Over the top--My World

I showed you some of the lower sections of the trail up Virginia Creek from the cabin in earlier posts. A "MyWorld" post in June had the lower portions and "Lake Reflections" last week had the lakes in the middle portion. Last week I wanted to go over the top. Hubby was reluctant so I decided to go alone. There weren't a lot of hikers on the trail and those I saw all seemed to be seniors.

It is about 7.5 miles with 1400' elevation gain. When I reach the top I look back to where I have come from, the cabin is beyond the right shoulder of the mountain on the left.

On top (a little over 11000') it is chilly and breezy but not too bad.

I cross over and go down the other side a bit to take in the view. The lake in the distance, Summit Lake, sits on the border of Yosemite's northern back country. I could go that way and join the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail). If I went right at the bottom I could go to Green Lake. I showed you that hike a few weeks ago. For that I would need a car shuttle, one way it is 11 miles. We've done it several times but prefer to start at Green Creek. There is more uphill that way and it is easier on the knees.

Visit more worlds here.

Manzanar Shadow

We visited Manzanar at mid-day, just after Memorial Day. There were few shadows at that time of day but at the entrance to the cemetery, this stone with its memorial gifts, cast a shadow and caught my eye.

For more shadows check out Hey Harriet.

What Kind of Nation

What kind of a nation do we wish to be, what kind of a people to we aspire to become.

This will be one of my occasional political posts, so if you think you will be so upset by my somewhat liberal leanings, quit now. I wouldn't want you to miss out on my other posts, the ones you enjoy because you are turned off by my views.

I occasionally read the comments posted in response to articles in our local paper. I am dismayed at the tone of responses to articles about health care and California's economic plight. Many people seem to believe that all our problems are caused by "illegal aliens" and if we get rid of them all will be well. The language used and the sentiments expressed certainly do not reflect our better nature.

Don't get me wrong, I do not support illegal immigration but there is a difference between immigration and immigrants. I have long championed "zero population growth" and have mixed feelings about immigration of any kind. The interplay of population, immigration and the environment is a complex subject that I will leave for another time.

Here I am speaking about immigrants, the people themselves, and I have great respect for them. For the most part they are hard working people who just want a better life for themselves and their families, just like the immigrant ancestors of those of us who are fortunate to have been born here. Researchers have found that undocumented immigrants add far more to the economy than they take, and I believe that to be true. I have observed how hard they work and how little they get in return.

Except for those in the underground economy, they are having payroll taxes withheld but many will never see the social security or medicare for which they have been paying. Unlike many Americans, most of their ailments go untreated. True, they wind up in the emergency room if they are seriously ill, but so do many uninsured Americans.

We are happy to have them mow our lawns and watch our children for low wages. We like the cheap produce that they pick and don't care about the poor working conditions they endure in the meat packing plants, unpleasant work many of us wouldn't do at any wage. We don't ask about the status of the care givers at the places we have put our elderly. No, we are happy to have the immigrants here until we need a scape-goat for the problems of our own makings

Where is our compassion? our "Christian values" that so many of these same people claim to hold? I am not saying that our problems are easy to solve, I am not even saying that we should open our doors to all who want in. It may be that we can not afford to be generous. What we should not do is demonize the "other".

Let us have an honest discussion of the issues. Ignore the dishonest rhetoric of Fox un-news. If we can't give health care and citizenship to all who need it and want it, let it be with sadness and regret that we deny it rather than irrational indignation. These people are just as deserving as the rest of us.

So, are we a nation of mean-spirited xenophobes or are we a nation of caring, thoughtful, generous people doing our best to see the inherent worth and dignity of all mankind.

Eastern Sierra Skies

We had some nice skies last week in the Eastern Sierra.
After a less than successful photo outing at Mono Lake (the birds were not cooperating) we turned our back to the lake and saw some dramatic clounds building to the north.

Later, as the day was drawing to a close, I looked out and saw another beautiful sky as the setting sun illuminated the clouds above the ridge across the canyon from our cabin

Lake Reflections

The air was calm in the canyon for one of our hikes, good conditions for catching some reflections.
First we pass Blue Lake.

Cooney Lake is rarely completely calm.

It was still enough for some nice reflections.

Upper Frog is our favorite lunch stop. This is the view from the natural bench where we have lunch.

To see more watery sites, click here.

Back to Virginia Lakes

It's too hot here in the Sacramento area, and the air is full of smoke. Neither is condusive to exercise so it is time to return to the cabin. I hope when we get back next week it will be cooler and the fires will be done. There is the possibility of thunderstorms in the mountains so maybe some nice "decorator clouds" for photography.

Hazey day at Mono Lake

There was a lot of haze in the air last week, possibly from distant wild fires. I rather like the soft look it gave to this shot from the county park.

There was a lot of bird life but the boardwalk keeps photographers at a distance. The gulls were gorging on brine flies, the avocets were feeding, possibly on brine shrimp and the ducks just floated by. There were phalaropes, and sandpipers and others too far away for me to identify.

For more watery sites, click here.