My visit to Crater Lake was wonderful. I will return.
On Monday, the Girl and I rose early, moved around a bit, and I fed us. I handled a conference call that might (hopefully) lead to some new work. I could use a couple of new projects on the books. Then we loaded out the rig and headed west to intercept the Crater Lake Highway.
As we approached the area, the nature of the geology (volcanic) was striking. I could go back here and spend several days exploring the area. Another visit to Crater Lake (so I could capture images at dawn and dusk) is also appropriate.
I pulled up to the entry gate, showed my “old man’s pass,” and drove on with a map and newsprint in hand. We stopped at the Visitor’s Center to look around. But, I could tell that the park was getting busier as the morning aged. So, we drove off to catch East Rim Drive and take in the park.
I was astounded when we pulled off at the first access point. It was a short hike to the edge of the pit. The Native Americans are right — Crater Lake is a holy place. I could imagine the battle between Skell and Llao that they must have witnessed so long ago. That struggle would have been truly heroic.
We spent a couple of hours wandering along the east rim. Then we drove on towards Portland, where my conference is being held this week.
On Thursday morning, the Girl and I hiked the lower part of Clear Creek Trail, out in the Jacks Valley Wildlife Management Area. What a great trail and one we’ll visit again, Lord willing.
Yesterday, the Girl and I hiked about eight miles along Clear Creek Trail. We didn’t make it all the way to Knob Point, which was about two miles farther than our turn-around. In the end, I’m glad we stopped when we did.
The trail was wonderful. It was a little warm on our climb away from the staging area with the morning sun on the east side of the hill. But the grade was easy and we kept the pace up.
The Girl hunted for lizards, ground squirrels, and rabbits. She’ll chase a cottontail rabbit, but knows that the jackrabbits can easily outrun her. She might take a few steps in pursuit, but it’s always halfhearted and she breaks off quickly. I love to watch her and I keep my eyes and ears open for rattlesnakes. I’m confident in her aversion training, but I want nothing to happen to her because of my inattention.
We passed a couple of draws and I marveled at the cool air flowing down from the ridgeline. It was cool in the shade of the granite outcrops and a nice contrast to the warm morning air.
The view from Clear Creek Trail.Before long we passed our first pine tree. Soon we were in a pine forest near the north end of Jacks Valley. The ranch below was beautiful in the morning light.
We hiked on another mile or so. When we were about two miles from Knob Point, I decided to pause, drink a little water, offer some to the Girl, and turn around. We were four miles out and that would make an eight-mile hike, which would be our longest to date. I didn’t know how either of us would feel on our way back. The prudent part of me thought it best to turn around. The adventurer part of me wanted to go on to the point.
The prudent won.
So we started back. Along the way, I paused a couple of times to look around. I found a benchmark hidden (sort of) in a cluster of boulders. I’ll bet it was difficult to setup a tripod over that mark. I’m confident that electronic surveying methods were used, but it was still a difficult setup.
When we were about a mile from the rig, the Girl started showing signs of heat. She will pause, paw some sand up under a shady sagebrush, and lie down to cool off. It was about 80F, but I think the combination of temperature and sun get to her. She’d had water, so I knew she was hydrated. She was just hot.
So, we double-timed a good part of the last mile. She doesn’t like me to get ahead of her when I’m moving. Heh… So off we went.
It took us about 15 minutes to make the remaining distance back to the rig. She drank the water I offered. Then she hopped into the back and crashed in the furniture blanket I use to hide the contents of the rig. It was OK.
This not-quite-a-selfie (that’s my shadow) view of Clear Creek Trail and the north part of Jacks Valley caught my attention. What a great hike.We made eight miles yesterday… our longest hike yet. I think I had another mile or two in me, so I know that I can make the Knob and back. But, I also know I’ll have to wait for cooler weather or we’ll have to start much earlier to avoid the heat. The Girl just can’t handle the heat and I want to protect her from heat exhaustion.
Walking along Carson River is such a blessing early in the morning. I’m blessed to see such sights and appreciate the time with the Girl.
When we’re walking early by the Carson River, I’m sometimes startled by the light on the Prison Hill ridge. On this morning, the puffy white clouds provided a counterpoint to the warm sunlight on the mountains. It was enough to capture my eyes and my heart.
I’m truly thankful for such sights as these. I’ll never tire of seeing the sunrise on the mountains.
The Girl and I were out early one morning for walkies. We were greeted by a beautiful sunrise over the Carson River.
The Girl and I are out and about almost every morning. At this time of the year, the best time to walk is very early. When we get out at dawn, the temperature is in the mid- to upper-50s. It’s chilly to start the walk in shorts and a t-shirt, but I do. Of course, the Girl is practically naked (Naked Girl!!!), but she’s always on the move and doesn’t seem to mind her nakedness.
I’m blessed by the cool morning air, the exercise, and the opportunity to see the sunrise. On those mornings when there are a few clouds, the sight can be breathtaking. The morning I made this capture is one such morning. I was listening to my morning meditation while walking along with the Girl. My steps provided a cadence for focus. My eyes were up and looking around at God’s creation, thankful for witnessing the waking of the world.
I made a lanyard (turkshead knot with a diamond stopper knot) for my Marlinspike. I enjoy working with cordage and lanyards are useful additions to many pieces of equipment.
A few weeks ago I started playing around with paracord. I always have a bit of paracord on my person. It’s one of the Five C’s.
Lanyards are useful for keeping gear attached to one’s body or kit. I decided to make one for my Marlinspike, even if I don’t normally carry it in my kit. It was my first lanyard and I enjoyed the Zen-work of making it. I learned a few things in the process, as well.
I need to make some lanyards for my multitool (which I do carry in the field) and a fixed-blade knife that stays in my field kit. I might try a three-bight design of the turkshead knot. There are many other patterns as well.
This is good for me. I like it.
N.B. and Edit: A friend pointed out an error — it’s a Marlinspike, not a Martinspike. I can only attribute my error to old eyes, which sometimes have a difficult time reading what I see on the screen. Or, perhaps is just that I’m old. [grin]
There’s an useful article on Wikipedia about the Marlinspike. I bought mine through Amazon (that evil empire) from a favorite vendor, Bored Paracord.
One morning when the Girl and I were on walkies, we came across this little buck.
The Girl and I love our morning hikes. The last few weeks we try to get a full five miles in before the sun warms too much. There’s a nice loop we walk out by the Carson River. We walk from Riverview Park up past the north end of Empire Golf Course, take a break up by the Carson River access, then hike back.
One morning this guy came wandering up toward us. My guess is someone else (or something else) spooked him. Of course, Ki had to give chase and I couldn’t get her stopped fast enough with my attention diverted trying to get this capture.
Some days a melancholy washes over me. Often it’s because something makes me think of Wife, the life we shared, life before she died.
I have a bit of music in my collection. There are a lot of favorite songs in that collection, many of them from years ago. Back then I couldn’t afford to buy music and would wish that I had a copy of the recording. Over the last decade or two, there was more money to buy music and I got over the reluctance to spend on something frivolous but meaningful.
The recording by Bruce Hornsby and the Range, Mandolin Rain, causes me to respond. For some reason, this song came up in my playlist today. I was taken back 20, 30 years ago and remembered hearing this song the first time. It caused an emotional response in me then and still does.
Listen to the mandolin rain
Listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break every time she runs away
Listen to the banjo wind
A sad song drifting low
Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go
She didn’t have a choice about leaving. She had to go. And there are times when the tears still flow.
While walking the Girl Thursday evening, I noticed this brilliant fragment of a rainbow.
Last night, the Girl and I went on Walkies a little later than usual. The thermometer burst through 100F in the afternoon, for the first time since I’ve been back in Carson City. So, I didn’t want either of us out in the heat of the afternoon. But, once the sun fell low enough for there to be plenty of shade at the little quadrangle a couple of blocks from the hotel, I knew we could get out for a walk and a play.
So, I called her to me, put her collar back on, and we walked down to the rig to pick up her e-collar and the Chucker. We walked east and across Stewart Street (at great peril that vehicles won’t stop at the crosswalk) and into the fire station area and park. Drivers blow through that crosswalk regularly and that’ll get a citation (if law enforcement is around). I feel like I’m taking my life in my hands every time I cross there.
The Girl checked all the squirrel holes, just in case one was stupid enough to present a target. No joy. So, she trotted out into the grassy quad, eliminated, and greeted some of the other four-legged visitors also enjoying the cool grass.
A beautiful little “happy hippo” come over to say “hi.” But, she had her tail and head up and I so did my Girl. Pibbies! But, they did a little of the doggie-dance and started to play.
When they left, I noticed a rainbow forming to the east. I had an eye on a thunderstorm out east, but I thought it was a long way off. The radar image provided by my iPhone confirmed my assessment. Yet, there was this rainbow.
So the Girl and I moved around until the trees framed the sight and I could make a capture with my iPhone’s camera.
That done, it was playtime. Between chasing the ball and rolling in the cool, green grass, the Girl made happy sounds and happy body language. It was a good outing for both of us.
While I breakfast, I was playing around with the fisheye converter and my iPhone.
While at breakfast, I was playing around with the fisheye converter for my iPhone’s camera. I suppose I was bored, or just playing, but the result amuses me. So, here it is.
A favorite place to hike is along the Carson River.
The Girl and I love to hike the Riverview Park path along the Carson River. The path starts near the Korean War Memorial in Carson City, proceeds along a constructed wetland (full of sweet-sounding birds), then along the river corridor. Recently, a bridge was added over the irrigation ditch that separates the park from the Empire Ranch Golf Course, so we have access to the perimeter road/trail outside the golf course.
The path leads all the way to Deer Run road and perhaps beyond. We’ve only walked to the river access at Morgan Mill. One morning I might choose to walk farther. But not today.
