To spend time in the high alpine lakes in the Sierra, getting up there by walking many hard miles, is an all-immersive experience.
The beauty is overwhelming. The sun and shade are hyper strong, both baking and chilling you while they try to occupy the same space. The wind does as it pleases. As do the clouds and rain.
Life is good and days are spent by the graces of these. To enjoy it all is to bend their way, resistance gets you nothing. Sleeping well and eating your fill is more a matter of attitude than loft of a sleeping bag or the weight of your food canister.
But in doing so, life becomes basic, wonderful, and beautiful. Welcome to where the earth is the earth, humans be damned. As you embrace it, the magic of the experience begins.
The adjustment to address the high sierra does not reform easily. As I write this, the angle is still with me and I seem out of sorts back at home and long to fit back into the wilderness landscape.
In a few days I'll have forgotten the intensity as I readjust. But until then, I harbor it closely until it's just another memorable adventure.
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Sometimes a glorious adventure begins in the un-glorious back of your SUV. When an early start is needed, a night at hiker parking area is usually a good idea. Every car here represents backpackers that are up in the high lakes area.
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The trail climbs steeply out of Lake Sabrina. Get used to your heavy pack, you'll be panting and groaning for 10 miles. There are rewards along the way such as these peaks and streams.
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Trail builders have mercy on the hikers with stepping stones across Bishop Creek. Russ (foreground) and Thomas.
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The view from my campsite for the week. We'll stay here, then do day hikes to explore peaks and summits higher up.
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Russ (background) and I slogging up a snow field from the Powell Glacier
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"Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream . . . " Lyrics from Tomorrow Never Knows by the Beatles.
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Lupins.
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I think these are a variety Desert Paintbrush.
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My humble quarters. This new tent allows lots of air flow. Great for afternoon naps. Not so great for cold overnight winds.
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Can you spot the water fall? The Powell Glacier is shown on the upper right.
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Same water fall up close.
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Moonlight Lake. Our base camp is among the trees way in the back.
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The trail along Moonlight Lake.
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The moon sets at 6:15 AM while the sun takes it's time to warm the campers. The full moon overnight was wicked bright.
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My video footage:
Streams and Flowers Video Here
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Have you returned from a place so amazing that it takes days to readjust to normal life? Send a comment, I'd love to hear. The comment password is Life is Good.
I felt very fortunate to get out of modern life for a while, it's really getting ridiculous, as you know.