Photos A Walk in Nature

[Just Tom.]

I'm imagining that changes quite rapidly at times though, by the looks of the shorelines.

Indeed. Yesterday the gauge measured 1.66’. Some of the smaller channels I passed through in my john boat last September were too shallow to pass through.

On May 15th of this year, the gauge measured 23.56’ - moderate flood stage. That’s the flood I had to cut my bike camping trip short to avoid.

https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/PORM2

Last year:

I returned from my 3-day boat/camping trip this afternoon. I’m exhausted, and both the Green Heron and I are a little banged up, but everything went pretty much as I had hoped, and the trip seems to have had its intended effect on my spirit.

I tried to stay as much as possible in the small, shallow channels that run between islands and the river bank through much of my trip.

I saw all manner of spectacular raptors and waterfowl, but the most enchanting part was drifting silently with the current while clouds of swallows swooped and wheeled all around me, sometimes within a couple of feet from my head.

Oh, and just cruising. The river bottom was rocks and gravel, and I saw all kinds of huge fish swim by

 

[lambertiana]

A few highlights from a six day sojourn in the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park.

Full report to follow in Wilderness & Survival

 

[Just Tom.]

Nowhere near as spectacular or adventurous as the above, but today I walked 12 or 13 miles and ascended three popular overlooks in the vicinity of Harper’s Ferry. Probably not the wisest thing to do in 95-degree heat and high humidity, but I didn’t need to be back home until mid-afternoon, and wanted to make the most of it.

Weaverton cliffs:

Jefferson Rock:

Maryland heights:

Tagged along but didn’t get used:

 

[lambertiana]

A friend asked if I wanted to go with him on an overnight trip to Franklin Lake out of Mineral King in Sequoia National Park. He had to twist my arm really hard. Six miles one way, trail starts at 7800’ and we topped out at 10,500’ before dropping to camp at 10,400’. Some views from the trip:



Pictures don’t convey the size. The head wall behind the lake is 2100’.





And for the obligatory knife content