The Palisades, John Muir Wilderness...

"The mountains are calling and I must go." John Muir

So I went! For one last hurrah backpack trip into the eastern Sierra Nevada. If you remember from my last post, the garments in my backpack were beginning to outweigh the food items. This time it was a good thing.  I woke to White Death (AKA snow). Yech! 

Jews don't do snow. We are NOT the "Frozen Chosen." 

Ma Nature and my achy knees, shoulders, back and other extremities are telling me it's time to go for gentler hikes. I've been going uphill for well over a month. My body is saying "Bring  on Kansas!"

So...mañana I'll be heading to Sequoia National Park to hug a few of the big guys. The great thing about trees is they won't run away from an embrace. Wish I could say the same thing about my infrequent dates.

Goodnight from Lone Pine, California

Morgan Pass, John Muir Wilderness...

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks" John Muir

I woke up knackered! I was undergoing a low battery morning despite two pots of coffee. A glance at the sky showed more gray masses blocking out the Robin's egg blue background. The smell of burning trees hung heavy in the air from a distant fire. My motivation stunk on ice.

However, the thought that doing a laundry would be the highlight of my day drove me and Barley up to Little Lakes Trailhead. I soon found out I made the right choice. My sweaty laundry could wait.

There's mentions on Google of folks motoring up this pass. I saw a relic of a chassis so it must be true. All that was prior to the Wilderness Act of 1964. No! No! No! To motorized vehicles or even bicycles. Good, it's quieter that way. 

I'm heading in mañana for two nights of my last hurrah backpack trip into the Sierra Nevada. When the pounds of clothes your carrying outweighs the food items, it's time to call it a season. 

The area is named the Palisades, and it won't disappoint. Nothing here has so far.

From one of the photos, you can see the season is changing. Brrr! in the high country when the sunsets. 

Enjoy your weekend. I will...

Remember the Mono Lake post?

Well, I'll refresh your memory or you can read the sad post with the OK ending.

The Los Angeles Water and Power Department diverted and impounded many creeks flowing east from the majestic Sierra Nevada ranges in the early 1900's. It was the era of who cares about the environment when we have people and golf courses to water in Southern California. 

By 1941, the liquid stuff from Rush Creek was being gravity force fed into the Los Angeles aqueduct. Mono Lake was left to desiccate in the Great Basin when it's life blood was severed. In the 1980's, the Mono Lake Committee and other environmentally aware groups saved the day with litigation and other soft-core arm twisting. Some water from Rush Creek would flow toward Mono Lake preventing it from becoming a dry lake bed. The lion's share would end up in LA-LA Land. It was a hard fought battle that ended in a draw.

So...guess what I saw on my hike in the Ansel Adams Wilderness?

The damn dam on Rush Creek which creates Waugh Lake! The dam was in place prior to the Wilderness Act of 1964, so it gets to stay there. 

The little drip at the bottom of the dam is what Rush Creek and Mono Lake are allowed to drink. 

Take a good look at the photos. Yes, California is in a drought. Check out those tree stumps and the bathtub ring from the higher water years. 

Today's water lecture is now over,

Good night!