Retreating into the Cool Mountains of the Sierra Nevadas

May 20-22, 2012
Sequoia National Park, California
Gallery : Video

There are pools and puddles in Canyonlands. Bottles can be purchased at any gas station on the route. Drinking fountains and bathrooms spew non-potable H20 in the Mojave Desert. But here, oh yes, here in this land of glaciers, lakes, and rivers there is water.

We were delighted for the mountains. Car-camping, day hikes, Italian-sausage barbecue, marshmallows, bear lockers, alpine lakes, and the biggest trees in the world. The national park felt like a mountain resort after our romp in the lowlands.

Nearly no sight so heart-moving as the redwood. The sequoia is the wise grandfather of its kin whom I'd grown up with on the coast. I  was grateful to be in its presence.

-Grasshopper

     I dented my bowl throwing it off a rock into other rocks. We witnessed "fancy ants" with their long dress-like wings and Daniel thought aloud of his little niece and the sight of her when she comes to him elated in her princess gowns. 

     We took the 400 steps to the top of Moro Rock between Giant Forest and Crescent Meadow (discouraged during thunderstorms and when it is snowing). There were moths in the bathroom. I read short stories by Carver by the campfire to Daniel. And we visited the biggest tree on earth. General Sherman. Daniel thought of his dad. 

     From the car, we saw the cutest baby black bear, a slight ball of fuzz. There were deer in the campsite, and later, I found a bluejay feather while looking for kindling--
moss and pinecones, mostly.

~Sugar