There is much to hope for in and from life. Should we wish to focus on only one aspect, not the most important we admit, it might be that we should never lose our enthusiasm for exploring nature and the wilderness on foot. Come to think of it, while many hope for much, should those desires not raise one's enthusiasm dramatically, then are they really worth seeking?
Jen continues down one of many ups-and-downs...this one gave a view of the top of the Carson Range until a little way down.
Jen returning on a steep slope (reverse of above) and about to rise on our short-cut which is even steeper.
Scenes such as this, combining challenging multi-climbs with staggering views, add to one's love of life, one's privileges.
Learning to absorb the sights slowly.
I began to 'bleed' after coming across this view. I had pinched myself once too often as a reminder I wasn't dreaming.
While every aspect of life has its challenges, much of the time such obstacles are placed strategically on our paths for our benefit. I exclude the malady of poor health, that which is not self-inflicted, as it’s cruel and without explanation. That aside, we believe that unless life presents itself with hurdles, some more difficult than others, the success, rewards and satisfaction derived will be much less, often meaningless. We have mentioned this often enough but cannot help reiterating the concept as it is such a vital and integral aspect of life. It’s become even less propagated in modern times as a growing section of the populous expect that sustaining and experiencing the wonder of life is a societal right that should be presented to many, on the proverbial plate. Certain groups and types should be excluded, of course, state the experts from their asylums...continues at end...
The full frontal. Beyond these highlights lies Lake Tahoe; in front of them is Lake Washoe.
Is that Jen ascending again? By the way, where's all the water?
In the previous blog, an exploratory hike, we did not reach the heights achieved on this day. Lake Washhoe and its glorious 'curve'.
Searching for a perch.
Got it!
The earth colors are most pleasing on the eye.
Another part of the range.
Sometimes 'we take the gap' but not before 'finding the gap'.
Still moving upwards.
Discovering beauty and wonders while wandering far and wide.
A view from the second peak of a few of the day.
Shortcuts, as in life, come with a price...but it was worth it.
Jen eases off the steep slope and cuts across for a while.
Let's go home and bask probably, bath, too.
This is a rather strange route to follow when one wishes to introduce another type of path through life. It’s obvious that our trail will take us in and through the wilderness. We mention this because there is no limit to the miraculous formations, the interactions occurring, the visual beauty that confronts one, the challenges of trying to reach destinations that care little about making it accessible or at least easier to reach and perhaps most staggering of all, each occasion being unique. We should expand upon this concept.
We arrived in Reno, Northern Nevada, a region much different from the southern part. We’ve been in the mountains that surround Lake Tahoe on a number of occasions so in theory, we are familiar with it all. However, this might sound correct, it’s anything but that. Like most parts of the world, at least those of at least a lightly mountainous nature, a lifetime spent exploring provides only a fraction of exposure. We realize how limited we are but sometimes it seems that we believe we may have seen a fraction of the world (say .01%) and then realize we are over-exaggerating by multiples. This is very pleasing else we might get bored in our remaining time on Earth. For example, we have climbed much in the past and a little recently of the Carson Range, part of the Sierra-Nevada Mountains, which cover California mainly. While some may pooh-pooh it not being the Himalayas, which it’s not, the range is nothing short of spectacular. One could spend a lifetime exploring it and still not be sated.
Obviously, the seasons and periods between them provide different views of the mountains and hence, conditions for hiking. While the snow beautifies these magnificent edifices, it also adds complications and further challenges for climbers, hikers and these days, bikers, too. The current period is spring in this region which has allowed enough snow to remain in place. It does hinder us but it also allows for views that are so uplifting that at times one feels one has experienced a taste of heaven. Sometimes, while I might be one for hyperbole when it comes to nature, I question whether heaven could be this magnificent.
As we commence our hikes, we invariable are at low levels except when descending down into canyons at which stage we get much lower. When we have visuals of lakes and mountains, they vary in degree of beauty. However, the higher the altitude one achieves, the more striking is the coloring, the shapes become pronounced, especially of the bodies of water, the perspective develops a sharpness which is quite different from level vision. The mountains remain overpowering but the shapes become even more distinctive while snow covering, not unlike make-up, hides some of the harsh wrinkles, enhancing the rock, sand and tree-coloring because of further contrasts. With the other natural attributes such as sky, ever-changing and varying clouds, vegetation including trees, the multi-coloring of the rock formations, just to mention a limited number of aspects we viewed, one becomes dazed in awe. We should have mentioned animals, always restless birds, and should Jenni allow, reptiles, too.
Such has been many of the views we’ve experienced over the last 4 hikes. Standing at higher altitudes and casting our eyes beginning at the sights below, commencing from lake and ground-levels, thereafter moving up and in the distance to the black tree-covered mountains, and even higher to the snow-covered peaks, one is filled with privileges, with blessings and might we add, some reward for the effort undertaken.
The formations with their coverings, some places full snow, others partial, trees protruding which make for a dotted view of the slopes, jutting rocks and boulders, some in hues of yellow orange and red, all combine to make every place in the world different, each unique. Nature’s imagination knows no boundaries, allowing our own imaginations to develop, too.
Take a look, if you will, at a handful of photographs which we believe attest to our opinions and of course, state our visions far better than our words. The miracle of the camera is another wonder. However, we sometimes write of our views (sights) rather than rely on the photographs only. It’s important to express oneself through words if not only to avoid laziness, but rather to try to share the feelings that such visions create inside one, in one’s soul. It also provides a perspective, our opinion in a sense, which may differ from that of another viewer, thus adding extra to the conversation.
It’s our custom, desire really, to find challenging and quieter trails. We’ll often arrive in a town and cast our eyes toward the mountains with the intention of finding a trail or even a goat-path. This concept fails because of rough terrain, private property restrictions and difficult access via our vehicle. Nevertheless, it succeeds often enough to encourage us to continue the pursuit. This hike is one such success which took us high, far, alone, and of course with views of incredible snow-capped mountains opposite as well as to our sides. It included Lake Washoe as well as a fascinating hike over many mountains, amongst attractive rocks, landscapes…need we continue.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
