We've been noticing-- trust me, it's impossible NOT to notice-- that there are many, many dead pine trees in this area of California. At first we assumed it was due to drought, but after some thought, that just didn't make a lot of sense so I googled "
dead pines in Sierra National Forest". What we learned was heartbreaking. The dreaded bark beetle is changing the landscape. And as one local woman told us today, "It will be okay. The trees will come back. But not in my lifetime."
We couldn't help but wonder how the mountains would have looked if the trees had all been alive and healthy.
Opting for an easier day, we headed to the nearby Bass Lake, expecting a rather hopping place. It was deserted! Most of it doesn't really open until Memorial Day. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our short hike on the
Way-of the Mono trail.
Today threw some exciting weather our way. Here is the dramatic sky that foretold of the heavy rain that would fall on our way this afternoon to Nelder Grove, the only place open right now to see the Giant Sequoias. It was a wet, sloppy, peaceful, lovely walk among the Giants.
Naps. Cooking at our cottage. Listening to some Norah Jones. You know, it takes a few days to relax into a vacation. It's starting to take hold....
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