Roughin' It

Eric and I decided to celebrate our 3rd anniversary this past weekend by going up to the mountains. I know everyone is very surprised! We actually did do something a little bit different; instead of staying at June Mountain and doing our usual hike to lake agnew and gem lake, we stayed at the Rock Creek Lodge by Tom's Place.

I would like to self proclaim myself as basically hot wire - I found an amazing deal on my own because someone cancelled. So we ended up spending the weekend, with Dodger of course, in this gorgeous cabin:
Most of the weekend was filled with downpouring rain and thunderstorms. We did manage to get a little hike in though.
Dodger made a best friend with the dog across the way, a great dane named "sleeper".
Prepare yourself for a pretty bad picture... It was hard to catch these two in action even with the camera in "sport" mode.

The picture really doesn't do the serious cuteness justice. I am actually in love with great danes. They are soo adorable and well, HUGE!

Sleeper was no exception. He actually would not leave our porch until his owner came to get him. even though I specifically explained to his owner that I was adopting sleeper and he did not need to concern himself anymore with his dog.



Even though we did not end up adopting a great dane, we had a great weekend. (ha!) Dodger spent to some time in the cupboard under the stairs....


And of course various Harry Potter jokes ensued. As Dodger was renamed "the chosen one" and "harry" during his photo shoot. Clearly, Sleeper, the great dane, became "Hagrid".








While I was doing a photo shoot of Dodger... I mean Harry, Eric wanted to get in on the fun and took this super cute picture of Dodger poking his head through the stairs:




All nerdiness aside, we ate some great food, had some great drinks and spent some time on the porch watching it rain. Overall, we pretty much were roughin' it big time in the wilderness. Only true mountain girls could handle these conditions.

ART!

Yesterday, Dodger and I were wondering where to go and what to explore. So, when I found in my guidebook that a hike near by was described as "a diabolically steep climb", naturally that is the one I wanted to do. I don't know but, there is something about climbing up hills that I absolutely love. The steeper the hill the more I want to tackle it. Walking, running, biking - whatever! Luckily for me, Dodger agrees. (Right?)





So we set out on the trail to conquer the mountain and ended up climbing to the top of this:











JUST KIDDING!!!





Anyways, all real mountaineering aside, we had a great time. In fact, during the first mile of the hike I was congratulating myself on not feeling like it was steep at all and how naturally bad ass I am. But as any hiker knows, most serious hikes do not show their true colors until at least a mile or half a mile in.... and this one sure changed my mind.

Dodger pretty much was on the same page as me. Here he is on the right just racing down this "easy" part of the hike. Easy to us! ha. Just wait...


But before things got to serious, we of course spent some time playing around and taking way too many photos. The great thing about Pine Creek Canyon hike is it starts out in the shade and the trail meanders through pines, aspens, and numerous gorgeous creeks. Shade is great, especially when we decided to start this hike around 2pm in July .



Oh, and I officially broke in my awesome new trail running shoes. I am seriously in love with them. I mean, they are definitely not my hot pink and yellow naughty monkey heels, but I did step in an ankle deep mud puddle and my feet did not even get wet. Take that Naughty Monkey!

After spending about 2 min, (okay maybe 5) trying to get the best picture of my awesome shoes, I decided it was time to get serious. As Eric would say, time to art it out!





Oh, notice besides the intense switchbacks in the
beating sun, there is a random mining facility to the right. It was actually operating. Kind of cool. Now before you report me to the ASPCA for putting Dodger through this forced exercise in the heat, know there were creeks at the ends of each switch back which were a relief for both of us. He could do a pretty good job looking pathetic in those depressing ASPCA ads though..



For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring and my blessing on your descendents. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Isaiah 44:3-4











Garmin total hike: 4.39 miles

2 hrs and 2 mins

1,000 calories burned. (haha I wish)

Two Crazy Blondes in the Mountains

Our little family recently moved to the lovely town of Bishop, CA nestled at the base of the Eastern Sierras. While Eric works at the vet hospital, Dodger and I have some great adventures!

We can barely sit still inside of our little condo, both Dodger and I are anxious to explore all of the mountains surrounding us. Yesterday, we went on an amazing hike in Rock Creek Canyon at the Mosquito Flat trail head.**It isn't called Mosquito Flat Trail head for nothing. I need to bring bug spray next time!**



There were a ton of hikers at first, so I decided that I better be a good citizen and keep Dodger on a leash....Obviously, he was just as excited as I was and decided to pull me up the trail!


Even though I was being dragged by Dodger Dog, I couldn't help but notice all of the gorgeous wildflowers along the side of this hike. The orange ones I learned are called "Indian Paint Brush" and the purple ones are "Wild Iris" .. oh and I have never been into photography, but I felt inspired by these flowers and played with something called exposure ;) Enjoy....



So, while I was taking these amazing pictures (lol) Dodger naturally had to be off leash. Him pulling my right arm while trying to take somewhat decent photos with my left wasn't working out too well. So, clearly he headed straight toward the nearest body of water in search of his one true love in life (besides me of course...) a stick!


I took some great video of Dodger playing in the water and well just being Dodger. If you have never met him or seen him in his element... well this paints a pretty good picture!!





Eventually, we decided to move on from the water and venture further up the trail. The guide book said that this trail has access to over 40 pristine lakes. Wow. So, I told Dodger it was time to go and he did not hesitate!

We continued up the trail only to continue to be amazed by the scenery. I have been on some great hikes in the Eastern Sierras and this particular canyon is absolutely spectacular! I can't wait to return in the fall and see all of the aspen leaves turn into firey hues.
Here is a series of more pictures of the hike which can better describe the sublime creation which surrounded us.













You will go out in joy and be led forward in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbrush will grow the pine tree and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed. Isaiah 55:12-13





We spent so much time admiring the scenery that, well, we actually only made it in about a half a mile. I didn't bring my Garmin to measure the distance, so it very well could have been a quarter of a mile.




I guess it just goes to that old cliche,"it's not the destination, but the journey."