A Shadow on the Environment

We had a service come to wash the solar cells, Hubby didn't want me climbing on the roof to do it myself. The workers took pictures to show they didn't harm the roof. The hose cast an interesting early morning shadow across the shingles.
I know that many do not believe that human activity is responsible for climate change, the proof is not 100% and until it is they believe it is better to do nothing.

I take a different approach. If there is credible evidence that human activity may be contributing to the devastating floods and droughts that seem to be more common every year, I feel I have a responsibility to make at least a few changes that will reduce my impact on the environment. The solar cells are one way we try to make a difference.

Our solar cells produced as much power as we used in their first year, reducing our carbon footprint by 9200lbs since September of last year.
Now that the weather is cooler, I try to do some of my errands on my bike. If I just need a few things at the market there is no reason I can't ride the six mile round trip. If I can't bike, I bundle errands whenever possible. I schedule no drive days every week.

Jug handle on the right allows golf carts to cross to shopping center across the street,

asphalt drive on right allows safe entry and egress to another shopping center

Not everyone can bike, though. Our town is involved in an NEV pilot project. An NEV looks like an electric golf cart but is a little bigger and can go a bit faster. It can travel on any street where the speed limit is 35 mph or less. Lincoln has added joint bike/NEV lanes on most streets that have a faster speed limit. This enables one to get almost anywhere in town.

Sun City is a golf cart community. Golf carts are not normally allowed on city streets but Lincoln has several approved routes where they are allowed. From Sun City you can get to two markets, several restaurants, a home improvement store, the library and many doctors and dentists. People here use their golf carts and NEVs and ours is not the only house with solar cells.

I realize that not everyone is in a position to make these changes, but everyone can find some way to reduce their use of energy and other resources. Everyone can contact their elected representative about their concern.

Maybe our use of carbon is not the cause of climate change but why take the chance? Humans as a species are very adaptable it's true, but adaptation takes time and at the cost of many lives and much suffering.

What are you doing to remove this shadow from the earth's future?

To see more shadows, go to Hey Harriet.

Windy Sky

Wind, carry me home
(best enlarged)

See skies from arount the word here.

Convict Lake--Watery Wednesday

On Saturday of our Mammoth weekend we hike, on Sunday we like to go to Convict lake. This time I was the only one who wanted to kayak. The rest wanted to hike around the lake. Since our hosts had already loaded their kayak onto the car I was able to cajole one of the guys to go with me in the two person craft.
It was a beautiful day to be on the water. The air was calm and clear.

The bright yellow kayak was waiting for me.

Or was it? It seemed to want to head out on its own.

After Richard waded in and retrieved it, we headed out across the lake to have lunch under the aspens on the far side. It was a great day and I enjoyed my trip across this beautiful lake.

For more watery sites, click here.

Shadow Lake--My World

Each September we join friends at Mammoth Lakes. These are the people we hiked with when we lived in LA and we gathered this weekend for good hiking, good food, good wine and good conversation.
Mammoth Lakes has a great winter ski resort as well as hiking, biking and fishing for the summer visitors.
The Shadow Lake trail begins at Agnew Meadows. Although we access it from the east side of the Sierra, the trail is on the west side of the divide near the headwaters of the San Joaquin River.

Shadow Lake was my first backpack, over 45 years ago. It was also the second backpack for our sons when they were 9 and 11. It also makes a great day hike.

These basalt cliffs hint at the volcanic past of this area.

looking back the way we came, you can see Mammoth Mountain.

I love these tortured junipers you find in the Sierra.

The cascades indicate that our goal is near.

There it is, just beyond the trees

Shadow Lake.

If you enlarge you can see the top of the gondola and chair 23. I had better put my camera away and get moving or Audry will beat me back, one of our hosts for the weekend she is 20 years my senior and still going strong.

One could easily combine this hike with a visit to Devil's Postpile. In the summer the same shuttle from Mammoth Lodge serves both.

Find more worlds here.

Shadows at the Fountains

The farmer's market at Whole Foods is in a rather fancy shopping center. I brought my camera since it is "The Fountains" and I thought I would get some watery shots along with my local produce and meat.
The shadows were as good as the water shots.

They had some very interesting benches.

And since it is the Fountains I caught some wet shadows as well.

To see more shadows go to Hey Harriet.

Clouds

I like to get out for a walk, to get in touch with earth and sky.

On this afternoon it was the sky that drew my attention.
It was so beautiful, the clouds looked soft, like down or the fur of a white kitten. I wished I could reach up and stroke it.

Find more skies here.

Hot Creek

When we think of thermal areas we usually think Yellowstone. Eastern California with its volcanic remnants has many thermal pools and a few geysers (I have never seen any erupt).

Hot Creek is near Mammoth Mountain, the remnant of an ancient volcano.

In past years the creek and thermal pools were a popular place for bathers but after some earthquake activity the pools became much hotter and the forest service fenced it off.

Cited? Cooked is more like it!

It is unfortunate that we can no longer get close, we must keep our distance to protect the foolish.

There are still many thermal pools in the area that are less dangerous. Guide books have been written to direct people to pools on public land and people enjoy soaking in them.

Find more watery sites here.