Dan's Outside

2003.06.15

***Back from Yosemite
where we stood beneath Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls and visited Glacier Point.

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June 15, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.06.15

2003.06.14

***Quicksilver Park
again today. Got an early start; did my Prospect #3 loop; home by 10:00.

***Waterfall Day
–
Some years ago we started doing a family one-day trip to Yosemite Valley in early June to catch the waterfalls near their peak. We’ve missed the past few years but we plan to be there tomorrow!
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June 14, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.06.14

2003.06.13

***Senate OKs survey of offshore oil: Drilling moratorium off California coast at risk, opponents say
– “The Senate approved a major study of offshore oil and gas reserves Thursday, angering California officials and lawmakers from other coastal states who called it the first step toward ending a 20-year moratorium on offshore drilling in federal waters.” [SFGate]
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June 13, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.06.13

2003.06.12

***Della Falls, B.C.
– one of my summer destinations.
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June 12, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.06.12

2003.06.08

***Did a nice little 30-mile bike loop
today. Went south of San Jose and around Calero Reservoir.
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June 8, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.06.08

JuneFlower2003

June flower. Almaden Quicksilver Park. June 7, 2003.
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June 7, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on JuneFlower2003

2003.06.07

***Everything seemed green
last week but the coastal California hills have now turned golden – though a bit later than usual.

This was certainly the case on my hike today. Almost all of the seasonal plants have turned brown and the grasses have gone to seed. There are still some late season flowers – some quite spectacular – but the lupine and California Poppies and other flowers of spring are largely gone.

I’ve been told that people from other parts of the US think that California looks parched and arid at this time of year. However, Californians look forward to this time of year. There is something clean and spare about these brown hills, the scattered groves of old oaks, and the green valley bottoms where water still runs.

My sister tells me this is a Calochortus (Mariposa Lily).
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June 7, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.06.07

OakAndIveyJune2003

Ivy growing on an Oak Tree. Quicksilver Mines County Park. June 7, 2003.
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June 7, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on OakAndIveyJune2003

2003.06.06

***Outdoors industry stands up for nature: Utah’s willingness to drop protections provokes a response
– “epresenting an estimated $18 billion in annual sales, the industry’s major trade group wields the kind of economic clout that makes pro-business Western politicians sit up and take note. But in the past, the Outdoor Industry Association’s lobbying efforts on hotly contentious environmental issues have been largely polite and genteel.”

“So it came as a shock to Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt recently when the industry group threatened to pull its major trade show out of Salt Lake City after the governor cut a deal with the Bush administration to scrap protections on nearly 6 million acres of wilderness areas in the state.” [SFGate]
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June 6, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.06.06

2003.06.01

***John Muir Trail offers a glorious hike, but only to the prepared
– “Another personal dynamic occurs on these long hikes. Everything inside you will settle, clear and simplify. Your body will feel purified. As you return home, you will realize exactly what counts in your life, and just as importantly, what does not.” [SFGate]

Although I have not done the entire JMT, I have done pretty substantial sections. The only major gap is south of Devil’s Postpile. I’ve done the entire southern part in Sequoia-Kings Canyon; parts of it several times. I recently linked together the missing pieces at the northern end between Yosemite and Devil’s Postpile. One day – soon, I hope – I would like to do the whole thing; most likely north-to-south, and probably solo.

This summer I’m doing a 10-day section of the JMT with a group of friends. In early August we’ll enter over Biship Pass and then head south over Mather, Pinchot, Glen, and Kearsarge Passes, exiting at Onion Valley. This is some of the most spectacular country in the entire Sierra Nevada. I can’t wait!

***Tom Stienstra will present
“Best Summer Hiking, Camping & Fishing” at 7 p. m. Tuesday at REI-Saratoga, and 7 p.m. Thursday at REI-Berkeley, and will be available for questions at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Stacey’s Books at 521 Market St. in San Francisco.
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June 1, 2003 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on 2003.06.01