Always a favorite: Mon, June 24, '19

We've been here before and we'll no doubt come here again.  That's what happens with favorites.  Of course, it's ever-changing with the seasons, the amount of snow or the extent of drought, so it doesn't seem old or repetitive.  Springtime is a special time to hike this trail, and it's beauty isn't diminished by the amount of trail traffic.  Today we saw more people than on any of our other visits.  Not to worry ... there's plenty of room for everyone, including all their dogs.

We picked the right day to be up at 6,100' -- a warm, not hot, sunny day in the mid-70's.  Timing is critical if you want to see the wildflowers -- one week in either direction could mean a blossom explosion or the sorry leftovers.  The Sierras had tons of snow on the ground for months on end -- we waited till we thought the snow had melted and flowers would be blooming.  And, oh boy, we were right on!  We brought our new hiking poles to try them out, and they worked fine.  Little Sagehen Creek, above, remains full-to-overflowing, energetic and livelier than we've seen, with quite a fine babble to accompany us as we hiked toward Stampede Reservoir.   

The big draw this month is the profusion of large, bright yellow Woolly Mule's Ears and Arrowleaf Balsamroot flowers, literally painting the trail sides yellow.  Plus, oh, who knows how many other wildflowers!  Above, Jimmy is on the trail threading through the blossoms.

The shrub, Tobacco Brush, with clusters of white flowers and shiny leaves, emits a fragrance I couldn't quite pinpoint -- kind of a combination of Lilac and Ligustrum, leaning toward Lilac (which I like).  The odor wasn't objectionable, but I couldn't just stick my nose in the flowers (think achoo).  The hillsides were rife with these shrubs.  Whites and yellows, reds and purples, the Super Bloom continues for us!

Clockwise, from top left:  Indian Paintbrush, Woolly Mule's Ears, Lupine, Fleabane, Scarlet Gilia and Common Yarrow.  So much variety.

This long-dead tree trunk is smack in the middle of yellows.

Heading into Big Meadow.

Clockwise, from top left:  American Bistort, unknown, Lupine, White-flowered Bog Orchid, Crimson Columbine, flower and plant.  I couldn't identify every flower I saw.  Lupinus or lupine, is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family that includes over 200 species, so don't ask me which is which!  As we made our way past the beaver pond (no sign of the beaver today) toward the Big Meadow, we could see that Stampede Reservoir's water level was high. 

We keep waiting to see a bear scramble up the hill and over the ridge.

Notice I said UP.

The meadow was beautiful.  Alive with Parish's Yampah (or as I called 'em:  Lace Caps) and tiny Phlox, with Bistorts (Q-tips) and Penstemons and Buttercups.  A fresh breeze kept us cool in the sunny meadow and gave the Yampah some neat dancing moves.  The Camas Lilies weren't blooming yet.

Above, Jimmy's way ahead of me beneath the pine.  The reservoir is near.  On Wednesday, June 19th, I had cataract surgery on my left eye (the day after Nannie left) and a new corrective lens put in.  I really didn't know how bad my eyesight had become, but now, seeing everything out here with dazzling clarity was beyond belief.  I gawked.  I gasped.  I smiled.  Wow.  And that's just one eye -- my right eye gets fixed on July 10th.  I really wanted to get my eyes in top shape before we leave for our Road Scholar trip in August:  Hiking the Swiss Alps.  So far, so good!

We crossed the creek on a thick wood slab, that seemed hairy-scary because the water was so close to the bottom of the "bridge."  Sierra Shooting Stars, mixed with a sedge (?) or something I didn't recognize decorated this section of the meadow.  All of it swinging and swaying in the breeze.

From there we walked toward the old sheepherder's cabin.  Standing water is to the right of Jimmy, and if we veered off the path to the left, we'd sink in up to our knees!  The green grasses sparkled.

Purple Meadow Penstemon grew close to the water's edge.  We've never seen the reservoir with so much water!  Along here, we saw Canada Geese with youths, Common Mergansers and Blackbirds.  I was dive-bombed by a blackbird, too close to its nest, I guess.  We heard lots of birds today!

Jimmy liked this picture best.

Look at that sky!

Very cool!

About halfway back to the car is an area that used to be fenced.  Pieces of rusted barbed wire lay on the ground there (stay on the trail!), and apparently several trees were used as fence posts 'cause barbed wire is now embedded in their trunks.  Sagehen Creek is a five-mile out and back trail, not strenuous, but since we'll be doing some distance and high country hiking in the Alps, we're trying to combine elevation with mileage hiking this summer.

Arrowleaf Balsamroot.

Whitewater on Sagehen Creek!

In Julie Carville's Tahoe's Spectacular Wildflower Trails, she tells about how Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) would have loved Sagehen, for he once wrote, "Like winds and sunsets, wild things were taken for granted, until progress began to do away with them.  Now we face the question of whether a still higher standard of living is worth its cost in things natural, wild, and free.  For us of the minority, the opportunity to see geese is more important than television, and the chance to find a pasqueflower is a right as inalienable as free speech."  

For me and Jimmy, being out in the natural world is a gift we love to open, time after time. Sagehen is one such gift.

The Rest of the Story, to 6/18/19

It was arranged.  During Nannie's one-week NorCal visit, we'd have an Everly Rose weekend sleepover.  Oh boy!  Nannie hadn't seen Everly Rose since her first birthday in March of last year, though they have shared Facetime.  Being together would be a real trip for the two of them; indeed, for everyone!  On Friday morning, Matt drove ER to Nevada City -- we met at a Mexican restaurant for lunch.  ER saw Nannie first, gave her a big smile, then looked hard, saw me and gave me a big smile, and turned to stare at Nannie again.  You could almost hear her thoughts:  Wait a minute, who is this who looks like Gramma, but it isn't Gramma?  Matt said, "Say hi to Nannie!"  Her smile returned and she's been smiling since!  Matt transferred her stuff to our Prius and then he drove away on business.  Nannie, Everly Rose and I headed to our Nevada City home.

I told you it was hot.  Low 90's kinda hot.  Bright sun.  The back deck pool was ready, but the water was already too warm and we had to add cold water to cool it down.  We donned our bathing suits.  Umbrellas were brought out.  We were ready to jump in the water.  Okay, we were ready to pop our feet in the water!

Nannie and I both did a stint parked in the little pool with Everly Rose, but it's really too small for grown-ups.  Nevertheless, we whiled away the afternoon, and played and played.  Jimmy joined in the fun, though he was also on camera duty.

That's my knee, not her shoulder!

Later on, we brought out the heirloom dress from my cedar chest.  The dress that Everly is wearing was handmade for Nannie by an aunt.  Nannie wore it for a family photo in 1952, probably on her first birthday in February (below).  It's a little small on Everly, I'm sorry to report, but she enjoyed wearing it for a while.  It's actually two pieces -- a silky full slip and the crocheted overdress.  All these many years I've saved that dress ... and at least Everly Rose wore it today.  After she shucked out of it, the dress was returned to its hiding place.  How special to have the dress and these two pictures. 

L-R:  Me, oldest brother, Rus, Nannie on his lap in the dress, and middle brother, Bill.  She was terrified of the camera, hence the "deer-in-the-headlights-look."

It didn't take too long before I hauled out the step-stool for ER to stand on so she could wash her hands without me holding her.  And she liked it!  She'd still be standing there if I let her.  Or else, climbing up and down, up and down!  

After the bath, bedtime meant books and reading and singing.  ER was particularly fond of Nannie's rendition of "Hush, Little Baby, don't say a word," and repeatedly said "again" when the song was finished.  Sweet memories being made.

Saturday mornings are Farmers' Markets in our town.  We didn't quite make it for the opening at 8:30, but we weren't too far behind.  None of us could get ER to wear that sunbonnet (hat), but Nannie put it on her and it stayed on (wow)!  Don't the two of them make a great pair?  Notice the little yellow purse?

Yes, Everly Rose wanted to hold the broccoli.

She wanted to eat it there!  (she nibbled)

Later on, when the hot afternoon shadows were long, we drove to the farm to pick strawberries.  We didn't wait long enough -- the strawberry rows were in full sun.  Phooey.  Everly picked a few and then retreated to talk to the chickens, while Nannie and I roasted in the berry patch.  Nice to have the berries.  Thanks for another fine farm visit, Cliff and Marlene.

Jimmy (Pop-Pop) had a good hold on the chicken so Everly could pet its feathers, touch its face, beak, comb, etc.  She wanted to hold it, but that wouldn't work at all!  Marlene gave us a dozen eggs to take home and ER wanted to hold the egg carton, which she did while strapped in her car seat.  Then she (sort of slyly) opened the carton, held up an egg, and wanted to hold that.  She got a wee bit testy when I said no and took it away from her!  (Can't you just see it?  Broken eggs, etc.)

Next it was sitting on the goat again.  While Cliff held the goat, Nannie plopped Everly on Brownie, the goat, while Fiasco, the other goat, horned in.  All this took less than a minute and as we turned to make our way out of the goat enclosure, Brownie lifted his tail and pooped.  We heard about that the rest of ER's stay with us.  "Goat pooped."

She wakes up early and pads out of her bedroom holding her pillow, with a sleepy grin on her face, cheerful from the get-go.  Life is good.  With her around, life is better than good.  Having her stay with us this weekend cut into Nannie's week with us, but, truly, being with family is what counts, the joy we bring to each other.  I know Nannie loved spending time with her great-niece, and vice-versa.  We had tons of fun!  

So, our fun weekend play date ended when we returned Everly Rose to her parents early on Sunday afternoon, Father's Day.  Above, Nannie and Matt catch up on each other's lives while Jimmy checks his phone.  Matt was in the middle of replanting the front yard flower bed (Jen had just brought home one-gallon plants).  The grown-ups enjoyed a short get-together.

Matt 'n Mom.  Happy Father's Day, Matt.

You sure have a beautiful little girl!

Monday would be my sister's last full day in NorCal, and we began it with a nice, long canal walk in the cool morning air ... before the day turned to broil.  We didn't have anything formal planned; I think everyone was just chillin'.  Jimmy set up his homemade Sapo game in the garage and each of us won a game.  Jimmy even got a Sapo!  Inside, we played a round of Hand and Foot, and everyone won, always a good thing.  There's lots of laughs involved when we play games.  Nobody wanted to cook, too hot, so we had a burger out at Pine Street Bistro.  A nice, peaceful day.

Tuesday brought an end to the fastest week ever!  Time for Nannie to return home and, boy howdy, we will miss her!  We bid her goodbye at Sacramento's airport, and came home to a very, very quiet house!  Come back soon!

It'll be cooler up there -- Thurs, 6/13/19

I tease Nannie about bringing the Louisiana heat with her when she comes to visit, but, by gollies, this week -- her week here -- is forecast to have well-above average temps.  In short, hot, hot, hot.  Much too warm for outdoor activities.  Since all of us wanted to see the movie, Rocketman, we sallied off to see it on Wednesday afternoon, with our friend, Mary.  Yup, we enjoyed it and the air-conditioned theater.

Mornings were for relaxing on our back deck, till the heat and/or sun hit us and sent us inside.  Or until mosquitoes discovered us.  Of course, every time I'm out there, I see something that needs doing/watering, so my "relaxing" involves jumping up and gettin' after it.  No matter, I come back and sit with my buddy.  We also kept our eyes on the bird feeders to check on visitors. 

The plan on Thursday was to head for the high country's cooler temps.  We figured Nannie's body would be acclimated to elevation by then.  Or that was the hope, at any rate.  A nice lunch and a hike near Lake Tahoe would round out Thursday very nicely.  Can I tell you how gratifying it is to see snow this time of year?  After all those years of drought, snow on the mountains is like powdered sugar icing on a cake, pun intended.  Above are the snow sheds we three hiked to several years ago.  Not this year, though!

Jimmy enjoying the view of Donner Lake.

The Resort at Squaw Creek (across the meadow from Squaw Valley) was our lunch destination, and many thanks to son, Matt and wife, Jen, for the thoughtful gift card.  Beneath the big umbrella, we could eat in shaded comfort.  What a great lunch we had, and what a view!  The food was so good, we'd go back there anytime.

Above and below, views from the terrace.

Why were we laughing?  Something funny, I guess.

Notice the matching "Crazy Sista" shirts!

Lake Tahoe is full!  And it's a joy to see it this way.  Nannie and Jimmy are standing on the dam that monitors water release from Lake Tahoe into what becomes the Truckee River.  (The 121-mile Truckee River is the sole outlet of Lake Tahoe.)  Below is the opposite side of the dam.

Discharge from Lake Tahoe into the Truckee River (above) on today's date was 654 cfs (cubic feet per second).  This water release marks the beginning of the Truckee River, and Pyramid Lake, 40 miles northeast of Reno, Nevada, is its terminus. 

At 6,600-7,000 ft in a forest of Jeffrey and Lodgepole Pines, Pinemat Manzanita and White Firs, patches of snow still littered the ground.  We were early for wildflowers up here.  It was a pleasure, therefore, to see the bright red Snow Plants (Sarcodes sanguinea) appear.  Jimmy and I have seen Snow Plants before but for Nannie, seeing these was a real treat.  On the left is Pinemat (Ceanothus prostratus) with its pretty lavender-colored flowers and holly-shaped leaves.  We were hoping to see more wildflowers in the meadow, but the closer we got, we realized it might not be passable.

Looking good atop a snow pile.

We had to walk around standing water, and traverse snowbanks to get to Page Meadow.  Imma fixin' to throw a snowball, above, but no one worried.  I couldn't hit anything if I tried.

The temp was probably ten degrees cooler at this elevation, and the air smelled fresh -- we picked a gorgeous day to be in the Sierras.  Much of our hike was on this gravel roadbed, but we must have missed turning onto the actual trail.  Traipsing thru the woods was easy -- we could see a green, low place to our right that had to be Page meadow.  We aimed for it. 

Sure enough.  Under water.  Many feet of recently melting snow left the meadow awash.  None of us wore boots and nobody wanted to sink in the soft, wet earth.  Skeeters were ravenous here, too, so we didn't linger.  We were definitely too early for wildflowers!

Although in another week or two, this grouping should be in bloom.

Tons of snow = slow to disappear.

We saw a number of smaller trees flattened by the heavy snowfall.  Some were still trapped under the mass.

Nannie and Jimmy gazing at ... what were they gazing at?  I dunno.  They are good friends, and I am a thousand percent grateful to have them both in my life!  We started back toward the car at this point, a nice, three-mile hike.  Another new spot for us in our effort to explore further.  Capital hike!  When we got home, the three of us propped our feet up and watched an old movie on TV.  Aaaah ...!