Hello Everyone,

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve traveled anywhere and related about it, but your peaceful silence is about to be broken. I just recently returned from a quick, solo getaway to the Sierras, inspired in part by my friend David’s recent sojourn to Convict Lake and surrounding areas, and I feel compelled to share the experience (that’s not my only compulsion, but we don’t need to go there). Not wanting to be a copycat I decided to head to the western side of the Sierras, to try and find a spot I stumbled upon a few years back in Sierra National Forest.

I got up bright and early Friday and made the decision to go – up to that point I was still being iffy on going or not. I packed the Explorer and actually got on the road by 11 am, which for me is pretty darn good. I think it was because I decided not to try and bring every possible convenience and contingent item this time, as is my wont. The traffic wasn’t too bad – for the 405 – and I made pretty good progress, taking the 405 N, to the 5 N, over the Grapevine, hooking up with the 99 and taking that through Bakersfield all the way to Fresno – Raisin Capitol of the World! In Fresno I got myself onto the 168 (after a slight misreading of the map) and, finally, headed towards the mountains – which were barely discernible through the smog and haze.

It’s a nice rolling, curving ride through the foothills, which are quite dry and yellow this time of year, and I watched the thermometer as the temperature climbed to 106° outside. Yeeouch! That be hot! No wonder Fresno is the Raisin Capital. By the time they pick grapes they’re probably all shriveled and shrunk and ready to go. Someday I think I would like to spend some time driving within the foothills instead of just passing through though. It looks like they’re some routes in there scenic in their own right. I busted up the long grade cut into the side of the mountain (because I could) and after bit more driving came into the little resort town of Shaver Lake.

From there I turned right onto Dinky Creek Road and headed east. Looking at my official Sierra National Forest map, and rooting around in the deepest recesses of my memory I charted a course for where I thought the intended camping spot was. I blew by the turn onto XX Road (the road designations have been changed to “preserve” the location from the “hordes”?), which is where I wanted to turn, so I stomped on the brakes, did a quick u-turn (illegal I’m sure) and headed north. After a few miles I came to a decision point – right onto FS xxx or left onto FS xxx. My instincts and faint memories said xxx so that’s what I did. Things started looking familiar so I felt comfortable with that important decision. Very shortly I came to another intersection and this time both the map and my memory said to turn xxx, onto FS xxx, so I did. I was now on a dirt road, but it was in pretty good shape – although very narrow – so I refrained from switching into 4WD just yet! In another couple of miles I came to another intersection, and this one I remembered very well. You see, the last time I was here we were playing the truck’s stereo too loud for too long and the battery died. So I had to hike a couple miles to this spot hoping that someone would come by and be kind enough to drive back in and give us a jumpstart. Well, someone did so no big deal, but at least I was now on familiar ground!

I turned onto the final segment of my journey and almost immediately came upon a big ridge of dirt across the road. Now I’m not sure why they put these things there. Are they for erosion control, or are they to keep you from driving too fast, or what? But I do know that you’d better not go over them too fast. Ummhmmm, that’s right! You go over one of those too fast and whatever’s not strapped down goes a flyin’ in the air! Well, that pretty much describes everything in the truck except for me (‘cause I was strapped in). That first one wasn’t too bad, but I was upon it so quickly that I barely had enough time to brake even a little bit and it just made a big old noise with everything going up then thumping back down – and not necessarily in the same location! Damn! So I drive on and sure enough I do the same thing! This time I stop, get out, and go back to set things back in their proper places. I continue and I’m doing pretty well. I see them, I slow down, I go over them slowly, and no commotion in the back. But, I’m trying to look at the map and look at the area and trying to remember where I am and where I want to go so I don’t see the monster in the road just waiting for the unwary traveler. Kaboom! Shit! I hear bottles tinkling, stoves banging, the ice comes flying out of the cooler. I mean stuff is everywhere. The cooler, which was all the way in the back, is almost kissing the back of my seat! So I pull over and once again put things in their proper place, sort of, and drive on.

(Sniff, sniff) “What’s that smell? (Sniff) Smells like beer?!? Oh-oh! I pull over again, go around to the back and pick up the 12-pack box of Coronas. Sure enough, it’s leaking! The box was already busted open and looking around I see little pieces of glass next to the side window. Dangit! So I open the 12-pack and find that several of the bottles are broken and just leaking all over the place. I fish out the good ones, which are already sticky and covered with tiny little shards of glass from their broken brethren, and place them in something else. Fortunately, it doesn’t look like the spilled beer has gotten over much so I close things up, hop back in the truck and continue on my way – driving very cautiously now.

Almost immediately I come upon the little drop-off to the spot I was seeking so I go on down and park the truck. I now behold the sight I have been seeking – a lush, high altitude pond, surrounded by a multitude of trees of immense size. Even this late (about 5:30) there are dragonflies flitting to and fro over its surface. Right next to the parking area is a nice flat spot seeded with boulders of all sizes including a natural fire ring and an open area sized perfectly for setting up the picnic table and a couple of chairs. Conveniently, a fallen tree has decayed to a point where it’s just the spot for placing your camp stove. The spot is gorgeous! I alight from my truck and breathe deeply the fresh air. Stretching my weary muscles I set up camp forthwith and settle down for a well-deserved beer and rest.

After a bit I get up and set up the rest of camp. It doesn’t take long but already the sun is getting pretty low in the sky, so I start gathering wood for the campfire. Let me tell you. You do not need to bring wood with you to this spot. There is more wood laying around just perfect for a campfire than you can imagine! I saw and chop up some of the more substantial pieces and very soon I have a big stack of logs, sticks and twigs already to go. I am not going to be cold tonight!

Before the sun goes down all the way I start preparing dinner, which I decided before I left was not going to be a major effort this weekend. I lay out some aluminum foil and place in it some Japanese fast food I purchased back in LA the day before. I wrap it up, place it on the camp stove and very soon I am munching on a very tasty and hearty meal washed down with a refreshing Corona. This is the life! Cleanup is easy – just as they say on those commercials with the 2 annoying ladies. I spend the rest of the evening relaxing in front of a roaring fire, reading a little bit from the selection of books I stopped and bought on my way up. At one point I have to rescue a tiny little toad which somehow found it's way into the fire ring. I gently guide it with a stick back through an opening in the rocks, away from the inferno and certain fricasseed death. I turn in early, looking forward to what the forecast said is going to be a very nice day up in the mountains tomorrow.

Chris