Category Archives: Wildlife
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March 29, 2024 Velella Velella ๐ชผ
December 4, 2022 Rituals
July 10, 2022
June 20, 2022 Roadside Attractions
January 2, 2022
July 26, 2021
After tossing and turning all night long from not showering after a long sweaty hike, I woke up to mostly cloudy skies. The sky looked bleak, thick clouds accompanying the already hazy atmosphere. As I left the campsite, I saw a large thunderhead to the north, which was where I was headed. I contemplated again, should I head home early or keep going? No cell service so I couldnโt check any forecasts. Well, Iโve driven this far, might as well try.ย
As I drove north into the storm, the sun hid behind the clouds and it started to downpour. By some miracle when I got to Burney Falls, it mostly sunny skies with just a few high clouds. I waited for the sun to be at a higher angle to illuminate the bright blue water. My eyes lit up looking at the blue glow on my dome port with plentiful trout at the base of the falls. That glow, just wow.
Life is all about taking risks. If you donโt take risks, you canโt have fun. Maybe 1 out of 100 trips for me was a waste of time but I would only consider it a waste of time if I didnโt learn anything. Itโs always better to go and potentially get skunked than to not go and regret it later. You wonโt know unless you go. Sometimes youโll score and the opportunity may never return again.
600 miles
1 wet wetsuit
No expectations.ย
July 5, 2021 Rituals
I awoke at 5:47am to first light on the tallest crags. I tried to close my eyes and sleep for another hour, but I wanted to get to May Lake as earliest as possible to see if the trout were feeding. I also noticed an unnerving amount of flying insects inside and outside of my car; it was time to drive to the trailhead. ย
I told myself I was going stay for a maximum of 2 hours and leave by 10:30am so I didnโt have to sit in traffic. I should have known though, as every time I visit here I never want to leave.ย
When I first got to the lake, I didnโt notice much fish activity. There was a slight texture on the lake due to a light breeze, which wasnโt a good sign since the flies need calmness if they were to hang around the water. I stood silently and observed but had to dodge the mosquitoes that were swarming my face and avoid the sneaky marmot that almost stole my breakfast out of my backpack. It took intense concentration to train my eye to spot the trout through the reflectivity of the water surface and to patiently pinpoint the moth or dragonfly flying over the water in an erratic motion.ย
After 2 hours of mis-shots, it happened. In a split second, I traced a trout adeptly swimming through the water and snatching a moth in mid air a few yards away from me. Yes!! I wanted to scream in excitement as I saw the photo on the back of the camera. I stayed another hour trying to get another shot, but it proved too difficult. I really didnโt want to leave, but it was 11:30am and I had to call it quits; weโll be back.ย
Despite only getting 3 hours of sleep, I somehow made the 5 hour drive back home just thinking about that shot.
500 miles
3 hours of sleep
Tired but happy.ย