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Tag Archives: hike

Wildflower Hike

I had to cancel a camping trip because I was somewhat under the weather and needed to schedule a Dr appointment. Feeling disappointed about the camping trip, I took myself and Willow for a hike. It was a mistake for my health but uplifting for my spirit. Now, I am on antibiotics and laying low for a while. That’s hard. And even harder on Willow.

There was a fair amount of wildflowers. It’s very dry already so this may be the peak for them. I wish I could get out and see more. The trees were looking healthy with their fresh green growth. Butterflies were busy trying to find mates and get on with their short lives. Willow loved it all but wished for a lake or a stream so we stopped at a creek on the way home.

A Steep Little Hike

Earlier this week, Willow and I hiked up to a local lookout. It’s a short steep hike. The volunteer lookout wasn’t there yet. She just arrived today. We enjoyed the views from top of the mountain despite smokey skies and wondered if the old outhouse would survive another year. The flowers were wonderful. I especially liked the western clematis (Clematis occidentalis). It’s not a commonly seen wildflower. Willow especially liked a couple small snow patches! They won’t last much longer. And I might have obsessed, just a little, on the newly growing cones on the alpine larches and Douglas firs. There’s worse obsessions.

A Short Hike to a Popular Lake

But we mostly had it to ourselves because the highway was closed! It was so green and refreshing. The new bridges are getting installed and looking good. They still need one more. The trail to the pass was closed because of a nearby fire.

Hot Summer Hike

This was almost two weeks ago when the high temperatures here in the valley were over 100. I had hoped we’d find some relief in the mountains and chose a hike that took us to 8000′. It still felt hot and very exposed. The wildflowers were beautiful. The bugs were brutal. Willow agreed. On the way home, we stopped to cool off in the creek and Willow was very grateful. Sky didn’t get to go. She is facing some health issues so I won’t be taking her on longer summer hikes. It’s hard to get old and miss out on the fun.

More from the Sierras

The girls and I and our friends enjoyed hiking in the high mountains of the eastern Sierra. I was challenged to breathe at 10,000 feet but all the effort was worth it. The scenery was outstanding and the skies so blue. We learned that is some places, lodgepole pine is a distinguished open-grown tree that can reach great heights, unlike here in the Cascades or the Rockies. The girls were grateful for lakes and streams. Willow ran ahead with her sister Juniper while Sky stuck right behind me, never asking to go any faster. Gus enjoyed all of it except the youthful exuberance of Willow and Juniper.