49.18 California, Stebbins Cold Canyon: Blue Ridge Trail at Berryessa Lake and Dam.

A taste of a staggering day! Some days, a person knows it's going to be good even prior to commencement. Today, it only got better at Lake Berryessa and the surrounding mountains.

We suppose, 'seek and you shall find' makes a whole lot more sense since our parents told us when kids.
We moved along the ridge for more than a mile. We find the scene a 'classic'.

 

The day following had to be anticlimactic…and unfortunately, it was. The views of Berryessa Lake and Dam, the climbing, which was mostly steep, and the hiking along the ridge, were superb. The atmosphere permeating in the region, one might say, hit the spot. The area suffered much fire damage, we were told, and we did see some blackened parts but nothing distracting. Yet, nature takes natural phenomena in its stride and does what it knows best—continues growing, rejuvenating, and dealing with the situation at hand. 

We remember sitting on a volcano years ago and seeing the devastation after an explosion long before our seeding. We could see green shoots and other plant life beginning to cover parts of the lava. At the time, it struck us that we humans are only on Earth for few years whereas the natural attributes of the planet have indefinite lives, infinite it would seem in many instances. Thus, we are in a hurry because the ‘clock is running’ and understandably, we have not the patience. For a mountain, a thousand or more years is a mere ‘blink of the eye (of the sun)’. 

It leads on to a further lesson. It’s amazing what a person can accomplish with consistency when applied positively. Time and motion. Apply the two concepts steadily and consistently and a person can reach a destination, no matter where that site is set. 

As we approached the south peak, which overlooks the dam, we came across a number of park employees undertaking trail maintenance. They were impressive in their friendliness as well attitude to being in a rather tough environment performing physical tasks in the heat. They were in good spirits; it showed clearly. They were young, all appeared strong and mostly woman. We nearly felt guilty having such a good time.

We entered the car park from that road alongside Putah Creek which becomes a strong flowing a river. (Telephoto provides nice detail).

One can create one's own positions which invariably add to the hike.

A little rocky time.
There's that damn hidden wall...think it should read dam wall. It's the only part of the views not that easy to observe clearly.
A partial view of the ridge as we head to the far minor peak.
The dam and lake, aided by the mountains and hills, provided some 1,500 feet of elevation gain on the day. The contrast of color was distinctive.
The 'ups-and-downs' of the ridge but all 'up'.

Jen on the wide part of the ridge heading for the hill ahead.
Jen ascending...it seems that nature has made a great recovery from a terrible fire some 9 months before.
Cheers!
Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey