[pct-l] The High Sierra is calling

[kentr-lists at sbcglobal.net (Kent Ryhorchuk)]

Near my home of Sunnyvale, CA is Henry Coe State Park which encompasses
a large part of the Diablo Range that separates the Bay Area from the
central valley. I frequently hike and mountain bike there, seeking the
quite and solitude that is often hard to find around here. On a clear
winter day you can see the High Sierra across the fog-filled valley from
the highest ridgetops. Every time I go there and see that view I'll stop
for a few minutes to enjoy it.

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I will trek through those
mountains five months from now. Lately I have been doing some trip
planning and it seems like there is so much work to do before we leave.
This is a major move for Cathy and me because we will be packing and
storing all of our stuff before we go. But I won't let it get me down -
whenever I need to refresh my motivation I will grab my bike or running
shoes and head for the hills. That view of the Sierra lets me remember
why I am doing it all.

Kent.

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of
StoneDancer1@aol.com
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 7:41 AM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] The High Sierra is calling

 And a good morning to you all.  Just a note to all you 2004 hopefuls.
PCT 
time is coming!!  This morning, in the pre-dawn hours, I parked myself,
coffee 
mug in hand (with just a dollop of Baileys - to cut the edges, mind you)
, in 
the old hottub to watch the sunrise.  Down the canyon and across the
miles, 
near the horizon, the sky gradually grew lighter and lighter until Red
Peak's 
dark outline became visible.  Red Peak is in Yosemite National Park,
part of the 
Clark Range of peaks, whose most famous summit, Merced Peak - where John
Muir 
discovered the remnants of a glacier to prove his widely scoffed glacial

theory - is, sadly, not visible, but just out of sight to the south,
behind a 
closer ridge.

Overhead, the sky was of the deepest blue-black, while near the horizon,
it 
became lighter. running through shades of green-grey, through grey to
blue grey 
to blue black, up into the morning air.  Then, as if on cue, the few
whispy 
clouds took on a rose tint and morning bloomed.  The air around the
mountains 
became brilliant silver.   On this morning, Red Peak is not red, but
snowy 
white. Today is here.  The High Sierra is calling.... anybody besides me
hear it?

Soon you will be on the trail... and not a minute too soon. See you
there!!!


No Way
Ray Echols
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