On Wednesday morning, our first day back in Bishop for our second stay, we were perhaps a little under-prepared for the weather. In two days, the landscape changed from that of typical summer to almost winter. The change is dramatic. It looks incredible from the warmth of the car or fireside of a cozy room. At the trailhead, we had to make a decision. Do we do what we know we should or rather head for the cozy room? The temperature was 29 degrees Fahrenheit or about minus 2 Celsius. Bear in mind, as one gets closer to the sun, say nearly another 2,000 feet closer, it gets even colder. You figure that out, we have a lot more on our minds. The temperature at lake altitude would be lower, the wind would cool things down somewhat and the water would probably join in the act and take us down a few degrees, just for spite. Finally, snow covered the trail completely, adding to the difficulty and risks.
The result of today’s hike is that we set off on virgin snow, sinking up to half-calf length at times. Weather and all issues set aside, it was invigorating, exciting with visuals that were overwhelming. We’d do it again in a heartbeat. Surrounded by mountains of monstrous proportions and varying form, a valley below covered in snow, lakes not yet frozen over while watching the wind blow snow off the peaks, counts as personal highlights for us. Weather be damned. In fact, at times it got quite pleasant relatively speaking. Each day seems to be a unique, uplifting and filled with memorable experiences. B’H.
We continue to learn much on hike-about. We have always wondered about frozen fish. At the markets, we pass the fishmongers and struggle to avoid the awful smell. ‘Yes, Mom, we know it’s food and should respect it. And we remember all the starving people in Africa. But it still stinks.” Well, today early on in the hike, we met two fishermen who were going to the lower lake. As we passed them in the beginning, we got it. They stood at the water edge and reeled in frozen fish with their rods. Could the fish be anything but frozen in that cold water? It’s a wonderful system. No smell and until they deliver the fish, they can use the frozen fellas to keep the beers on ice.
We had a warm-hearted laugh when we noticed deer standing at the side of the road as we drove to the trail. Last week, our hunter friend spent the day searching the hills for his prey while these little animals were standing at the side of the road. We know people have to eat but we felt good seeing the survivors. Had they moved a foot to the left, we would have hit them with the car. I suppose then we would be hunters, too.
We don’t have experience in snow from our days as youths as we only saw it fall twice during our lives in Johannesburg. Unfortunately, our editor tells us we don’t have our youth any longer either. However, now we have snow and plenty of it. We will say, if we might be immodest for a moment, we were on top form. When it comes to directions, inter alia, our editor says and we quote, “ You are directionally dumb”—that’s on a good day. Unfortunately, we concur. Today, in the snow, she said we were nothing short of brilliant. Once again, we must concur. By the way, when we don’t get lost more than three times in any two-hour period, that’s her definition of ‘brilliant’. Ours, too.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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