|
|
I think that the time spent outdoors is very precious. I have had the good fortune to hike with a very fine group of friends in Southern California. I would like to share some of our pictures with you. First I would like to show you a picture of me taken on top of MT. Sill (elevation 14,162 ft.)! You can see North Palisade in the background. This picture was taken on Sept. 4, 1965. I really enjoyed my hikes in the Sierria's.
This picture was taken before I started hiking with Over The Hill Gang. (That is the name Brian Merget gave to our group of OLD hikers. The picture on the right was taken in 1999. I think you can see the difference in my build. I would be in be in shape if I spent more time in the High Country. .
This picture is of Brian Merrget, Jerry Nippert and myself (Leon Pimple). This picture was taken on a hike above Saddle Bag Lakes. That trip took us to the northern part of Yosemite National Park. The moutains seem quite different north of the Tioga Pass road. If you have a problem with heights don't travel the Tioga Pass road. I don't think I have ever seen a major highway that had as steep and deep drop off's on the side of the road.
Of course when you get old you best use horses to get up into the mountains. I will admit that riding a horse does have an effect on the legs. But it is a lot easier than backpacking. And after a night in the clear mountain air, you forget any discomfort. Unless you have spent a night in the mountains you will not understand, but all hikers will know what I mean. The high country has no equal.
It is a very lazy way to go down the river. Some people think that it might be dangerous, but we only start canoeing after the rough part of the river. When you are working it is a very relaxing way to spend your vacation!
The picture at the left is of Brian and Renzo cooking on one of our trips. Renzo was a good cook for Italian food, but for a safety engineer, he took many chances. Everyone always seem to have fun on these trips. We always visit the old Prospectors cabin on the river. Their are still remains of old Gold mines along the river. It is sometimes hard to find good campsites.
We eat good on our trips. But we have a slight problem with drinking water. We take all our water with us.
The sandbars on the Colorado River are just great.
Return to Leons Home page