On Sunday, surrounded by massive mountains, we felt the chill of the east wind. We don’t really know which way east is but it sounds intelligent. Also, we have read that the east winds bring trouble and to that extent, we were correct. We sometimes get things right although often for the wrong reason. The snow fell a short while after we arrived in Lee Vining, the gateway to the eastern entrance of Yosemite, the destination of our next hiking adventure. We knew we were taking a chance as the season is almost over—actually it is now. At altitudes above 10,000 feet, it is unlikely that snow will melt before the next storm. When we arose on Monday at about 6am, we looked out the window to view the electronic highway sign that declares which roads are open/closed. In bold orange, it read ‘Tioga Pass closed’ as well as two others. We saw it a little differently—man plans and G-d laughs.
The daytime temperature had dropped from the high-seventies in Bishop to mid-30’s in Lee Vining, only an hour driving distance apart. This ignores the wind chill factor; that east wind attacked us from all four sides, and probably above and below, too. You should have heard our editor shiver. A San Diego girl doesn’t understand those kind of temperatures. Before we left on Hike-about 10, we did have a little friendly tiff—we do have those from time to time although not all are ‘friendly’. Our editor said we are going into winter. ‘Hold it right there,’ we answered. ‘It is fall, not winter.’ Winter conjures bad images for a San Diego girl. It looks like our editor was right…again.
The Inn management was most understanding of weather issues and so after two nights of a planned five night stay, we left the Yosemite area. We had intended hiking to the summit of Mount Dana, one of the highest peaks in the area. Coincidentally, we met John, an engineer and professional photographer who helps out at the inn. He said he had reached that peak three weeks before when a lightning storm struck. He obviously made it down safely. He also mentioned that he raised horses at one time. In our next life, we are considering trying horses, children are hard work. Our favorite fantasy, after having a grandchild like Ellie, is a system where one can skip children and go directly to having grandchildren. The concept seems to work; it’s the devil in the details that’s proving a little difficult.
John’s story got quite interesting after that. He was riding a gelding while his wife was on a mare years before. The horse was approaching her fertile period. He opened the paddock and let the stallion enter, that is , enter the enclosure. John says that things got very interesting thereafter. Suffice to say, John is since divorced.
With Yo’ semite, (we wonder if that is a greeting to a Jew), out the way, the editor, in a moment of brilliance, devised a new plan. We are excited about this idea which takes effect from Sunday. Until then, we are returning to Bishop which is an outstanding area to visit. In fact, we left last Sunday reluctantly and arrived back today, Tuesday. On the way from Lee Vining, a town of about three hundred, we hiked to Lake Parker which wets the base of the magnificent and overpowering Mount Parker—apparently they are related, we think on the west side. It was a refreshing hike in snow, fresh powder, too. The less than 6 mile hike under towering mountains, in 4 inches of snow was terrific although when that east wind blew, we felt the big chill. Cold affects us all differently. We met a couple of fisherman at the lake, the only hikers on the trail, and were quite astounded to see one in short sleeves while our editor had on four layers. In fairness, he had about a 4-inch layer of body fat to assist.
Snow covers many of the mountains in different degrees compared with almost nothing, two days before. Some are haunting, others are bright and prominent but all look magnificent. What a sight. We passed through districts today that were unbelievably beautiful, many sporting clumps of Aspens, mountains of course, streams and lakes—a richness in nature that is so staggering that words fail us.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
Contrast the above with an early morning view of Bishop's mountains
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