The Joys of Simple Life

 

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon, Eastern Sierra, CA, Sep 2008

We went to the Eastern Sierra last weekend, not as a carefully planned trip, but rather a result of spontaneous questioning my hubby and I would always ask each other every middle of the week, “So, where shall we go hiking this weekend?” My usual answer to that question would be: “Torrey Pines”

Torrey Pines, San Diego, CA

or “ Iron Mountain”,

from Iron Mountain’s Summit, Poway, San Diego County, CA

or “Julian- home of my favorite bakery and apple pies.”

Lake Cuyamaca, Julian, San Diego County, CA

Also,  we both wait for temperature to cool down so we can have more hiking trips in the desert. I love the desert, in as much as I love the lush mountains and the blue ocean, I also see beauty in brown and thorny vegetation, and in magical hoodoos, windcaves and arches.

Stark Desert Landscape @ Joshua Tree National Park 

Stark Desert Landscape at Anza Borrego Desert State Park

The very interesting corrugated and stark landscape of desert always leave me a feeling of awe of how powerful nature’s forces are.

So, last Wednesday, when Khai asked me the usual question, “ Where shall we hike this weekend?” , I pondered on it, and thought, “ Where would I want to be this weekend?” And the thought of going back to the High Sierra in Yosemite National Park crossed my mind! Yosemite is a sub-alpine mountain, right next to the desert! Two different worlds, in one!

Tuolomne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, CA, Sep 2008

But Yosemite’s High Sierra is too far from San Diego, it is a total of 6.5 hours drive!! Is it worth the drive? But I know, Khai loves Mono Lake, which is 13 miles East of Yosemite’s High Sierra. So, instead of saying, “let us go to Yosemite!”, I gently asked, “What if we do some hiking along Tioga in Yosemite, stay in Lee Vining for 2 nights so we can photograph Mono Lake at both sunrise and sunset?” Oh, starlight, starbright sparkled in his eyes, and without deep thought, he said, “OK!” Am I surprised with his answer? No, for I know the sunrise and sunset at Mono Lake ringed like music to his ears, Mono Lake is his favorite place in the Eastern Sierra to photograph.

Mono Lake @ Dawn, Eastern Sierra CA, Sep 2008

So, at 5:00 am of Saturday, September 27, off we went to the Sierra. Are we always these early birds? Hmm, you betcha! It is hard waking up early to go to work, but not on holidays and weekends, especially if we are looking forward to photograph something . No need of alarm clocks! No, we are not pros in photography, we are just happy capturing nature’s gifts. When that old age comes where we won’t be strong enough to enjoy the backroads, we can reminisce our good old times through our pictures. Nature for us, like laughter, is a potent medicine.

The Peaceful and Therapeutic Effect of Experiencing Nature, Mono Lake @ Dusk, Sep 2008

On our way to Lee Vining, driving along Hwy 395, we noticed the early fall foliage dotting the granite walls of the Sierra Nevada. Instead of proceeding directly to Lee Vining, we took a detour on Hwy 168 to Bishop Creek Canyon. We had been to this beautiful canyon a few times, but we only get to experience its snow covered slopes and frozen lake.

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon, November 2007

But last weekend, we were right in time to enjoy one of Eastern Sierra’s colorful season. The aspen trees were ablaze with hues of yellow and gold, mingling with the evergreen pine trees and contrasting the stark granite walls.

Evergreen Pines, Golden Aspens and Granite Walls @ Bishop Creek Canyon, Sep 2008

We made stops at South Lake (9768 ft in elevation),

South Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon

North Lake (9350 ft in elevation) ,

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon

and Lake Sabrina (9800 ft in elevation). 

Lake Sabrina, Bishop Creek Canyon

We took the trail meandering around North Lake,

Meadow near North Lake 

Grove of Golden Aspen Trees along the trail 

Trout, Caught by those Fishing in the Lake

and while enjoying walking around the pristine alpine lake, Khai kept on asking, “what time is sunset?”

Hehehehe, reminding us that we should be at Mono Lake by sunset. As usual, we were late for sunset when we reached Mono Lake, but we had enough time to enjoy the dusk.

Mono Lake at Dusk (1) 

Mono Lake at Dusk (2) 

Mono Lake at Dusk (3) 

A lot of photographers and outdoor enthusiasts were still on Mono Lake’s shore when we left the area, waiting for the stars to come out. As we do not have tripod, there was no way we could join the intimidating crowd of heavily geared photographers photographing tufas with the stars. We spent the night at Lee Vining, the little town 10 miles East of Yosemite Tioga Pass Entrance. Over there at the desert, it seemed winter already, not early fall. The night was close to freezing, and the morning we got up to catch sunrise, the temperature was 30^oF, slightly below freezing point! Would this stop us from photographing Mono Lake at early dawn? Hmmmmmm,

Mono Lake, Dawn 

Mono Lake, Sunrise

Khai was right, he was the most prepared as he had his light but ultra warm jacket, thus he did not have to look bulky like me, but, definitely, he was more comfortable than me!

Khai, Comfy and Warm

While I settled for whatever warm jacket I could find in the car, and layered them. But since my jackets did not have hood, my neck surely felt freezing cold!

Me, Looking Heavy with Multilayered Jackets

Is fall really just around the corner? Or is it already winter? I definitely was caught unprepared with desert’s temperature, even though I should have known better that desert’s temperature could suddenly plummet! So, fall is really here, we feel the cool and crispness of air around, pumpkins on the ground, apples ready to be picked, so, what is next? Winter? Are you ready?

La Jolla’s Casa Beach or Children’s Pool, La Jolla, San Diego, CA

One of the things I take joy and pride in my home city is the mix of a highly urbanized city and the richness of natural world. It may be hard to associate that with other large cities in US, but the unique geography and topography of San Diego has allowed the intermixing of urbanity

 

and wildnerness.

 

But just like in any places where these two mixes, conflict sadly arises. One of the conflicts that had been ongoing for several years is the proliferation of harbor seals in La Jolla’s Children’s Pool or Casa Beach. The Casa beach is a rich natural setting of coastal wildlife.

   It has harbor seals on the shore,whether relaxing or playing on the sand or in the water. Aside from harbor seals, there are pelicans,

 

gulls,

 

pigeons,

squirrels,

wealth of tidepool and on your lucky day, dolphins and gray whales off shore.

 There are basically three groups of people that are caught in this conflict. The first group, are those who want the harbor seals out of the beach. The second group, are those who want to keep the harbor seals on the beach and keep them protected. The third group, are those who have no preference.

For those who wanted the seals out of the beach, their rationale behind was that the beach was “man made (?)” from the funds/taxes of the people of San Diego to provide children a safe place to swim. However, the proliferation of seals had caused beach pollution in that area, making the beach not a healthy place for children to swim. These group had accused the City of San Diego for failing to managed the beach safely for its children. In 2005 it advised the City it could remove the seals without asking permission. In 2007, a court order mandating clearing accumulated sand and shooing away the seals to allow children to swim there again was unanimously upheld by a 3 judge appeals court. The seals are protected under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

So, whose beach is the Children’s Pool? That of men? or that of the harbor seals? In my humble analysis,

The beach is part entirety of the Pacific Ocean.  It is not necessarily man-made, only that it being open to the dangerous ocean rip currents, a breakwater wall was made by men to protect the beach from the big waves for children to swim. From what I understand, the funds was donated by Ellen Scripps for the intention of providing local residents, especially children, a safe place to swim. However, the seals came in and made that part of the ocean their rookery, and because of fear of people harassing seals and also of seal fecal contamination, the beach was closed for swimming and diving entry.

” Before the sea wall was built in 1931, there was a shallow water area between a large rock and a mainland bluff called “Seal Rock Point.” The sea wall was built on top of several rocks, across the channel, connecting it to Seal Rock Point. First hand accounts by native La Jollan’s indicate the presence of harbor seals in the area before and after construction of the wall.”- http://www.lajollaseals.com/controversy.html

Only that because of how the beach was named that some of us forget we are just tenants of the ocean. I find it sad to think that because men created a breakwater wall, the beach become that of men. For me, the ocean is not naturally ours to invade and throw away natural coastal habitat, but naturally ours to seek renewal.

 

I am happy and content that I have miles and miles of coastline to enjoy in San Diego

and the seals only took a fraction of one mile (1/4 perhaps),

and in my opinion, this small stretch should continue to serve as natural habitat of the seals,

 

be set aside for the primary use by harbor seals,

 

secondary by human as long as the seals are not disturbed in any way and respected in their habitat subject to the strict interpretation of Marine Mammal Protection Act.

I prefer for more urban connections in our natural world, so that we do not become ignorant and devoid of natural experiences. I guess, the reason why a lot have been unknowing about the joy of studying Science because the natural world has been walled off through urban design, just like the breakwater wall. And we forget to whom we owe our space in our beautiful world.

If you prefer reading a more entertaining post instead of slightly political about the fate of the seals, please click La Jolla Harbor Seals: A Short Story

Distance: 13 miles full loop.

Elevation/Difficulty: It is mostly a flat hike, with only 200 ft elevation gain/loss but the full loop is 13 miles long, making it a moderate hike.

Start of Trail: Shuttle Stop 6 or 7

Yosemite is a huge natural park that it abounds with outdoor opportunities. Tourists can have so many ways of enjoying its natural wonders. Whether it be rock climbing, river rafting, biking, hiking, para-gliding, base jumping, fishing, swimming, skiing, horse back riding, and what else is there that man could think of. It is open all year round, but each season offers a different scenery. Spring to early summer, the waterfalls are at their best and the valley floor is marvelously adorned by wildflowers.

For me, the best way to experience a natural park is by foot, where you see and experience the little details of nature that are often passed upon. Yosemite offers more than 800 miles of trails, from very easy to extremely strenuous.

The Yosemite Valley usually gets the impression of being too crowded, that most hikers would usually recommend to stay away from the Valley. However, contrary to this popular notion, the Valley Floor Loop hike actually is very quiet.

It is one of the tranquil ways to enjoy the Valley Floor. Yes, there may be some sections which are overly crowded to experience a oneness with nature, such as along the trail to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls,

and Bridalveil Falls

but aside from these two places, you would actually be thinking where all the other people went.

Please click, Hiking Yosemite Valley Floor Loop Trail to continue.

If you ask me where is my favorite spot that I have visited in Yosemite National Park, then, I would have to say, Tuolomne Meadows. I have not seen the entirety of Yosemite yet, and I am not saying the other parts of Yosemite that I have been to are not beautiful, no! In fact, the beauty of Yosemite National Park is just so incomprehendible for me. It is vast, not only in terms of area, but in terms of beauty. Yosemite is just not about giant granite rocks and cliffs, giant trees, tall waterfalls, glacial lakes and beautiful meadows, there is something more in it that is drawing me to dream about a place I’ve never been, that Yosemite represents. And in that inner core of my dreaming, is the Tuolomne Meadows.

Tuolomne Meadows is the high country of Yosemite National Park. It is very beautiful, and I am lost of words how to describe it. It is about 25 miles from Mono lake ( featured in my earlier post) and 50 miles from the Yosemite Valley. Please click California: Tuolomne Meadows, Yosemite

Mono Lake is an ancient lake, one of the oldest lakes if not the oldest, in North America. A visit in Mono Lake feels like being being transported to the location filming of Science fiction movies. It is like reaching another planet. The experience is really like out of this world, especially entering the lake at dusk, like what we did.

Please click California: Mono Lake for more descriptions and pictures of Mono Lake.

Inspired by Galen Rowell’s Book California the Beautiful, my new photography and travel blog hopes to share the diverse beauty that are found in California. From the ocean,

Anacapa Island, Channel Islands National Park, Ca

to the mountains,

Kings Canyon National Park, CA

to the surreal beauty of the desert,

Mesquite Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park

California offers a remarkable diversity, a wonderful gift to behold for those who love to marvel in nature’s excellent works of artistry. California may be the land of innovation and opportunity,

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

but its exquisite natural beauty is also worth seeing and experiencing. Water, sun, wind,

Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite National Park, CA

fire, ice, tectonic forces, all of these contribute to what is now, California.

Mono Lake Tuffa State Reserve

Please click California to continue reading……

Betchai

California

San Diego Backroads

Lake Cuyamaca

Distance: 3.5 mile loop
Elevation Gain/Loss: 200 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Address: 15027 Highway 79, Julian, CA
Direction: take I-8 East, Highway 79 North until you see the lake ( 15 minutes off I-8)

Nature spares! Nature Heals! Nature grows back! Lake Cuyamaca at Rancho Cuyamaca State Park is one of my favorite places in San Diego County to take inspiration from Mother Nature. The Cuyamaca Mountains, which has the second highest peak in San Diego County, was scorched by the 2003 Cedar Fire. Before the 2003 Cedar Fire, Cuyamaca Mountain stood as San Diego’s jewel mountain escape. Now, most of the Cuyamaca Mountains look like a ghost mountain of charred trees, but a beautifully haunting one.

Please click San Diego Back Roads @ Lake Cuyamaca to continue reading….

Betchai
San Diego Back Roads
and
California

Oh Federer, now I cry with you as you keep on losing this year, and I feel your pain also for losing to Blake and therefore lost the chance for a gold medal in Olympics Tennis Men’s singles event. But somehow, happy for you that you have a chance to win an Olympic Gold, in the men’s doubles. I hope you will do well in the doubles final, I hope you will continue to bring in luster to the game.

And Nadal, he now gets your number one position in the world, people before did not think Nadal will catch up with you so soon, but this year it happened. After 4 1/2 years, we now have a new number one.

Oh Fed, I just hope you will come back. Before I hoped and wished for unpredictability to the games, since it seemed everytime you’re in court it was sooooo predictable you would win, but maybe I asked too much? Now, it seems, there is still predictability, that is whenever Nadal is in court, it is sooooo predictable he will win? Fed, oh Fed, I just hope you come back and bring the world again some excitement.

OKay, I am just going crazy I guess, for my idol has been down this year.

But this is what I liked with Federer, when he said after they defeated the Bryan brothers in the doubles semi-final,

“Having beaten the best in the world and going for gold, it’s an incredible scenario,” Federer said. “This is a big moment in my career.”

He did not look back in his failure to win the gold in singles, instead he moved on to play his best with his team mate Wawrinka for the Quest for gold in doubles.

And my big congratulations to Nadal, who is now secured of a silver, but will be fighting for gold, and the new number one in men’s tennis! Richelle, I envy you !

After the Sierra trip, vacation continues at home. And home, is where my favorite vacation is.

I have a new blog, sharing the wonderful gifts of nature in and around the scenic spots of San Diego. Here is the link

http://sandiegobackroads.today.com/

This is different from my first outside of friendster blog, which shares our wonderful world from the backroads

http://betchaitluc.wordpress.com/

Well, being hooked with the great outdoors have inspired me to write lately. In fact, it is the great outdoors that taught me to take pictures. I have not taken any photography lessons, nor took any time to study any photography sites, just hiking and seeing the natural beauty of God’s artistry that no man can equal had taught me to appreciate the sights I see and click the camera. That’s all. No special effects. Though I want to learn photography too, but right now, I always tell myself, tomorrow, but that tomorrow to learn photography never came. Why? Because if I am not teaching, if I am not writing (or call that blogging), either I am asleep, or enjoying the great outdoors.

And summer is my favorite season, for 2 reasons:

1. Beach (love those boogie rides).

2. And warm enough to enjoy the beach .

PLUS we only do beach after a hike. Hiking and beach, that’s what makes summer FUN!

And am glad our beach is not just your any type of beach, it is a beach that you can hike.

http://sandiegobackroads.today.com/2008/07/28/torrey-pines-not-just-another-beach/

See you at the beach, let us hike before and after enjoying the waves

I think there would be no more pictures uploaded in this blog, friendster told me:

" You do not have enough disk space left on your account to upload this file."

Well, I did not know how much is my space limit for this blog, I do not see any specifications. But can I complain? This is free hosting anyway.