February Abbotts Lagoon Hike

Pasture, Hills - Point Reyes  2018

Sand Ripples - Point Reyes  2018

The month of February, 2018 was annoyingly clear and dry in Marin.

That's when Mike went for an early morning hike on the Abbotts Lagoon trail in Point Reyes, spotting yesterday's coyote. Very cold! He spent quite a bit of time trying to keep his fingers from going numb.

Self-Portrait - Point Reyes  2018

Cold on the Trail

Trail, Frost - Sierra Nevada  2017

Temperature - Sierra Nevada  2017

Mike took a nice dayhike up to Lamarck Lake. But it was cold! Ascending the trail finally warmed him up, however.

Another hike attempt wasn't so successful. He had to turn back on the Piute Pass trail after deciding that the log serving as a stream crossing just wasn't safe. (Although, he did manage to get to the pass in 2007 - but that was in June. Could it be that he was more agile 10 years ago?)

Mike, Piute Pass - Sierra Nevada  2007

Stream Crossing Nostalgia

Wading Across Stream - Sierra Nevada  2016

Drying Off Boots, Self-Portrait - Sierra Nevada  2016

Fritos and Beer - Sierra Nevada  2016

For the last stream crossing, Mike decided to use his old socks-off, boots-on trick and wade across the creek. It worked, kind of. Anyway it was fun.

But then there was the drying-off routine which took some time, time that was then utilized for some Fritos and beer.

Stream Crossings

Stream Crossing 1 - Sierra Nevada  2016

Stream Crossing 2 - Sierra Nevada  2016

Top: stream crossing using rocks. Bottom: stream crossing using piled-up logs.

Using the rocks would have been much more elegant and graceful, but Mike used the logs, scrabbling across on hands and knees. As has been noted, Mike dislikes stream crossings, especially those involving rock-hopping: the rocks are usually spaced way too far apart, so he'll go quite a bit out of his way to avoid them.

El Portal Camp

Tent, Toyota - El Portal  2016

I returned last May to my standard El Portal campsite. Lots of California Buckeyes in bloom, and the nearby Merced River was in full flow.

No rain this year, alas. BTW, once again amazement at how small the bear box is. Yes, I've complained about this before.

Bear Box - El Portal  2016

Camping Trivia

Propane Canister - Sierra Nevada  2015

Bottom of the propane canister Mike was using for his recent camping trip. He bought it in August, 2007.

Eight years old!

Green Creek A.M. Mini-Hike #1

Aspens, Clouds, Mountains - Sierra Nevada  2015

Very little sleep during the night. When I finally got up in the morning darkness there were clouds dimly discerned overhead. And it was relatively warm! 61 degrees, no jacket required.

First things first: boil some water for the Starbucks instant coffee with an indeterminate amount of Coffeemate added. Then go for a mini-hike on the East Lake trail.

Mike, Coffee - Sierra Nevada  2015

Near Lee Vining

Mike, Truck - Sierra Nevada  2015

Mono Cone (Lee Vining) - Sierra Nevada  2015

Top: rest stop overlooking Mono Lake, early morning. No one there, as usual, some smoke in the sky.

Bottom: Mono Cone in Lee Vining, not open yet.

Yosemite Fritos & Beer

Fritos & Beer - Yosemite  2015

As I neared Tioga Pass I realized that it was lunchtime. I had bought a sandwich at the Subway in Oakdale.

Per a Yelp review: I love the food here but the costumer service  needs to be improved. I came here around 9:30ish this morning, mind you I pre ordered my sandwiches, and all I got, over the phone and in person, was sass and attitude. Not only did the lady get one of my orders wrong and then give me attitude when I notified her about it, but she also didn't greet us or have a friendly face.

I have to say that I didn't find any sass or attitude at all. Not only did the comely serviceperson create an exquisite sandwich, but we were also able to have a (short) discussion about my trip (smoke concerns, etc.), wherein she informed me that there is now a Subway location on the way to Yosemite in Groveland. No sass! No attitude!

I found a spot just off the highway where I could park the truck, get out a stool to sit on, and voila!: Fritos & Beer. Plus smoke and a cold little breeze. (How very similar this photo is to last year's shot.)

Bonus photo: Mt. Dana through the smoke:

Mt. Dana, Smoke - Yosemite  2015

Campground Sightems

BBQ - El Portal  2015

Kindle, iPhone, Bluetooth Keyboard, Olympus Cameras - El Portal  2015

BBQ getting ready for a ribeye.

Olympus cameras: E-M10 (top), E-PL5 (bottom). Note the viewfinder sitting atop the E-PL5: somehow it got detached during some rough weather and is now missing. I like this particular camera combo because they both take the same size battery and are relatively minimalist.

Yosemite Camping

Old Highway - Central California  2015

Campsite - El Portal  2015

Mike went on his annual Yosemite Spring Trip last month, through Merced and Mariposa to El Portal. Back to his usual walk-in campsite and sandwiches from the El Portal Market.

El Portal Market - El Portal  2015

Minaret Outlook

Minarets, Clouds - Sierra Nevada  2014

Loco Frijole - Sierra Nevada  2014

As Mike was driving out, he paused at the Minaret Outlook for this photo, the latest in a long series taken from this spot.

Later, dinner at The Loco Frijole in Mammoth. The next day, complimentary breakfast at his motel, then the trip home.

Reds Meadows Sightems

Bear Boxes, Reds Meadows - Sierra Nevada  2014

Red Boxes - Sierra Nevada  2014

Photos taken as Mike wandered around the stable area at Reds Meadows.

- Blog note: this is the 2500th mikereport post! Yikes!

The Hardest Part

Reds Meadows Cafe - Sierra Nevada  2014

The most demanding section of Mike's backpack was the last haul from the ranger station at Devil's Postpile up to the backpacker parking lot. Going uphill in the heat at the end of the trip: not fun.

But, just in time for lunch (hamburger, of course) at Reds Meadows! Just as Mike had done after his 2010 backpack.

Note: 2010 post photo taken with a Nikon D90. Above photo taken with an iPhone 5s.

Devils Postpile Parking Lot - Sierra Nevada  2014

Camp Forest Details

Forest near Campsite - Sierra Nevada 2014

Pine Cones - Sierra Nevada  2014

Mike likes the disorderly look of much of the Sierra forests, fallen tree trunks and branches entangled. Also the extensive areas of lodgepole pine cones crunching underfoot, very photogenic.

Campsite #3

Tent, Forest - Sierra Nevada  2014

Pine Trees, Clouds - Sierra Nevada  2014

Mike's last camp this trip, in the vicinity of site #1. Although the day had started out perfectly clear, the clouds started to move in towards the afternoon. No moisture though.

Backpacking Items

Staff, Backpack, Bear Canister - Sierra Nevada  2014

Steripen - Sierra Nevada  2014

Top: as mentioned earlier Mike hadn't remembered to take his regular aluminum hiking pole. As a substitute he pressed into service a nicely-formed lodgepole pine branch. It came in quite useful, maybe even better in some respects than the metal one. Also in photo: Gregory backpack and bear canister in the background.

Bottom: Mike using a Steripen to purify a canteen's worth of creek water. He's always suspected that high-elevation Sierra streams really don't need "purifying," but the Steripen was on sale at Costco a year ago so he bought it then and used it for the first time this trip.

Minarets, Reflections

Minarets, Reflections - Sierra Nevada  2014

Mike made his way around the unnamed lake to get this shot of Minaret reflections.

Monday Trout Blogging

Trout - Sierra Nevada  2014

Swimming away from the photographer.

Sunrise

Sunrise, Minarets - Sierra Nevada  2014

During the night it rained some, not heavy. Once Mike heard the rumble of thunder off in the distance. Also, wind, sounding more fierce than it really was.

In the morning: a clear sky and the rising sun illuminating the Minarets. Great view, enhanced by Mike's usual early morning hot cocoa.

Making Cocoa - Sierra Nevada  2014

Hot Cocoa - Sierra Nevada  2014