Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

Once More Unto The Trail

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

During this long break, I went to visit the mountains for a few days.  I really wanted to finish a painting and show it today, but after coming back I wanted to add something to said painting.  So, it will have to wait for another day.  For today, I have a few photos from the Eastern Sierra Mountains along with the tale of a walk that I finally managed to finish after giving up on two previous occasions.

 

 

Tenaya Lake Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

During the afternoon of our first day there, we went to our favourite spot at Tenaya Lake.   I have photographed it many times before, like this photo taken the last time I was there.

 

 

Tenaya Lake Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park pen drawing by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

I simply grabbed my sketchbook.   Sitting there by the lake,  I finished this drawing  just as the sun dipped behind the mountains.   The air around us started to get really chilly without the warm jackets which we left in the car by mistake!

 

 

May Lake Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

Our first walk was to May Lake the next day.   The trailhead starts at 8,710ft and the lake is at 9,270ft, so you have to stay mindful of the thin air. 

 

 

May Lake Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

Other than that, it was an usual Sierra mountain trail going through forest, granite slabs and gorgeous views. 

 

 

May Lake Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

May lake with Mt. Hoffman looming over it on one side.   We had our lunch at the lake shore and read our storybooks for a long while.

 

At 8,000ft – 10,000ft  on Tioga Pass, the air is much cooler,  trails often windy, and my suffocating allergies non-existent.    With that, however, comes the harsh sun and thin air.   The thin air effects everyone differently.  I tend to get bad altitude sickness, which causes headache and nausea. 

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

Photo from last time.  I had to give up at this point.

 

After acclimating ourselves with the May Lake walk,  our destination next day was the Gaylor Lakes Basin.  The trail starts at 9,970ft and goes all the way up to 10,750ft.  The first part of the trail is relentlessly steep, gaining 500ft all at once, over a distance just shy of a mile over rocks and rubble.   Because of the high elevation, National Park Service rates it as moderately strenuous.  I had to give up twice before on this trail.  I got so sick with headache and nausea that it would have been risky to continue.

 

 

 

Over the last twelve months I have been building up my cardiovascular health by increasing my running speed and distance.  I had no idea if it would help or not; that was to be seen on the trail.  I was also aware of the back pain that I still have from a fall on a trail in July.  I took Acetaminophen that morning and used a topical pain reliever.

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

Once we finished our 500ft climb to the crest and started the 200ft steep descent toward Middle Gaylor Lake, I could not believe that I made it there this time!!  I didn’t have even an inkling of altitude sickness.  

We spent a good 30 minutes sitting by the lake shore enjoying lunch and reading our books. 

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

After lunch we made our way to Upper Gaylor Lake which is not too far away.

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

Once we got there, we took another upward trail off to the left, leading to Great Sierra Mine to see the few remaining stone structures.   The wind was fierce here, and we were glad to have our jackets.  I can’t even begin to imagine what would make anyone want to have a settlement on this windy, harsh, rocky, and desolate place.  It is beautiful, but not exactly habitable.

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

By this time, the day was winding down and I still wanted to take a few photos.  We slowly backtracked to Middle Gaylor Lake and I took photos along the way.  

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

After a bit of rest and snacks back at the lake,  it was time to say “see you later.”  The mountains always reply “we will be here.”   There is another set of lakes here that we didn’t have time to explore this time.   We both know we will be back here again.   

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

Eastern High Sierra is a very special place for me.  As soon we cross over one of the mountain passes to Hwy 395, my heart feels at home.  As you can see, I would go to any lengths to get a little closer to the mountains.  I hope you enjoyed this tale and the photos of our adventure.  Next time I will share the painting inspired by this magical place.

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

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Little Stories – July Days

Violin by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

As August is trundling along,  I took a look back at July.   With all the time spent at home, I piled up my days even more than usual with music and Japanese studies.  This is my July along with a few more black and white everyday photos, and my finished quilt block.

 

 

Simple 365 – Set 12

 

Here is another set of everyday Simple365 photos.   A few years ago,  I took one b&w photo of simple little things around me for a year.   I have been sharing those photos here every now and then.

Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos.

 

 

I created a page with all the previously shared photos from Simple365.  I continue to add photos to that page as I share them here.  That way I can relive the journey through the year via black and white photos, like in an old photo album.

 

 

 

Let There Be Dragons by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

I was trying out a couple of old glass pens with homemade black walnut ink.  The slanted light coming through the window often casts wonderful shadows.  I liked the two little light spots under the glass nibs in this photo.

 

 

 

Muir Woods by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

This is only outing I had in July.  We got up around 5:30AM and drove an hour to avoid the hot day.  Usually I set my route beforehand, but this time I decided to explore a bit more.  Of course, I did have a map and compass with me.  It would not be prudent to get lost in that heat in an area without cell coverage.   We walked around 7 miles without any incident and then I fell…hard! Just before reaching the car.

The resulting backache took me out of commission for a while.   That is the reason for my long delay in email replies and blog revisits.

 

 

 

Violin by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

Get Musical Instruments Quilt Patterns

 

Playing music calms my mind and helps me focus.  This old girl has been neglected for the last four years.   “She” is now around 100 years old.  I love all the marks showing its age.  Nobody wanted it because it was not new and shiny.  The luthier repaired it for me, and it was mine.

 

 

 

Violin by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

In July I took it out, tuned it, and started to bring the sweet sound back again by playing a little everyday.  As the wood resonates, the violin sounds nicer with every passing day.  I am also a bit rusty, so we are both waking up together.  I took these two photos the day I took it out of its slumber.

 

 

 

Tavish the cat in a violin case by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

Shortly after I took it out, Tavish climbed into the case…

 

 

 

Tavish the cat in a violin case by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

…and fell asleep.  Violin is an extremely loud instrument.  I have no idea how he was sleeping comfortably in there!

 

 

 

Piano Studies by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

Get Musical Instruments Quilt Patterns

 

Even though I learned to play music on the violin, I have been playing the piano a lot more lately.  I learn music fairly slowly; I let the melody develop as I play.  It makes for slower learning, but I like it that way.  Currently I am working through Mozart’s K. 545 Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major, II Andante.  I find it to be such a gentle, happy piece.

Here is a recording of the piece – K. 545 Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major, II Andante

 

 

 

Genki Japanese by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

Additionally, I have upped my Japanese studies.  My goal is to be completely proficient at it with reading and writing, and hopefully able to do translations one day.

 

 

 

Harmony Star quilt pattern by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

I also finished this little star for my kitty quilt.  I will share more about the fabric choices with photos when I share the finished quilt here.

 

 

 

Blaze - The Girl and Her Cat drawing by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

I will wrap up with a drawing of The Girl and Her Cat from my sketchbook.   By now, my cabin fever has not only moved in, but has settled in quite well for me.  That’s probably what reflects in this drawing.

 

I wish you a lovely rest of August.  I will see you all in September.

-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please consider paying a visit to some of them.

 

 

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