Words about science and hiking
Off the trail at Lake Tahoe The 2000 foot down climb to US50 did more damage than I thought. My knees have been cranky and sore off and on during the hike, but that’s only to be expected. Hiking 20 miles a day in the mountains is a real strain on the legs. But the Read More …
Little sleep last night as the wind came slamming through the most protected campsite I could find, shared with Risky Biscuit and a couple from MA hiking from Tuolumne to Tahoe. RB is from Edwards, looks and talks like a stoner but is very sharp and knowledgeable about many things, able to recite accurate facts Read More …
A beautiful hike today through the not-so-high Sierras. Jagged ridges of brown volcanic rock streaked with white snow gullies enclosed dark green canyons overtopped by a sparking blue sky. The day lacked perfection due to gale force winds blowing up from the south, occasionally knocking me off the trail and almost off my feet. A Read More …
The trail immediately began climbing the shale ridges between camp and Sonora Pass, 10 miles distant. These bare brown mountains are still contoured with large snow fields and the contrast of white snow and brown shale was quite striking in the early morning light. On the Colorado Trail, the quality of my daily hike Read More …
Passed mile 1000 today, which wasn’t all that exciting, it’s just a number. Of far greater import, I passed the last of the beautiful but infernal towering granite ridges that lie athwart the northbound route and make passage so difficult. After one last steep climb up to Wilma Lake, the trail followed Jack Main Canyon, Read More …
Slow going through the north Yosemite country. The land is split by a series of high, massive granite ridges running east and west. We are headed north. The track thus follows the canyons until meeting with some gouge or crack in the granite wall, then heads directly up it. A steep trail has a rise Read More …
Tuolumne Meadows seemed beaten and overwhelmed by all the people and cars, and I was glad to leave. Although I could not leave as soon as i would have liked. I had forgotten to buy stove alcohol and had to wait for the store to open. The PCT leaves the JMT for good, to head Read More …
Mile 942, Tuolumne Meadows Up and at Donohue Pass early today through a swarm of mosquitoes. I found a nice little ridge above the pass with a good view of Lyell Canyon to build a rock nook in which to leave Mr Bradley’s picture. I think he would like it there. I spent a few Read More …
Left Mammoth early. It is remarkably bland and boring, even by ski-town standards, and I am glad to leave it. The next leg of my trip has historical significance, at least for me. In 1968, my Boy Scout troop hiked the 60-some miles from Reds Meadows to Yosemite Valley over the course of a week. Read More …
Mile 902 Got chilly last night. I awoke to a cool breeze and a sky full of cirrus clouds – the first clouds I’ve seen in a week. Perhaps a change in weather is in store. The cool morning made for a brisk hike up to Silver Pass, the last of the daily passes between Read More …