With an average annual snow fall of 385 inches, Mammoth is popular for winter sports. 2 years ago it was too heavy to be profitable, last year too light, so the 4 mile sq. town of Mammoth Lakes declared bankruptcy. However, the town remains lively with bargain happy hours and dining, starting at 3 PM, lots of camping on lakes above the town, and all resort amenities, deeply discounted. We have been enjoying fishing, tennis, ping-pong in the Village Courtyard, paddling in Mary Lake, swimming (Brrr!), hiking above Coldwater Creek, and hot-tubbing. Below is the view of Crystal Crag from our camp at Mary Lake.

Everyone is so nice, and already bubbling with enthusiasm at the start of Autumn. Sure enough, the Aspens higher up are turning gold, and the nights are getting cold. We sometimes find that a furry black hot water container has warmed our bed unexpectedly.

I won’t be back for Chris Stevens’ memorial dinner at our law school. My thoughts however, are with my law school mates, especially three members of my class and 2 friends who entered this wilderness area in September 1993 for a 5 day backback trip. We hiked up the PCT from Agnew Meadows to Thousand Island Lake, under Mount Ritter and Banner Peak. We hiked down from there on the John Muir Trail, passing pristine lakes and The Minarets, named in 1869 for their resemblance to Islamic towers. These jagged saw-toothed pinnacles jut up from smoother terrain below. Formed during the Ice Age, moving glaciers and rocks eroded around the spires, leaving them intact. Although we saw few hikers, we know it must be a busy trail in season, as a big, fat (stealthy!) marmot snuck up behind me and grabbed a sandwich from my hand. Clearly, he had some practice! After a final night at Rosalie Lake, we climbed down Minaret Creek to Devil’s Postpile and up the Soda Spring Trail to the vehicles. The Ansel Adams Wilderness runs from Tioga Pass south to the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River near Mammoth Pass. This may be one of the most dramatic loop trails in the Eastern Sierra. Oops, I think I have said that before about other trails!

U.C., Hastings College of the Law, Class of 1989

Sharing all of our first year classes together, it was clear he was a really great guy: calm, sweet and smart. Who knew then that he would become a highly esteemed peacemaker and supporter of Democracy, notably in tense areas like Afghanistan and Libya? He loved his job. He represented us so admirably, and made us all proud to be active supporters of Liberty worldwide, for everyone. A humble, unassuming man in 1986…who knew he would be our very brave hero someday, a symbol of the very best of ourselves and of our democratic values, in a world striving for Freedom from injustice? His family is setting up a fund to support American and Libyan cultural bridging. I hope we can all give just a bit, to show our continuing intention to support Libya as a new democratic nation. A few days after Chris’s death, Libya elected by democratic process, a Prime Minister, a first, since Kaddafi’s years of dictatorship, and a hard fought revolution for democracy.  The new Prime Minister noted the import of Chris’s friendship and support both personally and in the political process, and knew how happy Chrisc would have been with the election results. Chris won one for the peace and justice loving people of the world.

At the Eastern Boundary of Yosemite National Park, lies the Mt. Conness

Mt. Conness and North Peak Glaciers sit at 12,500 feet, but are accessible from Saddlebag Lake, our camp at 10,500 feet. The 15 mile loop trail took us through the “20 Lakes Basin”, past a tungsten mine, up ankle-breaking scree to Secret Lake, along the Crest overlooking the McCabe Lakes and the Pacific Crest Trail, and finally to the glaciers on the downhike.

At Secret Lake, I assumed that meant private lake, as it is an arduous, slippery ascent to get there. I immersed without noticing the backpackers on the Crest above, until I got out to dry off. I hope the glimpse of the naked middle aged lady distracted them pleasantly from their climb. This loop is a real gem for granite, lake and glacier lovers, quite uplifting (even without a naked lady sighting!).

Enjoying the abundant stream-side camping on the Eastern side of the Sierras between Yosemite and Lee Vining, we have been exploring and paddling local lakes.

Mono Lake has a fascinating history. The streams feeding the lake were diverted by the LA Water Dept. causing the lake to drop 45 feet and double in salinity. Until David and Sally Gaines formed the Mono Lake Committee, the lake was dying, just as Owens Lake did, and it is no longer recoverable. However, a successful law suit reduced the water diversions from feeder streams by 75% and the lake is rising. The damage is still evident in the many Tufa structures on the North Shore surrounded by scrub.

The Tufa resemble the dribbled accumulation of sand castle construction. The towers look like Antonio Gaudi’s cathedral, La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, except that the towers are seated in lake water, creating lovely reflections. Tufa towers are continuing to form underwater, as the calcium in the underground streams meets the carbonates in the salty lake water, the precipitate, calcium carbonate builds over the years into these fantastic towers. The salinity is high but supports enough fish to keep the Ospreys in place, currently nesting. Additionally 4 trillion (that’s 12 zeroes!!) brine shrimp live in the lake. Alkaline flies feed on them thrives using air sacs that allow them to dive down and feed. Maybe not a trillion, but tons of flies! The pupae are protein rich and used to be harvested by the original lake dwellers, the Kutzadika.

The bird life here is abundant (frustrated dog, hanging over the edge of the kayak…so close…). The Phalaropes summer in Canada and stop here en route to Argentina, doubling their weight gorging on brine shrimp.

Camel Races, created as a hoax, are very goofy. Whereas racehorses are schooled to enter gates without a fuss, and get sent back to “gate school” before they can race again if they are naughty, camels wander a bit, unclear on the concept of getting to the finish line with alacrity. Funny. In fact, Virginia City is a pretty funny place. We liked their tee shirts which were more humorous than the usual tourist site schlock.

“The Way It Was” Museum is a fun instruction in mining techniques employed for mining the extensive Comstock Lode, where 400 Million Dollars worth of iron ore/gold/silver were extracted. Much of this money created wealth that was used to construct San Francisco.

This area is hot, dry and exposed, supporting a large wild horse population. It also provided skies that truly appeared “on fire”.

After two weeks of outdoor living, we were looking forward to movies, live music, and someone else’s cooking. We had a killer pastrami sandwich at a hoot of a place called, “Coney Island”. Very busy bar and grill at lunch: guys in the trades, cops, old guys taking up all the bar seats…and no suits to be seen, nor many women. It seemed like everyone knew each others’ names, like a great neighborhood bar.

Reno also has a landscaped greenway, great for bikes and strolls along the  Truckee River. Competitive kayakers practice their surfing skills in the rapids in the Downtown area. You just wouldn’t know you were in a desert environment until we ventured to the northwest outskirts of town to hike up to the secret Piute petroglyphs. Standing in the brief thunder and rainstorm viewing these unmarked beauties, made you understand why the Tribe has refused to allow Washoe County to “protect them” as that will also lead the public to visit them. I am glad we had an insider to show us where among the massive rock field, we needed to look.

Up early, for the 5 AM “Dawn Glow”, we watched as six hot air balloons set up and launched, firing their intensely bright propane flames in time to music, and lighting up the balloons against the still dark sky. By 7 AM, 86 balloons were airborne. Some landed in a field close to the petroglyphs so we got to see the Chase Vehicles deflate and pack up. Notably, all the balloons use wicker baskets for the pilot and crew. Why? Because other lighter materials like aluminum that were tried, could not compete with wicker for strength, weight, and easy repair with reweaving, not to mention for beauty.

Tom Stienstra, Outdoors Writer Extraordinaire, (SF GATE 8/2/12) inspired us to check out this area with 20 lakes sitting at the base of the spires launching upwards from the lakes, stunning. Many are accessible by car, and some, like Upper Sardine and Tamarack Lakes, require a hike, but so worth it!

We also visited Blairsden for the Bakery (sold out by 10 AM), and 18 holes of golf.

Having helped my son move into his freshman dorm in NY, having enjoyed lots of farewell get-togethers with friends, and having Steven’s wisdom teeth pulled at the last minute, all we wanted to do was drive to a nice, close water hazard, I mean water feature, and sit still for a bit. Breathe. Rest. Read. Do Nuttin, Honey! We have decided to start the journey at Lakes Basin. 60 miles north of Lake Tahoe. Tom Stienstra, travel writer for sfgate.com just wrote about the area 2 weeks ago. Lots of lakes close together under the towering Buttes. Great kayaking, hiking to peaks, and trout fishing was the appeal. However, all that movement now sounds awfully ambitious. I guess that means that we will eventually get out of these lounge chairs and move our bodies a bit, but perhaps not today, not far. We are off like a prom dress!

We plan to start off visiting as many gorgeous/weird/yummy places in North America that we have time to explore in the next year or two, before we zippity go global. There will be a strong emphasis on the great outdoors as we are heavily invested in portable kayaks, bikes, rackets, clubs, fly rods…. and easels. Both certified in scuba and holding basic keel boat and a skippering license for renting sailboats, we hope to do it all, everywhere! As Obama says, “Yes, We Can!”

Query: Will the weather allow us to be OUTSIDE enough so that we don’t tread on each other’s precious little private space? Being newlyweds and totally IN LOVE will surely help, but doesn’t SOME distance make the heart grow fonder?? Perhaps separate activities one or two days a week will help. Maybe early cocktails will be the remedy. ”It’s always 5 o’clock somewhere…and Darn, You always look so cute when I am lit”. The plan is to follow the seasons for cooler (but not cold) weather, best for outdoor activities. It should also help keep a certain retired lawyer from becoming a crabby hot- flashing Virago (the Virago’s own words…)

What questions do you ask when you wake up to a wide open schedule, and lots of wonderful options? First ask, “Watcha gonna do today to change the world”?

Or ask,
…Who’s getting up first to make coffee and walk the dog? Any rail/trail conversions around here to ride? What’s biting? Can I finish my novel today before the e-library erases it? What local agency might need our help today? Wanna make time today to peel a tomato, my little chili pepper? Yoga and Meditation v. Golf…or are they the same? Is my lifestyle creating economic injustice for anyone? Where’s that Tide Chart? Is that water hazard warm enough to swim in? What are we personally doing TODAY about Global Warming? What’s for dinner if we don’t defrost something? Do TJ’s Chocolate Dipped Potato Chips and red wine count as dinner? UH-OH! What’s that slimy, iridescent slick on the dog……EEEEUUWWWW!

“Zippity Doo-Dah” is a really racist song, yet positively showcased great African American talent in the 50’s, but happy slaves? …a creepy concept…maybe we should change the name of this site? Maybe the blog title should be, “Off Like A Prom Dress”? “Change Order“? “Exit Strategy”? “It’s About Time”? “Whatchagonnado?”

The Goal:
A balance of taking care of ourselves, others, and our environment, and allowing for surprise, adventure, and joy in simple things. Write enough to persuade our loved ones to come join us on the road from time to time. Dance like nobody’s watching, and try to change the world. Why not?