Ray and I really enjoyed our hike up the San Joaquin Ridge trail. The weather has warmed up and it felt good to be out again. I was worried about trying my backpack out with everything I’ll be carrying in it. The SJ Ridge trail starts out at 9265′ and goes up about 1200′ in 2.25 miles. So I got a good test going up and coming down the 2.5 miles. I won’t say it was easy. It was actually the hardest day I’ve had hiking with my pack. But Tailwinds and Liz and I will be starting our backpack in four days at around 5,600′. And, the first day out we’ll be hitting the trail around noon and only hiking up into the Sierra about 5 miles. So, hopefully I’m good to go.

My friend Tailwinds arrives tomorrow. Her mate Fred is flying her into the Mammoth Airport around 8:30am. Fred is then going to take me up in his plane to get some shots of the Sierra. Unbelievable. Normally I’m very frightened to fly in a small plane, except flying with my brother who I trust completely. I hope I’m able to hold the camera steady through my fear.

Ray's getting good at taking photos. I wanted to show off my full pack weight backpack, with the NEW orange Big Agnes Fly Creek tent.

To see the tent….(i’m sure LR will be checking it out.)

View from the San Joaquin Ridge hike today.

This view of Ritter and Banner is for LR.

My hiking hubby.

After dinner in Mammoth I ran into this little girl and the bird she's had for two weeks.

Male Brewer's blackbird.

The Intimidator found some nice light just before the sun set.

This little guy hung out so quietly right behind me for longer than any birds hang out.

Ray went out early to buy some bundles of wood and fire starter. We had parkas on in the cabin. Ray asked me to make a list of what to buy at the market as he knew we weren’t leaving the cabin today. It was 39 degrees when he drove in to town at 8:30am.

A very cold morning. Ray woke me to come see the snow falling. It only snowed for a few minutes.

We really needed a fire to keep us warm in the cabin. It was an inside kinda day.

I pulled out the vivitar transceiver and receiver and shot photos from inside.

This little guy and lots of his brothers kept begging for food. They were cold too.

Later in the day I ventured out on the porch and used some on camera flash to photograph the tamer birds, like this baby who is getting used to me.

The chipmunks are much more interested in food than running away from me.

Katy is my trail journal transcriber. We met online.

Katy is now my good friend.

Katy lives in Yosemite and we believe this is her 4th visit to Wood’s lodge since we’ve been coming.

Ray and I really like Katy.

This is Katy.

This is Katy's hand.

And Katy and my shadow.

Here's Katy.

And here is where we hiked to.

Here is what we saw before we climbed the steep hill home.

Can you tell we had fun.

Katy is not wild about me taking photos of her. I sure hope she doesn’t mind that I’ve posted what I’ve posted.

On Ray’s 66th he did 6. Six miles going up to the Mammoth Crest from Woods Lodge in Mammoth, 1500 feet, starting elevation: 9100′, ending: 10,560′. Trail grade: 616 feet per mile. Not bad Ray. Happy Birthday and thanks for a great hike and great day together. You a now an official hiker. Outta-sight. That’s your name.

Happy birthday Ray. Fantastic hike.

Carrying (almost) full weight.

View from Mammoth Crest.

Looping back to regain the trail back down. Ray is pictured here, but you probably can't see him. I know he's there though. What a great birthday hike.

Ray says that 66 feels real old, much older than 65. He said, “Just wait and see on your birthday when you turn 66.” I will probably hate it too, but I wonder how many people are out doing what we did today. Thank goodness we can still do what we love, hike.

Hanging until 10am. Special time with Ray. Movies (popcorn!) – Eat Pray Love. (yuck), Visitor’s Center, hike to Barrett’s Lake where I took way too many photos, made tacos for dinner (yummy), and have been working photos for the last couple of hours. Hope you enjoy a few of the photos I’ve posted as much as I enjoyed being out there (loaded down with full pack weight) shooting the great reflections in Barrett Lake not far from where our cabin is.

A couple out on Lake George around 5:15pm.

Walking along Lake George, I ran into these two gentlemen showing their dog a fish. Of course I had to get a photo of them.

Barrett Lake.

An X for Carol Leigh.

12:15am, Sunday night, at Lake George, Mammoth, CA

This was a first try in a long time photographing at night. I have much to learn, but am pleased I stayed up and tried.

I’m enjoying the day, still in my pj’s. I knew today would be a day where I would stay inside and tidy up lose ends. I must be PMS. But being PMS when I don’t have to go out or be with people isn’t so bad. I don’t feel like I got alot accomplished today. Usually how I feel about myself is determined by how much I accomplish. Ray must feel very accomplished today as he went into town and did all our 8 day’s worth of laundry!

I believe tonight’s moon will be full. Last night I noticed the moon setting behind the mountains around 12:30am. I don’t know whether I’ll be able to stay up to photograph the moon. TBD.

I looked out around 6:30pm and noticed the wind had stopped and there was still about 10 minutes of light before the sun went behind the Crest.

I took about 170 in 10 minutes (the camera was set to multiple shots) hoping I'd catch a bird doing something other than just looking pretty.

I wonder if other photographers have to crop or do they get it right in camera.

Yes, today was fun, but yes, it was full.

Ray and I hiked with John and Cindy up the Mammoth Crest trail to the top. With a side visit to Crystal Lake we probably did a 6 mile hike, starting at 9200 and hking up 1500 feet. This was the first day I carried my backpack filled with gear. I was surprised how well I did.

PC, Laurie and Jeannie hiked up to Duk Pass and back down. Their hike was about 10 miles.

A 3 shot merged pano from our Crest hike, looking out at the Duk Pass Trail the others took.

Cindy took this shot of me and John on the top of Mammoth Crest with the Minarette

This bear looked and behaved troubled. He plopped himself down in between our cabin and another cabin, right out in plain sight. Ray had spotted him and noticed the bear groaning and breathing heavily. He wasn’t moving. We were worried. I called the Fire Dept looking for someone in town who could come and check on the bear. I said, “The bear is either dying or delivering”. We were told someone would come and look at the bear. I am worried. No one left a message letting us know if they came to look at the bear. When we returned from dinner the bear was not there.

After dinner at Whiskey Creek and before the meeting where Ray spoke.

George, Ray, John, Cindy, Laurie, Jeannie and PC.

Thirty seconds of color as we crossed the street.

Great talk Ray.