HAPPY 75th To Me...

I had many “celebrations” for my 75th Birthday over the past 2 weeks...  should at least be 80 by now!!!  Thanks to all my family and great friends for remembering me.  Sooo, to celebrate again, I picked my favorite 75 photos from the following events...

Daughter Kristine took a day off work and hiked with our hiking group - a 6.2 mile round trip to Mt Baldy 8300’ to 9042’ all uphill, then a speedy trip down.  Mt Baldy is located at the north end of lovely Lake Tahoe.

Kristine and her daughter Cassie (KASS) had a fun day shopping and eating to celebrate both my birthday and Cassie’s (20).  Granddaughter Megan in AK also celebrated her 21st with Anchorage friends.  (She returns to Hawaii Pacific University for her senior year of Nursing study in Aug).

Friends Peggy and Mike joined Don and myself for a revisit to one of our favorite places… Kit Carson Summit - we stayed at Sorensen’s Resort instead of dry camping in the RV's in “cow patty pasture” near Hwy 88 and Hwy 89 south of Lake Tahoe.  

Incidentally, our 5th wheel has sold so my hiking groups annual "campout" (#14) found 1 couple (of the 15 participants) staying in an RV Park, Don and I in a cabin, and the rest of the hikers and spouses tucked away in the group campground in an assortment of tents, motorhomes and trailers.  We gathered daily to hike, eat, fish, eat, geocache, eat, kayak, eat, visit and eat!!!  Bucks Lake is in Plumas County CA at an elevation of about 5300’ and about a 2 to 2.5 hours drive for most of the group.  The first photo is of a map of the general area... 

This will acquaint you with  the general area.  Mt Baldy is just above the
north end of Lake Tahoe, just across the border line into Nevada.

Nancy follows friend Suzanne up a gradual
steady climb.  We started at 8300' and went to 9042'

Beautiful Lake Tahoe in the background as
Nancy poses...

Kristine poses at the top - love that hot pink contrast!!!!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Kristine heads down - couldn't resist these "snags"

Kristine removes a rock in the boot...

Now look who's in Pink, a pig BBQ.... in the mall.

Easier to drive that SUV along the windy west shore of Lake Tahoe

Don, Peggy and Mike pose before we start
geocaching.

Fallen Leaf Lake, west of Lake Tahoe

More posing...  Peggy, Mike and Nancy

and the ducks swim in to see if there

is any food...   YES

After geocaching and lunch, we follow the one lane

road to the Marina and Store at the West end of Fallen Leaf Lake.

A kid in the store told us about a scenic short cut to Hwy 88.
He was absolutely right.

Bear moss sculptures posed  while fishing 

and flowers greeted us upon our arrival at Sorensen's Resort.

Look close and you'll see a Marmot posing
to the right of the sign that describes this cute critter... 

and "cute" is just the right word to describe our home away from home...

Next day's hike to Winnemucca Lakes starts pretty high...
and Nancy poses.  Then

Peggy takes her turn at the "seat" chair - this tree is alive and well.

We kept climbing and enjoyed the high mountains....

and I snapped a photo as a "cow parsnip"
also got into the "posing" position.

We left Don at Frog Lake... to do a little geocaching.

Wildflowers is the name of the game on this hike

and they are good at posing also...

See what I mean!!!

These are called Elephant 's Head (either Bull) or 

"little" which are packed with tiny 1/4" blooms.
If you look closely you'll see the trunk, tusk and ears.
A magnifying glass or zoom lens helps...

Peggy and Mike just place one foot in front of the other

and we finally reach our lunch spot with a view of
Winnemucca Lake at 9123'

Don captures a great shot of Elephant Back

and Red Lake before we head back to the cabins... look at that SKY.

Schneider Cow Camp Road brings us to today's trailhead,
starting at 8364' and climbing to 9123' in 1.4 miles.  Along
the way we saw this unique red fir cone.  Looks good enough to eat!!!

Trees, cabins

and Scarlet Gilia enhanced the trail.

This massive tree provided a good hiding
spot for a geocache.  See Don to the right...

Once again a floral feast all the way up to the top.

The Pacific Crest Trail travels along the far meadow and
around Meiss Lake.  Peggy and I have done that one before...

Ahhhhh - going down is sure a lot easier, except you have to
duck once in a while.

Next Event - Bucks Lake, Plumas County, CA

As with most lakes in CA, Bucks is down over 135'

"Dirt camping" friends...

We gathered for cocktails and food every evening,

and Julie was happy to "pass" the home baked brownies.

Love that Panorama feature on the iPhone...

Bucks Lake at sunset.   Till tomorrow...

Sharon, Shiomi, Nancy, Peggy, Bob, Julie, Audrey & Margie

took the easy 7 mile hike (5505'-5704') on part
of the Pacific Crest Trail...  Pine drop (growing
up thru a beautiful fern,

and mystery bushes (can't find the name) posed along the trail.

Margie gives Bob a dirty look as he takes her snack spot.

Hundreds of huge Sugar Pine cones

fell along the trail from the majestic Sugar Pine trees

while some stayed in place, obviously due to the heavy pitch.

Other "pine drops" pose with friends

while Sierra Tiger Lilies

watch over many very tiny (about 1/2") little flowers.

Although Sugar Pines were the dominant tree,
Ranger's Button's, a more rare member of the carrot family,

were everywhere.  They are one of my all-time favorites...

Occasionally there was even a "fungus" posing among us.

And we weren't the first ones to pass this way.  Others came in 1849.

The next day 5 of us, Peggy, Julie, Shiomi, Audrey and I
headed out on another 5.75 mile section of the PCT

This deer hoof print was huge.  I drew the lines as a frame
of reference, at least 3.5 inches...  

Today's forest presented acres of Silver Tip trees

and some low growing Manzanita was starting to show another color.

We passed a meadow

then wandered amongst giant trees

and picked a "snack" spot with a view before heading
back...  All down hill YIPPEE. 

No cooking tonight.  All 15 of us enjoyed

a great dinner at Bucks Lakeshore Resort (where we were
staying with the Potter's, Peggy & Mike next to Don).

Good Night...

As Don and I headed for home, there was time to Geocache

and enjoy someone else's special resting place.