I love flying into San Francisco. Today was one of the best as it was partly cloudy and you could clearly see the azure green waters of the bay stretching for miles. Mt. Tamalpais loomed north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The familiar skyline of downtown San Francisco was a welcome sight. It was a perfect spring day.

After grabbing my luggage I walked to the tram to catch a ride to the rental car facility. Once outside, I immediately noticed the crisp, cool ocean breeze off the Pacific sweeping briskly through the airport. I caught a strong scent of cedar, fir and redwood. The smell was intoxicating and I immediately felt a wave of exhilaration. I was back on the west coast!

It’s amazing to me how a place can really get under you skin. I’ve always felt that about northern California.

More about my adventures as the week progresses.

Michael

Sunrise Tufa Towers at Mono Lake

One hour before sunrise I arrived at the Mono Lake Tufa Tower State Reserve. It was just me, some birds I could not see yet and a shadowy alien landscape that stretched for miles. Frankly it was a little spooky out here for a few minutes until I got adjusted.

Mono Lake is estimated to be over 700,000 years, is 80 times more alkaline and 2 1/2 times more salty than the ocean. This means that you will easily float if you got in the water. In fact sea gulls have a difficult time because they become very buoyant and lose their balance.

Originally the tufa towers, composed of calcium carbonate, formed beneath the water with the interaction of fresh water springs bubbling up into the alkaline water.

As the sun rose it bathed the tufa towers with a warm light while a pair of ospreys woke up and began to fly around the area. I had always wanted to photograph here at sunrise. Dreams can come true.

At the Top of Lembert Dome

I met my daughter and her boyfriend for breakfast. We drove back up the Tioga Pass Road to Tuolumne Meadows. Our goal was to hike to the top of Lembert Dome with an elevation of 9400 ft (2865 m). The trail to the top is 2.8 miles (4.5 km) long with a 900 ft. (270 m) elevation climb. Very tough for me as the air was thin and I wasn’t in the best cardiovascular shape, but with my daughter’s encouragement I made it all the way.

The first 2/3 of the trail is through a wonderful pine forest. My daughter and I saw a deer casually looking for tender greens to snack on. We watched in silence for a few minutes before continuing on.

The views were stunning as you could see 360 degrees. Storm clouds were forming in the distance and the wind became quite strong. We decided to head back down.

I had a little trouble on the way down as I went too far down the side of the dome and then had to haul myself and camera equipment back up to the trail. Doh! 

Overall, I highly recommend this hike.

View my photos for this day.

Michael

Glacial Erratics at Olmsted Point

Our destination for the day was to reach and then explore Tioga Pass Road in Yosemite National Park. Tioga Pass Road is probably one of the most scenic roads in California. It starts around 6000 ft. (1829 m) elevation and then begins to drop quickly after Tioga Pass which is 9943 ft (3021 m) in elevation.

Olmsted Point has spectacular views of of Half Dome from the east which is quite a different perspective from the valley views. Large glacial erratics pepper the landscape like a group of marbles. Hardy pines find crevices in the rock to anchor themselves.

Turning slightly northeast from here gives you clear views of azure blue Tenaya Lake at 8150 ft. (2484 m) elevation. Tenaya lake feeds Mirror Lake in Yosemite Valley through Tenaya Creek. The photo link below has a couple of photographs of Tenaya Lake.

Tufa Towers in Mono Lake

Passing through Tioga Pass was quite overwhelming. We had to stop several times to view the dramatic landscape around us. The air was thin making it difficult to breath after exerting ourselves.

We meandered down to Mono Lake which is currently around 6385 ft. (1946 m) in elevation. Due to recent laws, the lake is being restored to levels seen in the 1940′s.

I have always wanted to go here. My daughter and I really enjoyed walking around the strange and alien landscape of tufa towers, desert plants, bizarre insects and dozens of bird species including ospreys.

It was a long day and we were in need of nourishment and a good night’s sleep. The nearby town of Lee Vining supplied both.

View my photos for this day (10 photos).

Michael

Mt. Lassen and Lake Helen

After waking up early, we headed east towards Redding, CA. 190 miles of beautiful highway lay between us and the our ultimate goal; Mt. Lassen National Park (National Park Service Link).

Our journey on Hwy 299 took us through the Six Rivers National Forest and the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area. They constitute a very rugged and beautiful part of Northern California. Although our plans didn’t allow us to stop here and explore, we will be back. White water rafting, kayaking, hiking, camping and all other sorts of outdoor activities abound here. I highly recommend it.

We entered Mt. Lassen National Park (Wikipedia Link) on the northern end which is at the convergence of Hwy. 44 and 89. Mt. Lassen is a 10,457 foot (3,187 m) plug volcano and is the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range. In fact, it is one of the world’s largest plug dome volcanoes. On May 22nd, 1915 Lassen exploded and shed a huge portion of it’s northeast side which slide down and destroyed many acres of forest.

Lassen has the highest average annual snowfall amounts in California. 660 inches (16.76 m) are common, but 1000 inches (25.4 m) have been recorded. As you can imagine snow lingers for quite some time with the consequence of not having the road clear (Hwy. 89) until June in some years.

Mt. Lassen National Park is a hidden gem with fantastic landscapes, unusual geology, active steam vents, azure blue lakes, waterfalls, meadows, hundreds of species of plants and animals and miles of trails to explore. Make an effort to visit this constantly changing place.

Please see my additional photos for this day.

Michael

Along the Cathedral Trees Trail

After a restful sleep in Arcata, we left early, enveloped in a dense fog blanketing the coast. Our first goal was to reach Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. This park is part of the Redwood National Park system.

The day started with a view of a local herd of wild elk feeding in a meadow at the entrance to the park. What a great way to start our adventure! We continued on to the park office and the start of a hike or two.

Our breaths were taken away as it was our first time walking the Cathedral Trees Trail. Group after group of immensely large redwoods lined the trail and up the hill. As I mentioned in a prior post, the feeling of deep serenity while walking here is undeniable. I continue to find these long lived giants therapeutic on all levels.

After spending some time here, we decided to make the trek (by car) to the parking lot for Fern Canyon. The start of the trail is located on the beach in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The surrounding area is stunning with miles of very wide beach and high cliffs cascading down to the sand. Elk roam the tidal areas along with dozens of species of birds.

Walking Fern Canyon

Part of the Jurassic Park 2 movie was filmed in Fern Canyon. So, that should give you an idea of the other worldly feeling you get from this almost forgotten primal setting. We half expected some strange creature to confront us around each bend.

It was my second visit here, but my daughter’s first. We walked slowly along the creek examining the flora and fauna. Many species of ferns can be found here along with numerous creatures; birds, reptiles, insects and etc.

We made our way back to the beach and watched the ocean for a bit before deciding to head south and make a stop at Patrick’s Point State Park. It sits right on the Pacific Ocean high up on 300 foot tall rocky cliffs. The views are absolutely stunning. Camping is permitted and they have a new visitor center that recently opened.

Our final stop for the day was Trinidad. I love the harbor, the beach, the views and the laid back feeling of this small fishing village that is now home to several art galleries.

Check out the photos from this day. All of the places I’ve mentioned can be seen on the photo link.

Michael

Peace of Mind

Our day started in Sacramento. Very soon we had traversed west and hopped onto to Hwy. 101, the Redwood Highway. The majority of the redwood forest starts a little north of Garberville, CA and continues until Crescent City, CA.

It had been over 10 years since I had gone north on Hwy. 101. My daughter was experiencing it for the first time. We were excited to share this adventure.

I absolutely love the Coast Redwood trees; scientific name of Sequoia sempervirens. They can live upwards of 2,000 years, have root systems that are approximately 8 feet deep and are the tallest trees in the world. A lot of their moisture comes from the fog that regularly rolls in from the Pacific though the rainy season may produce up to 100 inches of rain.

Walking and hiking among these giants is more of a spiritual experience than physical. It’s like stepping back into time when ferns carpeted the ground and you couldn’t see the tops of the trees. The odors drifting through these redwood groves are primal, ancient and alive.

At the same time you feel small and insignificant; you also feel a deep connection to something that has been around for a very long time. It’s a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys nature.

Please see my additional photos from this day.

Michael

When you’re safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you’re having an adventure you wish you were safe at home. – Thornton Wilder

Erica and I arrived back in Rhode Island about 9:30 p.m. It was a long day of flying from California. Combined with the extra physical activity with our week in Yosemite, I was quite tired by the time we arrived. But it was a good tired. It’s the same feeling when you get a lot of work done around the house. In this case it was due to extracting all the available fun and adventure out of every minute we spent in Yosemite.

I still couldn’t go to sleep immediately. Even though my body wanted to, my mind had other plans. Thinking about the trip, looking at my photos and just relaxing in my apartment kept me up until midnight.

It doesn’t take long for me to start planning for my next adventure. I find that funny. I love to return home, but shortly after, I start to think about my next travel. The next big one is Alaska this summer, but I know that I’ll be doing some smaller trips between now and then. Well, there is Barcelona coming up. Not necessarily a small trip.

But, I’m home for now and I love it.

Michael

My daughter and I realized that it was almost exactly one year since our last trip together to Yosemite. We’ve decided to make this an annual trip. It’s a great idea.

I’ve been here over 10 times and I saw things I had never seen. I’m endlessly fascinating about that. Wildlife was abundant. We saw mule deer and coyote on multiple occasions. There were new ephemeral waterfalls to enjoy. Wildflowers were abundant.

On the way out of Yosemite, we were able to spend several tranquil hours walking through the giant sequoias in the southern part of the park. As an added bonus, we discovered an incredible waterfall off of Hwy. 41 that made is felt like we had been transported to a tropical jungle.

We are already planning our next trip.

Michael

Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space. – Ansel Adams

It’s been many months since I was able to visit California. After living there for over 13 years, I still have a quite an attachment. The geography of the state is awe inspiring. In fact, I’m here for two very important reasons. First and most importantly to see my daughter. Secondly, to spend about 5 days in Yosemite National Park.

I haven’t seen my daughter since January. It’s been too long. Both of us are quite excited about spending the week in Yosemite. We’ve been there many times and never tire of it. My daughter’s boyfriend will be there as will Erica as soon as she flies in on Monday.

I’m always changed after visiting Yosemite. There is something about this place that revitalizes me from the inside out. Sometimes it feels like packing in a year’s worth of psychotherapy in just a few days. This recharge usually lasts me for several months.

I’m very appreciative of Yosemite. It’s an example of nature at its most splendid and place very special to my heart.

Have a great day!

Michael

I stopped numerous times to catch my breath and let my legs settle down from the exertion. But during each stop I was able to view the waterfall from very close. The roar was almost deafening. We saw multiple rainbows in the gargantuan amount of mist that was thrown up from the pounding water.

The hike to Vernal Falls is a lot like life. Some parts are steep and require more effort while others are flat and easy-going. Some spots are rocky and others are almost soft. Around every corner is a surprise or great view. Some spots are sunny while others are dark. You meet all sorts of people along the way. Many moments will take your breath away. Focus on each step and not your destination. Friends and family make the journey more enjoyable.

I think the best advice is to wear good shoes and drink lots of water.

Michael