General Sherman Tree, Sequoia National Park...

Meet General Sherman the largest living thing in the world (by a volume measurement). Standing in front of the Union Civil War hero is me, one of the smallest living things on the planet by volume.

See the difference?

Fun Big Tree Factoids: If one were able to fill this club shaped red and green behemoth with water, it would be enough liquid to fill a bathtub each day for 27 years. (Who takes baths these days anyway. Talk about "stewing in your own juices" Yech!)

The General owns a 36.5' diameter at its base. It's largest branch has a diameter of 6.8'. 

It's a good thing the Sequoia's wood is so brittle, soft and kind of a weak, or else they might have befallen the same fate as their Redwood relatives. 

As you can see from the photos, the sequoias have a lot of groupies. People from all over love to see these big fellas. I think the trees need an agent besides the National Park Service. 

Happy 5775! 

Manzanar Japanese-American Internment Camp...

If you have been reading my blog, you're aware of my love for the U.S. By following  the simple rules of paying my taxes and obeying the laws, Barley and I are allowed to galavant as we please in America's wonderlands. Piece of cake! 

That being said, I know my country makes mistakes. IE: requiring bear canisters, Operation Plumbbob (testing the effects of nuclear blasts on U.S soldiers), the Republican  Tea Party and sadly the internment of Japanese Americans (without due process) from their west coast homes and businesses after the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. 

I felt compelled to make a stop at Manzanar in the Owens Valley to see the historical remains of America's less then stellar moments. 

In February 1942, FDR issued Presidential Order 9066, authorizing the removal of those who might thwart the war effort. In other words, Japanese Americans who were guilty by association. 

At Manzanar's peak, 10,000 evacuees resided in an Army barracks type of living situation. Often times, strangers lived with strangers. Personal space went out the door. Sanitation was an afterthought. These people were robbed of there rights! 

After nuking Japan, the war in the Pacific ended. The internees were free to leave. For their troubles, they were handed $25 each. Not even a sorry for the inconvenience. 

It wasn't until 1988, the U.S. Civil Liberties Act awarded the survivors $20,000 each and a formal apology. Too little, too late.

BTW: No Japanese American was ever accused or arrested for espionage during WWII. 

If one individual loses their Constitutional rights, we all lose.

Goodnight from Lone Pine, CA

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!

Ansel Adams Wilderness, California...

"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." Ansel Adams

For 28 miles, I got the chance to experience and explore another Sierra Nevada Wonderland. The hike took me through scenes Ansel would have been Jones-zing to shoot. 

I did the best I could with the "point and blast away" Canon camera I backpack with. I know compared to the master, my shots are amateurish at best. However, I believe he would be impressed with my devotion and love for getting out there to see the potential photos.

It was a windy, cool hike. Fall is in the air. The Cold Weenie in me is kicking in. 

BTW. The wilderness was originally named the Minarets. In 1984, when all that was left of AA was his photos, the name was changed to honor this craftsman of the darkroom. A fitting tribute to an American Icon and wilderness geek like me.

Cheers from Windy Mammoth. (Does the wind ever abate around here?)

Jeff

Californians and their bear...

obsession. 

In Colorado, we have bears but we don't make a fuss over them. 

I've never heard a conversation start off with, "How's it goin'? Are you Bear Aware?"

Nope! In the Centennial State one can say we maintain a laissez-bear attitude. The bruins go about their bear business and the Coloradoans go about their own. (A lot of citizens are smoking legal pot, so they ponder what to eat when they get the munchies.) If a bear problem arises, the authorities deal with it. More than likely a  "Final Solution" to the bear gone bad. 

In California, one would think numerous

bears cavort freely around towns, meadows, forests and the lands in between. Hell! I half expected a bear to belly up to the bar next to me and order a pint with all this hairy omnivore talk. It's all a bit much. 

I feel Californians are over-the-top on this shaggy subject. There's a freaking bear on the state flag for crying out loud! 

Sigh...

OK! I vented.