We three ~ Jeff, Emma, & me ~ went for a short & sweet trip to High Sierras over the weekend for our anniversary.  There was a little hiking, cooking, tea & coffee drinking, fishing & knitting, sniffing around….

Restorative in many ways, as always, the alpine scenery soothed a yearning that only it can do. What is it about pitching a tent in the wilderness at high altitude to claim some spot in nature as our home for a few days?

Something about the fragile alpine flowers …

and gnarled trees.

fast and furious rain storms …

The granite everywhere and deep crystal clear blue lakes …

wide horizon of jagged ridges and expressive skies.

A storm is brewing!

Windy thunder & rain storms which suddenly take hold for a couple of hours in the afternoon,

sending us for cover in our cozy tent to wait it out.

Granite Lake in Mokelumne Wilderness was just what I craved.  Bundled up quite puffy  in down and wool layers, knitting in the cold & windy pause between storms …

Abandoned my knitting to go fire up the camp stove and make hot coffee!

Jeff got to fish a couple of times, though he didn’t get even one bite, too stormy.

Then it was time for trail coffee & tea !!!

We found that Emma was perfectly able to handle carrying a doggie pack and hike as she did once before, and it was as if her little arthritic limp of late almost disappeared completely. 

She is in top form !

Most importantly, this trip to the Sierras was to celebrate a very important mark in our partnership,

We were so lucky to have Granite Lake all to ourselves, at near 9000′ elevation & less than three miles from the trail-head. It is my theory that the forecast dramatic thunderstorms cleared the lake for us. We were prepared to hike cross-country (off-trail) to another lake for privacy, but had no need, it was a total stroke of luck.

With only a little over 3 hour drive, we can be in the High Sierra, fishing & knitting at a granite bowl. It just doesn’t get any better than that ! Off we go back home, but we’ll be back . . .