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.

Mammoth Lakes, California...

and the Crystal Lake hike. 

When five unrelated and geographically separate residents suggest the same destination for a hike, I listen up. Only a fool ignores the locals, especially when they  obviously walk the walk. My wild land informants were young, fit and tanned. Unlike me, who's now feeling the miles, has gimpy knees and has deepening facial furrows from the relentless rays of the sun.
Ah!  To be young again.

Anyway, I checked out what all the hubbub was about. 

What do you think? I think the natives nailed it. 

That's Crystal Crag looming large above the lake. Cool beach for an IPA too. 

I scored a two night, three day permit for 30 more miles of Sierra Nevada bliss starting mañana.

Please have a few brews for me while I'm drinking water and eating dehydrated Thai chicken! Umm umm good! 

Be well and thrive,

Jeff

Devils Postpile National Monument...

is a mere freckle compared to Yosemite, but still worth the bonus miles to gander at. After all, how often do you get the chance to see one of the best examples of columnar basalt in the world. I never even knew basalt could columnar until I witnessed it myself. Way cool.

And... If that's not enough, there's Rainbow Falls, plunging 101' along the San Joaquin River. It requires a five mile RT mosey to see Mother Natures shower. I didn't mind. 

Devils Postpile historical factoid: In the early 1900's some Bozo proposed blasting the columns to pebbles to facilitate constructing a hydroelectric dam. John Muir and his cohorts came to the rescue once again for another ecological/wilderness  save. 

America's chubbiest President William Howard Taft (340 pounds) proclaimed the site a National Monument in 1911. (I don't think our 27th president would have been able to walk those five miles).

No one would ever recall another hydroelectric dam (unless you are a civil engineer), but you will surely remember this pile of rocks. 

Cheers from Mammoth, California. 

My picnic lunch companion