Yosemite National Park, California

Several weeks ago I took a month long camping trip through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. My highpoint was Yosemite National Park, where I spent over a week basking in the beauty. My campground was just outside the park and was situated right on this creek and waterfall!

The campground I stayed in was surrounded by these mountains, creek and meadows.

Down at the creek near my campsite, kids would gather on the log and keep cool. It was fun to talk with them but oh how I wished I could go out there with them. Knowing I would undoubtedly fall in, I stayed on the shore, and just dunked in the water when I got too hot.

To enter the Park I had to reserve two, 3-day passes that I purchased online. Believe me....they will not let you in if you do not have a reservation. To learn more, click on the NPS website for Yosemite reservations. On the first day of my pass, I drove through the entrance gate of Yosemite National Park and  drove straight to Tuolumne Meadows. The sun was just rising and cast a  pink glow upon the quiet water. As a kid, my aunt took me and my siblings camping in Tuolumne Meadows nearly every summer. It left a deep impression upon my soul, one that continually brings me back to nature for healing and restoration. I am forever grateful to my aunt for introducing me to the unparalleled beauty and peace in this place.

As soon as I sat down by the water, a mother duck with her ducklings came waddling by. So sweet!

I stopped at Lembert Dome, one of my favorite places in Yosemite. Lembert Dome is a granite rock formation that rises 800 feet above Tuolumne Meadows. I didn't climb to the top this time, but in the past, I joined several different ranger led hikes that brought me to the top of Lembert Dome!

 I not only visited my old favorites places but found new ones, to enjoy! The water is so clear you can see straight to the bottom, but it sure is cold......freezing cold.

I have always wanted to hike the John Muir trail from Mt Whitney to Yosemite, 213 miles of intense beauty and rugged terrain. I have come to grips with the fact that I will never hike the JMT, or the PCT or the AT, but I have been on all three for a small portion of the journey.  I really admire those folks who have hiked the complete trails!

There are so many different hikes you can take in Yosemite National Park. In the Tuolumne River area, I took this short hike to the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River. 

Streams and small water holes crossed through the meadows, creating the most beautiful places to sit and enjoy. 

At this one spot I found some kids jumping off the bridge into the freezing cold water. The shock would have killed me!

Yosemite is filled with so many beautiful wildflowers. Everywhere I looked I found blooms, trees, water, mountains, meadows and sky. One thing I did not see was a bear. I thank the NPS for creating a safe park for both people and bears to enjoy! "Be Bear Aware!"

Down in Yosemite Valley, tons of people are roaming the trails and campgrounds. While driving down the Big Oak Flat Road, I happened upon this quiet walking trail with a bridge that gave me a stunning view of the mountains and meadows!

Back when I was 17, my sister Judy and I went on a road trip in her beat-up old Mustang. We stopped in Yosemite and decided to hike up to Vernal and Nevada Falls via the Mist Trail. We made backpacks and put in a few tins of food, our sleeping bags and water. We walked up the misty trail, passed Vernal Falls and found a slope to sleep on. All night long our sleeping bags slipped down the hillside and we listened for bears. I wanted to see the amazing waterfall again, so  I hiked the Mist Trail up to the Vernal Falls.

The closer I walked towards the waterfall, sprays of water droplets filled the air and created a beautiful rainbow.

    That would be me, at Vernal Falls, loving life even though I am tired from the uphill trail.

    Vernal Falls.... a large, spectacular waterfall!

A small waterfall off the beaten path.

On the trail up to the Bennettsville Mine, located near the Tioga Road, I was astonished to find so many interesting rocks. I had asked a rather crazy looking fellow to point me to the trailhead, and he proceeded to walk me over there. I thanked him and abruptly moved on, first taking a different route so he couldn't find me. Then I felt foolish, so I started up the regular trail.

The Bennettsville Mine never produced any silver or ore, and the town that had been built around it eventually became a ghost town. After taking some pictures and exploring the area a bit, I looked up and saw the crazy guy.

I got scared as I knew the  crazy guy was following me. He was walking really fast as if to catch up with me. I hid behind some bushes and when the coast was clear, I snuck around to the trail and headed down. There were so many rocks to look at that I started lagging behind. Sure enough he came down the trail and stood directly behind me. I didn't panic but just stepped to the side and let him pass. He tried to make conversation but I ignored him. I must admit I was nervous as no-one else was on the trail. He kept walking and after a bit, I cut down the mountain into a campground I had seen. I found the camp host and told him about the guy and how he was following me, and that he was parked right next to my car. The camp host told me he had seen a man sitting in his van that was parked next to mine. By then I was close to crying. The camp host walked me out to my car, and stood behind the van, making sure the guy could not follow me. Thanks to my bodyguard, I was able to safely drive out of the campground and down the hill to my own campground. The crazy guy never found me again. With that I will close and say goodnight.  May the Lord watch over you and keep you safe. Susan Little

Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

Whenever I see this view, a sense of excitement and wonder rises in my soul. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are one of my favorite places on earth. The Sierras run for 400 miles in the north-south direction, and 70 miles in the east-west direction. Plenty of room to play in!

My first stop on my Sierra Camping trip was Independence Creek, which lies just north of Lone Pine and Mt. Whitney. The purple lupine and rambling creek surrounded me on all sides.

My campsite bordered Independence Creek, a creek that actually seems more like a river. It was extremely hot up there, so to beat the heat,  I soaked in the waterholes. 

The vast openness of the landscape gives me a feeling of freedom. No cars, no stores, no noise. Just lots of mountains and rocks!

On my last night at the creek, I was walking down to the water when I heard a rattlesnake shaking its rattle. I stopped dead in my tracks and saw a small rattler curled up in a hole in the tree. My yelp alerted the men camped next door and they came running over to see what was up. The baby rattler was warning me not to come any closer. One of the men got a stick and curled the snake around it. Then he dropped the snake into a large plastic bin. They were going to take it down the mountain and release it. Scary, but I'm glad the snake warned me  and  am thankful to my friends for helping me.

After leaving Independence, I drove north to Bishop Creek, another of my favorite places. 

Selfie from my campsite on Bishop Creek.

It is always cold in the early morning hours, but that's when I get to see the first light in the mountains. Worth the effort it takes to crawl out of my blankets and get dressed.

Exploring up the creek, I climbed over boulders, ran around fallen trees, and took pictures of the landscape. 

Such a beautiful place to spend time in. My soul is always restored after a trip into the mountains. I love my home by the beach, but every now and then I have to go into the mountains to feel free.

On the way to Sabrina Lake, I stopped to view the pile of rocks covering the mountainside. That is my new Subee, actually she's two years old now! She's been a wonderful companion even though I call her Miss BossyPants. She has many safeguards built in that keep me from drifting out of my lane or from getting too close to the car in front of me! I appreciate her, but sometimes it feels like she is in charge.

Every time I visit Sabrina Lake, it changes. This time the water level was so low it exposed a lot of the rocks and boulders that are usually covered by water.

Deer roamed throughout each part of the Sierras that I visited. 

Blue sky and hot weather were the norm for my trip, but I did see a lot of afternoon clouds and one torrential rainfall!

One of the prettiest lakes in the Bishop Creek area is North Lake. After I explored all around North Lake, I came out to my car and found two backpackers who needed a ride to South Lake where their car was parked. I told them to hop in and drove them over to the parking lot at South Lake. A super nice couple that I was happy to help!

South Lake was cold and windy, and surrounded by brutal rocks. So different from the other lakes! It was so cold I could only stay few minutes!

Colorful shooting stars were blooming all over the Sierras.

One colorful place you don't want to miss in Bishop is Erick Schats Bakkery! I have been stopping here on my way up Highway 395 since I was a kid. Back then it was two kinds of bread; squaw bread and sheepherders bread that we would pick up before heading to Yosemite. Now it is still the same bakery, but with much much more!

Another place I gravitate towards is Convict Lake, located between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes. The lake was developed by a moraine dam created from retreating glaciers in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.   The National Forest Service campground there is well maintained and is only a short walk to the crystal clear lake that is famous for trout fishing.

Within the campground is a stream that flows from the lake and traverses the campground.

A beautiful 3 mile walk takes you completely around the lake, where I met these three lovely ladies out on a holiday. We played in the water and talked for hours about everything and anything.

I happened upon this crazy hut, built by someone who knows what they are doing. 

Goodnight to one and all! God bless and keep you.