High Sierra

The Range of Light (as John Muir called it) is certainly an apt name. We were treated to some great roadside views while returning home via Sonora Pass. We read about a guy who spent 35 days crossing the mountains by this route in 1852. Not that easy if you have no road plus wagons and oxen to deal with. The first thing he did upon settling in Tuolumne County was to marry a survivor of the Donner Party.

We all have our challenges, but it seems that daily life is much easier these days.

Mount Dana

Dad and I hiked to the summit of Mt. Dana (13,053 ft.) in Yosemite National Park. It’s the second highest point in the park after Mt. Lyell (which has a long hike in and is a much tougher climb). It was a great experience and the view from the top was stupendous. We got rained on a bit on the way back down, but we rewarded ourselves with a huge late lunch at a diner in town.

The photo was taken at Tioga Pass (our starting point) early in the morning. In it I’m wondering what it’s going to take to reach the top. It was a great feeling to succeed.

Upside Down

The most unusual building in Lee Vining, California has to be the Upside Down House. It was built by silent film actress Nellie Bly O’Bryan (1893-1984) who lived in the area. It’s actually kind of a shack but it’s cool to take a peek inside. All of the furnishings are nailed to the floor which is actually up (the ceiling is down). This being Planet Earth, Ms. O’Bryan needed an assist to defeat gravity. One other fun touch: the plaque on the outside is upside down so you have to stand on your head to read it.

It’s right off U.S. 395, so check it out if you’re traveling through.

The Irishmen

Never being ones to pass up the scenic route, Dad and I started heading back to California via Irish Canyon in northwestern Colorado. It’s an interesting spot with Native American petroglyphs but it doesn’t look very much like the Emerald Isle. The name comes from three men from the 19th century who held up a saloon in Rock Springs, Wyoming and came down here to hide out from the law. Notice that these guys were identified by their ethnicity rather than their crime. This was back in the days of “no Irish need apply” America and many folks distrusted and were scared of the new waves of immigrants coming to these shores. I’d like to say that we’ve moved on from that, but…

Luckily, I’m no crook. But at least I know a good place to hide if I ever need one.

Devil’s Causeway

Devil’s Tower, Devil’s Lake, Devil’s Hole, Mt. Diablo… and Dad’s favorite, a lake called Devil’s Punchbowl in California’s Sierra Nevada. It seems like ol’ Satan has his name on lots of natural features, most of which are quite benign.

Introducing the Devil’s Causeway in Colorado’s Flat Tops Wilderness Area. It’s a ridge of volcanic rock that narrows to a three foot wide “trail” with sheer drop offs on either side. Dad and I hiked up to check it out on a rainy morning. The scenery was incredible with vast vistas and shifting cloud patterns. When we got to the narrow part we stopped abruptly. I think I could have crossed it. Dad thinks he could have crossed it by himself, but he was terrified to cross it with me (just looking at it was an adrenaline rush). Something about a protective parental instinct kicking in. So we turned around and retraced our steps. No regrets.

I have lots of exciting adventures with my dad and, even though I miss out on a few things, I’m really glad he’s there to make sure I stay safe.

My First Fourteener

Yesterday we climbed Colorado’s Mt. Yale (14,196 ft.) in the Sawatch Range. Well, there’s a caveat… we didn’t make it all the way to the summit, but we got pretty close. We hiked up to around 13,000 ft. and decided to turn around due to approaching storm clouds. (Safety first. You do not want to be caught in an electrical storm up there.) In any case, the views were spectacular of the surrounding mountains as far as the eye could see.

One guy we met on the trail said: “Is this a father-son expedition?” Of course, we answered in the affirmative. He thought that was pretty cool. Dad says I should get credit for bagging this peak since we would have made it if he hadn’t slowed us down. At one point I thought I heard him say: “Gettin’ up there.” I wasn’t sure if he meant that we were rising in elevation or that he’s superannuated.

This was the highest spot I’ve ever been to so far. Notice in the picture that I made a point of wearing my t-shirt showing the lowest place I’ve been: Badwater Basin in Death Valley.

Million Dollar Highway

U.S. 550 in Colorado between Durango and Ouray is sometimes called the “Million Dollar Highway.” I was expecting to see gold-plated road signs (I didn’t) but we did experience a dramatic alpine section of road (complete with rainy weather). I guess it must cost a lot to build a road that crosses four 10,000 foot passes.