Sierra High

Banner Morning- Mt. Banner reflected in Thousand Island Lake

Every year my intrepid hiking crew and I find a place to wander around for 5 or 6 days, usually in the Eastern Sierra. This year we chose our spot based on the frustrated past plans of one of our hikers, who had targeted this area to hike with his sons last year. These plans fell through so we gave him another chance. I also had hiked solo in this area in 2008 when none of my usual partners in crime could get away and I have longed since then to return.

Our route this year took us to the Ansel Adams Wilderness, retracing some of Adam's steps by Thousand Island Lake, Mt. Banner and Mt. Ritter. After the initial stretch 'on trail' to Thousand Island Lake we were off trail, more or less following the 'Sierra High Route' using old fashioned map and compass. We wound our way up and over trail-less passes (Garnet, Whitebark, Ediza and almost Nancy), walked above and below the treeline, slept by lakes and streams (Thousand Island, Ediza, Minaret, Minaret Creek), saw old and new friends on the trail, dodged wildfire smoke and storms, got completely worn out, and had a terrific time. 

I never feel more free or more at home than when I am in the Sierras. Some places resonate with the souls of some people; the Sierras set off some sort of harmonic vibration with my spirit that I cannot explain except to say that it has to be divine. I feel much closer to God than the 10,000 foot elevation brings me....

The whole world is, to me, very much “alive” - all the little growing things, even the rocks. I can’t look at a swell bit of grass and earth, for instance, without feeling the essential life - the things going on - within them. The same goes for a mountain, or a bit of the ocean, or a magnificent piece of old wood.
— Ansel Adams (www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/12115.Ansel_Adams)

Iceberg Lake, 'pass' to Cecile Lake

Banner Sky Show

Storm Clouds, Minarets

Ediza Moonset

Minarets Warning

Mountain Trails
by: Marjorie Allen Seiffert (1885-1970)

I
Night stands in the valley
Her head
Is bound with stars,
While Dawn, a grey-eyed nun
Steals through the silent trees.
Behind the mountains
Morning shouts and sings
And dances upward.
II
The peaks even today show finger prints
Where God last touched the earth
Before he set it joyously in space
Finding it good.
III
You, slender shining—
You, downward leaping—
Born from silent snow
To drown at last in the blue silent
Mountain lake—
You are not snow or water,
You are only a silver spirit
Singing!
IV
Sharp crags of granite,
Pointing, threatening,
Thrust fiercely up at me;
And near the edge, their menace
Would whirl me down.
V
Climbing desperately toward the heights
I glance in terror behind me
To be deafened—to be shattered—
By a thunderbolt of beauty.
VI
The mountains hold communion;
They are priests, silent and austere,
They have come together
In a secret place
With unbowed heads.
VII
This hidden lake
Is a sapphire cup—
An offering clearer than wine,
Colder than tears.
The mountains hold it toward the sky
In silence.
— http://www.blackcatpoems.com/s/mountain_trails.html#QGazKX1jyh3eEQVI.99

North Glacier- Banner-Ritter Col above Catherine Lake

Star Banner

Raise 'em High

white tanks joshua trees

In what is becoming a new tradition, I ventured to Joshua Tree for a few days on my own prior to the onslaught of tumult the holidays bring. At one time I found little beauty in the desert, seeing only a stark and spare landscape devoid of the normal abundance of life. But the more I return to the desert the more I see; by uncluttering my vista I begin to really notice things more precious and rare. Simplicity, the arid desert breath, the scent of the creosote bringing clarity of thought and serenity to the heart; the moon illuminating sensual granite mounds where my tent nestles, stars so brilliant no lamp is needed, crisp November nights- these keep luring me back.

Joshua Tree place names raise questions in my mind; on this trip I traipsed around, over, and through places like Porcupine Wash, Ruby's Mill, Crown Prince Lookout, White Tanks, Ryan Mountain, Jumbo Rocks, Keys View, and the Wonderland of Rocks (from afar). Who were these people? What emboldened or maddened them enough to try to scratch out a life in this place? Why would anyone be on the lookout for Japanese warriors or Kamikazes in Joshua Tree? What happened in life that drove people to seek a hellacious refuge in this place? It is easy to see beauty here when survival is not at stake, but to try to LIVE here, alone and self-powered.....far sturdier than I.

“I want to run
I want to hide
I want to tear down the walls
That hold me inside
I want to reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name”
Bono, The Joshua Tree

HUM-WI-CHA-WA: the Cahuilla word for Joshua Tree. Humwichawa. Somehow seems a more fitting name for this tree-that-is-not-a-tree, arms raised in praise to the heavens, seeking its maker perhaps, mysterious and standing like mute friends across the landscape. It is strange, walking among these...beings? I am alone, but somehow don't feel alone in their presence, and yet I am a little creeped out by these guys. 

on crown prince lookout

wonderland of rocks from ryan mountain

barrel cactus spines near ruby lee mill

wash between ruby lee mill and porcupine wash

arch rock, white tanks

creosote branches

creosote branches

juniper snag, ryan mountain

white tanks granite

white tanks granite BW

The Joshua Tree

Standing tall on the arid desert floor
An ancient young man throws his arms to heaven
He cannot shout our names but knows us through our brethren
Standing there, year by year, a man of native lore.

Only seeing light and dark and feeling hot and cold
The sun scorches his hairy back as it sets in rays of gold
A silent man enduring, striving to be seen
By the forest of stone hearts, stirring in their dreams.

These hearts were etched long ago by gentle loving hands
At the dawn of time when light unchained from darkness by command
The tree wants to tell us of happiness and elation
But in piles of rubble we slumber, unaware of our salvation.
Jack Worthington
— http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-joshua-tree/

Grand Diversion...

Disappointment turns to awe: 

The Narrows

A planned 'rim-to-rim (rest) to rim' double traverse of the Grand Canyon evaporates in the federal shutdown scirocco, leaving disappointment in its wake.  We diverted to the area around Zion National Park with plans to explore the carved and canyoned periphery of Zion. Much to our surprise, Zion opened just as we were arriving (thank you Governor Herbert and the State of Utah! ) and we were able to do a life-list trip: The top-down Virgin River 'Narrows', as well as hiking Valley to top of West Rim, Observation Point, and Snow Canyon State Park. 50 miles in 4 days, lifelong memories, struck with awe and wonder....

Bright Bend- the Narrows

In Deep- The Narrows

Virgin River Valley Northward

Tenacity- West Rim Trail

Cholla, Snow Canyon

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