Lazarow World-Hike-About

We returned to Mono Lake after Mammoth as we headed west to see Robbie on the west coast. Another favorite from the region, sunset in the Sierra. Jen crests a secondary peak only to feel the summit seems no closer. Mammoth Lakes city below. The scenes from the top are breathtaking. We left Yosemite National Park on Friday with the intention of hiking to the peak of Mammoth Mountain and then cutting west to see our youngest, Robbie. The editor had time to rest and recover as the local mountain, covered in ski lifts, surrounded by many mountain ranges and lakes, is quite a tough one, too. With the lower temperatures and always-active winds, the going becomes a little rough in places. “Let’s see it as a climb to reach the peak where we can partake of tea and coffee and enjoy the sights,” we suggested to the editor. There are closer coffee shops but then why make life easier, we thought. The elevation gain is 3,100 feet over four miles with parts, e...

This blog deals with four hikes in Utah: Taylor Creek in Kolob Canyon, Bunting and Squaw in Kanab and Toadstool Hoodoos and surround, between Kanab and Page, Arizona. Rising before sunrise is 'for the birds'. (We waited months to capture this scene. The editor was not charmed.) Fires in the cities, peace in the wilds. We've hiked quite a bit in Utah, the southern region, a land that has fascinated us from our first visit. As the heading pronounces, the rugged beauty is a knock-out. The state has at least five national parks that we have visited frequently. We have a soft spot for Zion with the others trailing not far behind as we have mentioned, from time to time. However, the Grand Staircase Escalante is another gem, rough but vast and gorgeous in many places. The colors, shapes, sizes and positioning of the mountains provide the viewer with constant amazement. So much is exposed to the national and local roads; however, the views from there only provi...

This blog, a favorite for the record, has four options for the viewer. 1. Close immediately, realizing you hit the wrong button; return to watching football; or 2. Ignore the text and photographs and proceed to the end to watch a musical video; or 3. Read text and view photographs but ignore video; or 4. View everything after deciding to show misplaced loyalty to Lawrence and his Camel(ia). Tracks in the sand or perhaps a 'line in the sand before a desert storm'. After leaving Zion National Park, we headed for Bryce Canyon to slow down a little. One does not need much time in Bryce or to the contrary, one can spend a lifetime there. There are thousands of different shapes of eroding sandstones, each in a form identifiable with a little imagination. The hikes are good, too, particularly those that lead down into the canyon and allow one to wonder about the amphitheater and gain interesting perspectives. The hoodoos are more attractive at level viewing or from ...

Gorgeous, a captivating scene from Ralston peak. Pyramid Peak, we climbed it a little over two years ago. It must be one of the most deceptive peaks and surfaces we have been upon. The editor was quick to inform us that the Mount Ralston is known as a butt-kicker. We are not fond of the term but it certainly makes the point. She also informed us that according to her source, the Desolation Wilderness is one of the most popular, if not the premier, hiking areas in the country. Should we wish to encourage people to visit a region, we could think of a better name than 'desolation'. Shows you how wrong our thinking is. Anyway, we set off from home which is currently Pollock Pines, somewhere along Highway 50. The area is so attractive, exacerbated by the beauty of the fall colors. We expected to have to fight our way through the crowds to get to the peak of Mount Ralston. The climb is 2,800 feet over eight miles return. There are few switchbacks, making it...