~ Reflections ~

"Live close to nature - climb the mountain, treasure the woods, the flowers, the rock-giving strength to body and soul." - John Muir

Sawtooth Peak stands majestically on the horizon.

It was our first pack-back trip in the early 1970s into the Sierra wilderness of Sequoia National Park.

Once we began our ascent of Sawtooth Pass in Mineral King, I'm not sure that we would survive.  It was a sketchy, cross-country trail at best.  I had never been here before and I relied on a topo map with scribbled notes from an earlier ascent by friends.

She reluctantly follows as we leave the established trail at Monarch Lakes to ascend the cross-country route over the 12,000' peak.  The steep granite slabs quickly begin to drain our energy.  The route is slow and difficult.  Each step is deliberate.  Our packs are heavy, our steps unsteady.  Near the summit, we pause to rest and assess the route before us. The views far below stretch for miles and we spot two mountain lakes; I think the map showed them to be Little Five and Big Five Lakes.

Honestly, I wasn't sure if we could make the first lake before dark.

We didn't have the latest camping gear.  Our backpacks were aluminum with heavy cotton sleeping bags.  We didn't have a full tent.  Our open tube tent was our shelter and the dark clouds concerned me.  The light rain quickly turned into a typical Sierra storm.  Sleep is poor as our tube tent provided a modest relief from the storm.

In the morning, the sky is clear and we quickly dry out our gear.  We fish at the first daylight and catch a few trout.  Denise and I are in awe of the wilderness before us.  The pristine lake warms our souls.  Wilderness and the sound of solitude were deafening.

We continued with our adventurist cross-country trip back to Mineral King via Hands and Knees Pass. The name perfectly describes our grueling descent back into the Mineral King Valley.  The weather had turned bad and our visibility was a mere 10 feet.  I remember setting up our tube tent and heating some hot chocolate, waiting for the weather to improve.  It never did.  We descended hoping to hit Mineral King Valley.

We did make it out!  Reflections.

Those are my thoughts, some fifty years later, as I gaze fondly toward Sawtooth Pass.

Today, we are spending the night at a friend’s rustic cabin in Silver City.  We did hike the 3 1/2 mile Cold Springs Nature Trail absorbing the tranquility of Mineral King Valley from the shimmering aspens to the peaceful mountain stream and an occasional mule deer.

Small steps, big moments, Sawtooth Peak in the background.

We stop for lunch next to the cool East Fork.

Our steps are slow and deliberate. She has made remarkable progress since her stroke on April 29, 2020.  We share a few pictures and memories over Sawtooth Pass.

Dinner at an awesome outdoor restaurant.

Dinner today was a great improvement over a camp dinner years ago.

The Foxglove Cabin at Silver City.

Reading about the history of Mineral King.

Coffee in the serenity of Silver City soothes the soul.

We bid Mineral King Valley, farewell.

~ Just this side of Heaven ~

Today is a free day. 

There are no doctor appointments, no physical therapy, no occupational therapy, or anything else structured. 

So when she asked, "Do you want to go into Sequoia National Park for a picnic?"

My answer was immediate: "Yes."

The day is perfect for hiking some of the Giant Forest trails.  

We push further up the High Sierra Trail at about 7,000', higher than I want, but the panoramic views of the Great Western Divide are rewarding.  We hike slow but with purpose.

We share some pictures from this first day of July.

Lupine grows before a Giant Sequoia.

Giant Sequoia Trees stand well beyond our time.

Moro Rock in the background.

The Great Western Divide is itched in memory.

Delicate flowers with Moro Rock in the background.

Not riding my bike today, but awesome moments at Crescent Meadow.

Great sign on a Government car.

We saw two bears today.

The NPS has done a great job communicating an important message.

Nature comforts the soul.

~ 49 Degrees East ~

Eastern Sierra, Mount Whitney.   

Every day, every single moment, causes me to pause. I’m the lucky one. 

You see, on April 29^th Denise suffered a stroke.

Any stroke is serious, but when it occurs during Covid-19 well, your world is quickly turned upside down. I use to count moments in life. Today, I count ¼ moments. Honestly, time slowed down to a crawl.

My priority, my goal, my mission is her. Nothing else matters.

The good news and short version are that she is making a remarkable recovery. Her physical therapist, occupational therapist, nurse, and you have contributed to her recovery. I was impressed with their compassion and single focus on her rehabilitation. They do this daily, yet they performed their tasks like it was their first day at work.

Like millions around the world, we have stayed at home during this pandemic. We are thankful to the many friends who delivered home-cooked meals, freshly baked bread, flowers, cards, calls, emails, and visits.

To celebrate our 49^th wedding anniversary on June 14th, we prepare our North Star camper and head off to the eastern side of the Sierra for some quality time. We plan to camp at the Lone Pine Campground and the dispersed camping in the Alabama Hills. 

The pictures that follow are part of that journey, if only at one ¼ time.

Denise experiencing life below the watchful eye of Mount Whitney.

Our North Star in the Alabama Hils near Mount Whitney.

Our camper lost in the landscape as we search for the infamous Mobius Arch.

We attempted the 3-mile hike in search of the Mobius Arch.

Slow and steady.

When I said, "This is far enough after a 1 1/2 mile of a 3-mile hike." 
She replied, "If we quit now, they will never know we made it."  Without discussion, we continued.

Mobius Arch. Well worth the 3-mile hike. Our 1/4 moment in time.  Mount Whitney perfectly framed.

Reading at camp the biography of Spruce Springsteen.

Our camp far below, what a view to behold.

Plenty of spare tires if you have a flat in the backcountry.

Saying goodbye to Mount Whitney.

Thank you, for helping me along this road.

Dramatic clouds, on our last night, say farewell.

~ In Pursuit of Wildness: Great Basin National Park ~

After retiring from the National Park Service following a 36-year career—one that took me to many of our nation’s crown jewels, including Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Mount Rainier, Joshua Tree, Pinnacles, Bighorn Canyon, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks—I set out in search of a new kind of adventure: one found on two wheels.

Traveling light, camping along the way, and taking the backroads whenever possible, I chased wildness across Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and California.

This is one of those journeys: In Pursuit of Wildness: Great Basin National Park.

"On the path that leads to Nowhere I have sometimes found my soul."– Corinne Roosevelt Robinson

"Honestly, I thought I’d never see him again, but fate has its own ways of correcting our misjudgments. So, 900 miles later, I was looking for Scott’s Fly Shoppe, where we had agreed to meet. Scott is a professional fly fisherman and is known for his quality, hand-tied flies. It was a treat to follow him as our motorcycles climbed higher into the surrounding mountains.

Toward the end of our mountain ride, we stopped for our final pictures and farewells. He pulled out a map and led me west. “On your way back to California, travel on US 50 along America’s loneliest highway and camp at Great Basin National Park [in Nevada],” he said. And with his fading words, this story begins..."

Great Basin National Park before the rains fall.

Breathtaking, sweeping views from Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive.

The Alpine Lakes Loop Trail is peaceful and scenic.

~ Remembering our Fallen ~

This Memorial Day we thank you, and untold others, for honorably serving our country  * * * * * *

My uncle, and my mom's brother, * Valentin Moya ~ WWII.

Nancy Moya (mom) and *Sebastian Griego (dad) at their marriage ~ WWII.

My best friend, *John Lopez (part of the Yamaha Gang) ~ heading for Vietnam.

My best friend, *Gene Christianson (part of the Yamaha Gang) ~ heading for Vietnam.

Denise Griego's uncle and Lucille Saldivar's brother, *Merle Longnecker ~ WWII.

My Three Rivers friend, *Vince Roleter ~ WWII.

~ In Pursuit of Wildness: Petrified Forest National Park ~

After retiring from the National Park Service following a 36-year career—one that took me to many of our nation’s crown jewels, including Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Mount Rainier, Joshua Tree, Pinnacles, Bighorn Canyon, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks—I set out in search of a new kind of adventure: one found on two wheels.

Traveling light, camping along the way, and taking the backroads whenever possible, I chased wildness across Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and California.

This is one of those journeys: In Pursuit of Wildness: Pinnacles National Park.

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”

— John Muir

"I’m on historic US Route 66 heading east for a small village nestled next to the Rio Grande in New Mexico called La Joya. Each year, I make this journey across the wild west, past little communities and towns with interesting names: Newberry Springs, Oatman, Cool Springs, Valentine, Peach Springs, Twin Arrows, Two Guns. They sound like names from old Western movies. 

The map tells me that it’s about 1,100 miles from my home in Three Rivers, CA, to La Joya, but I rarely follow the straight lines..."

My trusty, 2019 Indian Springfield.

These hills reminded me of marble fudge ice cream.

~ COVID-19 and a Country Road ~

"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe." - John Muir.              

Homer Ranch Preserve along Dry Creek Road.

We all will mark this time in our lives differently, yet we'll all use the same pen.  

COVID-19 has forever altered our time on earth.

Today, the sun is shining, the rains have stopped, and the wildflowers are talking. Denise and I leisurely ride my Indian Springfield stopping frequently to capture the color.

We are blessed to live in Three Rivers, California near Sequoia National Park. We have a country road called Dry Creek where today the creek is flowing, the grasses are green, and wildflowers are blooming.

I love riding along peaceful Dry Creek Road.

Poppies paint the hillsides.

Lichen, barbed wire, and poppies.

A lone Poppy shines. Photo by Denise Griego.

Lupine flowers are special.  Photo by Denise Griego.

 

Isn't that beautiful.