In preparation for this backpacking and camping trip, we discovered there is an abundance of places to explore outside the world famous Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. One day we hope to visit them but they require advanced planning and reservations. Unfortunately, a week after our visit, the El Portal wildfire is now blazing through the Yosemite area.
We were fortunate to find an open campsite at this 10,000 ft lake. The host informed us some careless campers left a bag of bread out a few days earlier and we should be prepared for a roaming bear visit - not good. Lesson 1 - Always use bear boxes in bear country! Despite the warning, the only invaders to our camp were chipmunks.
Ranger Buttons and Fireweed are a couple of the beautiful wildflowers growing at higher elevations.
Being a birdwatcher, it's always exciting to see a new bird. The Grey-crowned Rosy-Finch surprised me when he flew across our path. He was a "life bird" for me. These birds live in alpine meadows or the arctic tundra.
Hiking around these pristine lakes and meadows filled with blooming flowers is a humbling experience. It is a reminder to "tread lightly" and "leave no trace" to help ensure that these treasures of nature will continue to exist despite the visits we all make to these inspiring places.
The lakes we explored are found in the Hoover Wilderness. The Wilderness Act of 1964 is celebrating its 50th anniversary this September. Over 109 million acres have been designated for preservation and protection across the US since its inception. This amount of land represents 5 percent of the entire US. Over half of the protected area is located in Alaska. We all benefit from those who had the foresight and determination to set aside land to be protected as wild and scenic.
