Once again I was able to go backpacking with Cousin Sue, Paul, and Becky. Sue and Paul landed in San Diego, so we were delighted to have them stay with us a couple nights before heading to the Sierras. Gail held down the fort while I was gone, and appreciated some Gail time before we head out to Yellowstone in a couple weeks.
The long drive through the Mojave Desert has a few interesting sights besides Joshua trees. Highway 395 passes right through the old mining town of Red Mountain, which looks like a set for Breaking Bad. Although the sign says population 130, we have never seen a soul there. The temperatures in the 100's might have something to do with it.
Can you imagine living here?
There has been much monsoonal influence on the deserts and Eastern Sierras this summer.
This abandoned trading post is in the adjacent ghost town of Johannesburg.
The rain and lightening came as I neared Lone Pine, just east of Mt. Whitney. It lasted about an hour. I met Sue and Paul in Bishop, where we met Becky, and had a great dinner of sushi.
Leaving Bishop the next morning, I passed through truly beautiful country.
Clean air, no traffic, and beautiful scenery was a much needed respite from Southern California.
We eventually all met up at at Pinecrest, in the Western Sierra north of Yosemite. We followed a dirt forest service road to the Gianelli trailhead.
Becky's dog Max was excited to be along. Since he has been trained for search and rescue, he is very well behaved and obedient. He is 12 years old, and has a crippled back leg due to getting hit by a car last year.
We camped at this lake (Powell Lake) the first night, and had it to ourselves.
Max has a technique for draining the last bit of slop out of a Mountain House pouch. He sticks his nose in and then tilts it up into the air.
This was the view from my tent door.
At one end of the lake was a colony of marmots. They're sort of like land beavers.
The second day out , we hiked about six miles over relatively mild terrain. No Paul death march this year!
We were surprised and disappointed to see cattle at this expansive meadow (Whitesides Meadow).
As we neared our destination of Upper Relief Valley, there was ample evidence of past volcanic activity.
The area we were in is in the Emigrant Wilderness, part of the Stanislaus National Forest.
In the center of the picture is my tent, masquerading as a boulder.
We had a nice kitchen and dining area up against the rocks.
There were many Pacific Tree Frogs hopping around our campsite.
Sue and Paul always look fresh and clean, unlike grubby old me.
Posing in front of our personal lake, which didn't even have a name.
Collecting firewood above our campsite, I took this picture looking down at our campsite.
Sierra flower arrangement.
That building sized boulder at the top of the ridge looks like it could send a tidal wave across the lake if it came down.
We never saw another person here for the two nights we stayed.
Max cleaning up the "dishes".
Paul does his old "Burning Man" stunt. Since we were just below 9,000 feet, we could have a fire. Above that elevation, fires are not allowed due to the need to have plant material replenish the scant soil.
The setting sun means a fabulous Sierra night sky is soon to come.
Group shot!
Ok, Max, we're heading out to Chewing Gum Lake.
Lava and boulders that once tried to puncture the earth's surface from below.
More fantasy lava forms.
Maybe the biggest mushroom I've ever seen!
I felt honored that Max chose my tent to watch the evening proceedings! As Chewing Gum Lake was an easy day hike from the trailhead, we camped well above the lake to avoid other campers that were arriving for the weekend. It turned out quite nice, and we had a large pond for swimming and water nearby.
The nights weren't that cold, but a fire let us stay up "late".
One last shot before the trailhead. We said goodbye to Becky and Max, then Paul, Sue, and I drove west to Napa to stay at Nick's and Cassidy's for a few nights. Paul and Sue flew from SFO back to Washington D.C. three days later. Thanks, Paul and Sue, for instigating another great trip!
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