Summer Backpacking Adventures

Summer 2013 was a dry year for backpacking in the Sierras. A mid-July trip to Alta Meadow and Peak with friends went well with little water in the creeks, but some marvelous garden displays. We counted 21 species by the Alta Meadow creek along including Lewis' Monkey Flower and Monkshood.

 August 7 began a 9-day backpack via Sequoia Natural History Association with "groupies" I have hiked with for 10+ seasons. We headed to the Middle Fork of the Kings River in Kings Canyon National Park on a little used, unmaintained trail--how true! Hiking around fallen trees, slipping on slippery oak leaves and brushy obstacles were the name of the game as we descended 3,700' in four miles. Chuck actually broke a rib when he fell getting around a fallen tree. So we learned about Sequoia/Kings medical evacuation services the next morning as a yellow wasp of a helicopter flew into the canyon next to Tehipite Dome with two EMTs to evacuate Chuck.                                                                      photo courtesy of Bob Early

We carried on the next day following the Middle Fork but up and down the mountain side past avalanche chutes. After 12 miles we made a hasty camp at 6 p.m. since we couldn't seem to find the Simpson Meadow campsite--next morning we learned it was right across the river and idyllic!  A day of rest and then up out of the river valley, climbing up 4,000' in 6 miles and then the real fun began going cross-country past Volcano Lakes. What looked like an easy route on the topo maps suddenly took on new dimensions. A tough climb up 800' in two miles, then the descent from hell to E. Kennedy Lake only made possible because we took our backpacks off twice, passed them down a 6' boulder to the guys and then carefully slipped down ourselves. Well, we survived and here's a photo of the group on top of Kennedy Pass (just under 11,000') to prove it! (I'm third from the right.) Photo courtesy of Lu Plauzoles

We'll pick an easier trail next summer.

Pinnacles National Park in Spring

The newest National Park--Pinnacles is an old friend (a National Monument) with a new name. I have made a  trek there with friends to look at spring wildflowers for more than a decade. This year was a bit dry, but still enabled us to find 40+ species  in two days. A favorite hard-to-spot flower is Bitterroot. It hides in gravelly soil in full sun and with almost no basal leaves it strains the eyes to find it. One was in full bloom (see left). Once we found that one our eyes suddenly found a dozen plants with tightly closed buds.

If you have never been to Pinnacles be prepared to climb to the High Peaks which are part of an ancient volcano, that slowly rode the Pacific Plate about 195 north, leaving a trace of the same rock behind in Los Angeles County near Lancaster. The Civilian Conservaton Corps (CCC) built trails, tunnels and a dam in the 1930s that are still in use today. The staircase shown at left with steps blasted out of the distinctive rhyolite rock aids your ascent to the  High Peaks.

With a little luck you may see adult condors warming up to start their day's gliding as thermals rise in the late morning. We saw four adults on a ledge as we hiked up Condor Gulch trail and then suddenly they rose at once, spreading their 9' wings to circle above us and take off over the peaks. All 30+ condors now in the Pinnacles wear tracking devices. We ran into a biologist with his signal receiving gear who told us that the Pinnacles group and the Ventana group of Condors visit each other regularly. No sweat to travel more than 100 miles when you have a 9' wingspan!

Our visit was over the spring vacation break so there were many  students rock climbing and hiking. It was great to see young people enjoying the outdoors. If you're anywhere in the area of San Benito County--not far from San Jose or Monterey--stop to visit this incredible jewel in the National Park system.

Nature's Treasures in Kaua'i

Peter and I enjoyed eight days in Kaua'i recently...great weather..good birding and hiking and more. We headquartered in Kapaa on the eastside coconut coast and enjoyed the hometown atmosphere and less crowded conditions compared to Poipu. There is a beautiful seaside paved path from Kapaa toward Anahola Beach that is wonderful for cycling and walking. A three mile hike up the east trail to the top of Sleeping Giant afforded great views of the coastal plain from Lihue north. For more photos go to the link below:
https://picasaweb.google.com/117619508186210444760/Kauai2013

Birding at Kauai's National Wildlife Refuges at Kilauea Point showed the Red-footed Boobies looking for nesting material while the Laysan Albatross were busy courting. At  the Hanalei wetlands native NeNe geese were gathered in great numbers along with lots of waterfowl.

Limahuli Gardens (left) near Ha'ena are part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens (NTBG) focusing on native Hawaiian agricultural practices. Original terracing for taro-growing and native plants are featured in part of the garden. Another section includes plantation-era plants and an archaeological site. Threatened and endangered species feature in another section--less than 50 specimens of some species exist in the world, so the NTBG is doing its part to preserve these rare plants.The garden is on 17 acres, but a total of 985 acres is in the preserve and continues to be studied for cultural sites and rare plants. Don't miss this learning experience if you are on Kaua'i!

Nova Scotia in September

A two week trip to Nova Scotia to scout Peter's great, great grandfather who vanished there in 1874 gave us plenty of opportunity for beach walking, hiking, golfing, eating seafood and enjoying Celtic Music on Cape Breton.

Miles and miles of forest reminded me of my childhood home growing up in the Catskill Mountains in New York State. Hiking afforded lots of view of trees, bogs and some birds, but few view spots until you reached a solitary rocky promontory.

One exception was the Skyline Trail on the west side of Cape Breton. Because of the fragile habitat national parks constructed long plank paths that gave spectacular views of the coast and distant Prince Edward Island. Part of the path went through more open meadows and I saw two moose feeding on luscious spruce tips. Celtic music is a feature of this land settled by Scots and Irish people and the Red Shoe Pub in Mabou on a Sunday afternon offered the best of entertainment, food and drink. Don't miss it if you visit Cape Breton!

 

 

Nine Days Backpacking in Mineral King

 

Mid- August saw me on Sequoia trails with six fellow hikers on a Sequoia Natural History Association trip led by Rick Mitchell. The first day's hike to Franklin Lake was over a Cadillac trail. Day # 2 we gained another 2,000+' going over Franklin Pass.(Photo right at 11,800'). Then down hill under threatening rain to No Name Lake for two nights, going up to Shotgun pass (also 11,000+' ) for a pleasant day hike.  Weather conditions were "iffy" with rain threatening at several times. The rain clouds made for some fantastic sunsets.


Franklin Lake View

Heading for Little Claire Lake we passed through marvelous Foxtail Pine forest with gnarly, lightening-split trunks that looked tortured, and probably are hundreds of years old. On to Big Five Lakes, then Little Five Lakes with distant views of Whitney and it's neighbors and up close views of the Kaweah mountains. Watching the colors change on the mounains at sunset was a spectacular light show. That night I woke to the loudest thunder I've ever heard with lightening striking just a bit too close for comfort.
Out over Black Rock Pass (another 11,000+'), down to the junction and then finally Timber Gap pass on our last day and back into Mineral King. Life doesn't get much better than this!

Panama Adventures in April 2012

An 11 day trip to Panama included not only the incredible canal passage, but a ride on the Panama Railway to Colon, kayaking on Lake Gatun, a walk in the rain forest at Gamboa and a side trip to the beautiful cloud forest of El Valle de Anton and to an Embera village where I'm sure at least some beaded clothing was doffed the moment the last tourist left!
We went through the canal on a 120' catamaran which looked insect-size compared to the biggest cargo container ships that were going through at the same time. The canal is an incredible piece of engineering as it celebrates its 100th anniversary next year and is still going strong. New larger locks are being built adjacent to the original ones and are on schedule to open in 2014.

Panama City is a booming town. Even Donald Trump has invested in building a towering skyscraper.The skyline looks like Miami and it is the banking capital of Latin America. The canal, of course, has spurred much of this development. The Caribbean side is another story and looks totally third world. We were told that 10,000 people from Panama City commute to the Caribbean side each day (50 miles) to work in the trade free zone in Colon. Why not employ locals?

"Red Devil" buses sport vivid colors

It seemed strange to use U.S. $$ everywhere yet hear Spanish spoken. Occasionally we'd receive balboas as change, but all the coins are the same size as US coinage. The old Canal  Zone housing which was exclusively for Americans working in the Zone has been sold to locals and the great network of roads is a legacy of the US era. We didn't get far from the old Canal Zone, but Panama offers a wealth of countryside to explore for birders, beachcombers and general tourism. We went on to visit friends in Costa Rica and found most items more expensive there. My friend said that Ticos now go to Panama City for shopping splurges as it's closer than Miami, requires no visa and has a vast array of goods.

See more photos  on my Picasa website: https://picasaweb.google.com/117619508186210444760/Panama?authkey=Gv1sRgCLz42Z2P6b-R8gE#

County Kerry Adventures, August/Sept. 2011

West Coast Scenes

Ireland is great in fall...no crowds, good weather and plenty of Guinness as always. From Ancient ring stones (left) to fresh seafood, colorful towns and Celtic music, there is lots to explore and experience. Aren't we lucky that we have a son and daughter-in-law living in Ballybunion? This time we explored the Beara and Iveragh Peninsulas using Kenmare as our headquarters. A highlight on the Beara Peninsula was the cable car journey of about 10 minutes over to Dursey Island. The car carries six people or one cow! There is a small village with perhaps 10 houses as well as acres of sheep and fine cattle. The one tarred road didn't have too much traffic, but then we were not walking during commute hour. The last cable car leaves the island at 4 p.m.

Son Glen found plenty of back roads for us to travel and we admired heather, St. Joseph's lilies and fuchsia bushes lining many of the roads. The sea is seldom far away on any West Coast road, so take time for a pub lunch of seafood chowder or mussels--always washed down with a Guinness, of course. Slainte!