[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/l7PvvV...jQ=w438-h584-no[/img]



M was feeling a bit under the weather this past weekend, so we tabled plans to go backpacking. Instead, we found a nice local trail in the Stanislaus Forest below Kennedy Meadows, and took off on a day hike. It was warm (it was hot everywhere else, but we were up about 7,000 feet, so it was a bit cooler) the sky was blue, and the scenery was a treat.

We hiked up a few miles, had lunch, and then wandered around in the forest a bit before we headed back to the car. On the way, we were accompanied by at least a score of swallowtail butterflies. We even got one to sit still enough to get a good photo:

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/R03vD7...Xw=w779-h584-no[/img]

And once back at the car, we couldn't resist going up to Sonora Pass to see exactly how much snow is up there.

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Vn8IKT...Iw=w438-h584-no[/img]

A lot. This is about 9,000 feet, and you can see that snow covers just about everything but the most southerly facing slopes. People were snowboarding and snowmobiling along the road here. That should give you some idea of what kinds of conditions you'll find if you start hiking anytime soon...

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ib4Lye...ww=w438-h584-no[/img]

And by the way, this is the Stanislaus River at full flood stage. Amazing. Yes, that is solid whitewater.

Hmmm. Somehow my photos aren't posting now. What's the new system>?

Try this link to the photos: https://goo.gl/photos/8KnD4atMcLravz827

When I click on the link for your photos, I'm presented with a 'no entry' sign, so perhaps it's not working because the photos are restricted?

They are not. And they seem to be working on other sites....

The link in the later post worked fine. Also worked fine from another site, as you said. FWIW.

Good for you, getting out. I was hunkered down with the dogs in the Valley's triple-digit assault, whilst the family frolicked in Canada. "Oooh, it's so cloudy here!"

One upside of this week of relentless, record-breaking heat: we'll open the high country a month earlier than would have been possible with "normal" temps (whatever that means anymore).

Emigrant seems like a reasonable destination now, except maybe the bugs. Wonder what Cherry Creek is like?

A roaring torrent. The snow may be disappearing, but it's all turning to water and racing down the creeks and rivers.