that one day even Highway 58 was closed for most of the day. All was still and beautiful.
Now the springs in the mountains are active and on Surrey Way, Goldspike Road, and other drainages the sound of running water can be heard. The deer are moving up the mountain...
Here are the photos I took on 3-16-2010 on road 123 and some are from the rugged Canyon Road leading to lake Isabella. (Hwy 178 out of Bakersfield.)
Tashi grazed on the lush green grass, drank all his and my water on our 2 hour journey through these meadows. Meadow larks sang, bees hummed, butterflies flew by. It was magical.
It only will be good for a short one, maybe two weeks if we get some more rain and cold weather.
In Bear Valley the flowers will come later, as we are at higher elevations.
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