When I surround myself with things that make me happy, I become apathetic about making any real decisions.

Moro Rock, Sequoia National Park: November 18, 2006
http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Sequoia/blog-106878.html

“Once again, my Evite for an overnight trip to see a Meteor shower fell on deaf ears. With not one person interested or able to make it, there was only one option- go alone and experience nature in its purest form- free from social distractions! Sequoia National Park was created by Congress in 1890, becoming the Second National Park in the United States- established even before Yosemite. Only Yellowstone National Park, created in 1872, is older. When logging of the Giant Sequoia’s began in the late 1800′s, locals from Visalia and Fresno championed efforts to save these ancient sentinels of the…”

Visit my favorite website Travelblog.org link above for the link for the full gallery and story of the trip!!

I hope you enjoy them,

–Steve
–
Stephen Hayden Photography
http://www.sphaydenphotography.com

In preperation for my photography book of Chile:
-locate and Photograph native areas of the Monterey Pine
-locate and Photograph Eucalyptus forests of California.

——EQUIVALENTS——

Sections of Chile-            Sections of California Pacific-

-Desert North                  -Cabo/southern Baja
-Norte Chico                   -Central baja/san pedro de martir
-La Serena                      -San Diego
-Metro/vina/valpo            -Los Angeles/Santa Barbara
-Valle Central/Concep     -central cali/bay area
-Volcanes                        -Portland
-Distrito Lagos                -Seattle
-Fjordland                       -British Columbia/Vancouver
-Hielo Norte                    -Juneau
-Hielo Sur                        -Wrangall/St. Elias
-Tierra del Fuego             -Prince William sound
-Antarctica                       -Denali and Above

http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Emigrant-Wilderness/blog-101117.html

[NOTE: I purchased a new Camera- a Nikon D80, and this entire gallery was taken with that camera.]

November is always a great time to go backpacking in the Sierra Nevada. Conditions are ripe for solitude: the children are all in school, the days are short and the weather is cold. Rain always arrives in California by Halloween, but mostly the storms have only just started to come, if at all. Because of this, only the most determined hikers and backpackers can be found in the wilderness- Fortunately for me and some friends, we were some of them!

Relief Reservoir is near Sonora Pass, a 9643 ft (2919 meter) Mountain Pass that was first crossed in 1853 by only the most determined of settlers. In history, the settling of California is told from an East Coast perspective. Thus, the mass migration of these people is termed Emigration- “To leave on region and settle in another”. So, when this region between Sonora Pass and Yosemite National Park was established as a preserve in 1931 and later a Wilderness Area in 1975, it was appropriately called the
“Emigrant Wilderness” due to the large number of settlers seeking fame and fortune in the California Gold Rush.

Highway 108 that goes from the city of Sonora over the Sierra Nevada to the Eastside is a very good road. You can consistently maintain the 55 mph speed limit with minimal interruption from mountain turns, as the grade was well mapped. In fact, the 55 miles between Sonora and Kenndey Meadows Trailhead is about 50 miles, and it takes about and hour to get there. It’s hard to understand why the area isn’t enjoyed more often by the masses of outdoor enthusiasts from the 5 million metropolis known as the San Francisco Bay Area, as Sonora is just 2 hours from most cities in The Bay.

We arrived at 9am Saturday morning at Kennedy Meadows. With no permits required after November 1, and nobody at the trailhead, solitude was guaranteed. The only two people we saw were the Kennedy Meadows Resort caretakers, who were more than happy to let us park at the resort to shorten the hike by 1.5 miles. In fact, the even offered to watch our cars if we parked close to their cabin. Really nice people, who obviously love what they do and where they do it at- one
Summit Creek Falls, Duskof the most dramatic and overlooked parts of
the Sierra’s.

What makes the Sonora Pass region so unique is the intermingling of Volcanic Rock and Granite. The great Sierra Nevada, the “range of light” as popularized by the great Naturlaist John Muir, is so known because of its Granite. This grey, granulated rock covers hundreds of miles. Bare sculpted granite: shimmering grey, poished and studded with contorted specimens of endemic Junipers and Pines- this is what the Sierra Nevada is all about. North of Sonora Pass however, the rocks take a different turn. Instead of speckled granite, you get deep red volcanic rock, evidence of the Sierra Nevada’s recent past. This intersection of red Volcanic Rock and grey Granite makes the area a crossroads- North of Sonora Pass the granite character of the Sierra Nevda is sporadic, and South of the Pass the unmistakable majesty of the High Sierra’s sculpted granite peaks goes on for hundreds of miles.

We hiked 5 miles and found a campsite. The Reservoir had receded significantly, as we have only had 2 small storms this season in California. During the day the highs are in the 60′s, while at night the temps plunge
Aspen Leaf, Wood, Granite, Waterinto the 20′s. Even though we camped at a relatively high 7200 feet, we were
surrounded by forest of all types. Jeffrey Pine, White Fir, Western Juniper and Quaking Aspen grew thick along the north shore of the now receded Reservoir. The Wilderness Boundry surrounded the Reservoir, Relief Res. is owned by PG&E and water level is regulated for irrigation control 150 miles away in the San Joaquin Valley.

Hiking to the lakeshore that was 100 feet below normal, we found incredible things- dead stump forests, mud flats and animal bones. Seeing the incredible effect of these mud flats, I quickly got my camera and set off to take pictures for sunset. Some mud flats had pools surrounded by tree stumps. This remnant forest was chopped down to help build the dam, for soon the forest would be underwater. It was eerie- black mud dried into brown, the light brown chips of equal size. In some places the mud had settled on granite stones, drying more quickly than the dark brown mud on which it sat. This is where I took the cover shot for this entry.

I went on a day hike up to Relief Valley. Sitting
Stanislaus River, duskabove the Reservior, the steep ridges and peaks really opened up and allowed for
some great views. The Junipers not only became more contorted but also larger, they seem to thrive in the sun, wind and exposed granite.

We spent a total of 31 hours in the wilderness. This more than exceeded my expectation for just a weekend trip! I have found 24 hours in the wilderness is enough to reset my spiritual and emotional clock, so spending nearly a day and a half in this place really did the trick.

See the original post here:

http://www.travelblog.org/Australasia/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-77852.html

 Before europeans came to California, the Sierra Nevada was populated with Native Americans, the Yokut, the Mono and the Miwok.  They, like other Native American groups from the Ainu of Japan to the Aborigines of Australia believe great mountains are sacred, and they must be given the greatest of care.

I recently saw a program on the very Sacred Ayers Rock, the Giant Red mountain of stone in the Australian Desert?  The local Anangu people request that visitors not climb the rock,  due to the path crossing an important dreaming track.  Like most reasonable people, climbing the rock following certain religious, psychological and physical guidlines would be accepted.  Its understandable that the Mountain would attract visitors due to its timeless beauty.  But respect for the rock is the last thing european enlightenment has given.  Hordes of visitors flock to the rock, with the achievement of climbing to its summit their goal.  Metal rods were impaled into the sacred rock, chains dynamite blasting a trail for all but the most intrepid of visitors.

A National Park was established, and so many visitors starting visiting the rock that small cities began to spring up in the middle of the desert.  As water wells were dug, local peoples began to notice springs becoming dry, while roads bisected their lands, trash worked its way into every corner and light pollution clouded the starry sky.  Respect to this sacred place was the last thing to cross the minds of the hundreds of thousands of visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the divine.

I don’t necessarily have a problem with climbing half dome.   Im certain the local Miwok would consider it a travesty that half dome has become just another accomplishment for millions of people, while the true religious meaning is left behind.  Take for example Mt. Fuji, climbed most likely by equal numbers yet given religious respect by thousands of Shinto and Shugendo believers.  

Because of this, I believe all hikers to half dome should be required to perform a prayer at the top!  Prayer flags are out, this is still wilderness and no trash should remain.  I think as many as humanly possible should flood the roads of Yosemite.  4 Million people a year to Yosemite, that’s it?  Let’s go for 10 million!  The reality is that in 50 years, its entirely possible for this many people to visit one place.  Did you know california’s population is increasing at a rate of over 1000 people per day?

The Central Valley contains over 50he top 10 polluted places in this country.  Sacramento, Stockton, Merced, Fresno, Bakersfield.  They have air more polluted than Houston, New York City and Los Angeles.  Amphibians are decreasing in the Sierra Nevada due to excess pesticides in the air, while the growth of Sequoia saplings are stunted from the high ozone layers.

What’s my point?  I find climbing Half Dome an incredibly attractive proposition.  However, the sight of thousands of delueded apes that make noise, create trash and disrespect the mountain would make me ill to the point of not being able to enjoy the experience.