The Otzi Expedition - Mt. Whitney Part II

We really enjoyed our time at the basecamp going over various stories and what not. Me getting to know Black and CY since we had never met before and vise versa. And them two reminiscing stories over many years of training others at the various Air Force SERE Schools and the adventures they've had in that arena. We had fun, but thoughts of the mountain were always there to put a hint of trepidation in the air. On the night before the journey uphill, Black had gone to bed and CY and I had stayed up a bit longer, discussing farming in California and Ohio among other things. As the fire died down, it.... began.... to.... snow!

A brief little dusting of powder puff balls fell for a few minutes. We could hear Black wondering what was going on as we told him "Wouldn't be the iceman without a little ice". But we all laughed as it only lasted a few minutes. Just enough to remind Black of the fury of three years ago. Just enough to remind all of us that this was not going to be some cake walk in the woods.

So from here on, the rest of the story plays out in the video. It was the most difficult two days of hiking I've ever done, but we made it to the top and accomplished our goal. This journey was not just for us, but for all those who joined in along the way. And it was a good feeling to be a part of it all.

I'll just say this though, this hike is for someone in their 20's and 30's. Not for those in their 40's and 50's like we were haha !

Otzi

Lone Pine Lake

Bighorn Park

Rest stop at Outpost Camp - 10,360'

Looking back at Bighorn Park

Otzi Find Complex Elevation - 10,531' - Here Mr. Black paid tribute by caching some red deer meat and einkorn wheat flower

Consultation Lake

Trail Camp and a frosty night down into the teens. No fires allowed so had to get in the sleeping bags as soon as possible.

Mt. Whitney (far right) and the ridge in the morning light

Otzi Glacier

Looking back at some of the 99 Switchbacks and Wotan's Throne - Trail Camp is near the tarn

Trail Crest second breakfast

Hitchcock Lakes below Mt. Hitchcock - beyond that the Kern River Gorge, the Kaweah Peaks, and the Mineral King area off in the distance

Looking back at the trail with the Siberian Plateau in the middle distance

Many short breaks to catch our breaths - the goal is in sight!

Crabtree Meadow, the Kern River Gorge, and the Kaweah Peaks

CY and Black on the summit!

Mission Accomplished!! Now to get down off this thing...

Blackdirt Bottomlands

Peaceful ride down wooded lane.
Where fences old with weather stain.
Where mushrooms round in fairy ring,
Along roadside growth of waning spring.

Where sunlight shines in dappled ray
Upon webs woven between all that sway.
And leaves of green return again
The swoop and chirp of flitting wren.

Through summer's swelt and drying air.
These crops grow with fruit to share.
Now autumn's fade and harvests bound.
And what remains gets turned in ground.

Came across a relic in a field.
One with age had broken and peeled.
It's sturdy boughs barred entry down.
The depths remain unknown for now.

A tree bears a cross in western shade,
As dust rolls a plain of level grade.
Sage blue flowers on cracked dry earth
Coloring the gray for what it's worth.

Standing corn rows solid and straight.
Ready for harvest, no more to wait.
Farm house sits under oaken trees,
With truck and trailer and cows and bees.

With freestalls, pens, and feeding lanes,
The heifers grow with steady gains.
And dairy barn moans echo the call,
To milk and honey and butter for all.

Forested oaks upon the slough
In wild bend and tangled grew.
Once backwatered from the lake and mist.
Now downhill run in swirl and twist.

Further along the road forgotten,
Coyotes disappear in tufted cotton.
Where water wells up from the ground,
Running through the alfalfa without a sound.

Mineral King

The high alpine valleys
Royal gardens of the Blessed One
Sprouting new life each summer
After the winter storms have gone

The savory scents of sage in the aspens
Meadows sprinkled with fresh seasonings
A grand feast for the senses
Their life and words breathed in deeply
Exhaled
And repeated in the ethereal

Up here the gates of heaven found
Whose hinges bear the weight upon
In golden sunlight and broken stone
Granite slab tables set for all

The mountains shed their shale scales
Red and gold dishes slide underfoot
Crash beneath the whitethorn brambles
Clinging in the grindings

Lakes of emerald and saphire
Inset among the high granite peaks
Gemstones in the crown of kings
Starlight shining in darkened pools

Words mingling upon the ripples
Slipping across as the spirals collide
Sending vibrations in the cool night air
Saturating the minerals with stardust in your hand

Sitting silently in riverside retreat
Listening to the lyrics sing upon the waters
As day breaks across the land
Seeing it all with new eyes

Everything from here on in is born again
Has a brighter shine upon the surface
Glowing in the shadows
Glistening on the waves

Diamonds gleaming in the splashes
Ice melting with grand abundance
Boulders tumbling and drumming the beat
Washing clean in the rolling torrents

Spirit strengthening in the hold
The Earth quakes beneath
Peace rolling through grinding gravel into dust
Tea leaves melting below rising steam

A mountain valley eden to enjoy
Healer of body, spirit, and flavor all rolled into one
Carpets of sage under aspens in the breeze
Like headings on a compass showing the way

Grace

She rides the waves now.

Has learned the way.

Remembering form and feeling from years ago.

Taken it upon herself

To read the rise and fall,

Pushing in from depth and distance,

As wind and water and tide dance along the sands.

She had joined the roll with no hesitation.

No falter in her step.

No stones to stumble along the path.

Her way often clear and continuous,

And necessary in her vision of it all.

River Dancer

Spell Binder

Faithful Follower

Wave Rider

Huntress of the Deep

These names be thrust to the starlight

To mingle in the cosmos.

To shine above the dance floor

As the band strikes up the tune.

Civil War Reenactment at Mooney's Grove 2018

Took the kids to Mooney's Grove to see the latest Civil War Reenactment. It was a blast!....

Boulder Creek Lakes

Little did I know that a solo trip
Into the heart of Trinity Alp,
Where exhilarations warn of dangers above
That nature may take my scalp.

For in my younger days a field,
I had a knack for these types of things.
Common sense fading to invincibility
When the siren sweetly sings.

To Canyon Creek flowing arrow straight
From holy bosom of Trinity peaks,
Shining marble white in an emerald sea.
Granite islands who's legend speaks.

Gleaming temples of beauty fit
For the Three for which they're named.
On a grand scale of Zeus' Olympus,
Where tonight his realm proclaimed.

To Boulder Creek Lakes on western rim.
A hanging valley on lofty perch.
In beautiful view of Sawtooth Peak
And range in glory's search.

Where path begins in majestic oak.
With pine and inland growth.
In magical woodland I linger long;
Autumn toned greens and yellows both.

A wood spirit wonderland by creek below.
In my pores let soak their rhymes.
Whose immersion is a tonic best
To be drank in these good times.

Small walls of water sheeting off
Into glistening pools in mossy glade.
To delight the soul of traveler weary,
When siren's calls to relax are made.

But not today fair ladies of the glen.
Soon loftier elevations are in store.
For the sky is slowly fading to gray,
As the overhead clouds gather more.

Onward through the meadowed fern.
On the edges where others were heard.
They'd be safe and protected in shadowed grove
From gusts fresh the ocean stirred.

A few small drops fell on my head
As I reached a stepping fall
That came in from the lakes I sought
Which lay in hallowed hall.

As I ascended Boulder Creek,
The winds increased but warm.
The clouds rolled in from western skies
With doom of the pending storm.

"I should not be climbing higher," I thought.
"Back to the meadow below."
"The others were the smart ones you jackass!"
But onward I did go.

Invincibility was winning out
As common sense was tossed.
For the sirens were calling from the lake above.
In their pleasures my mind was lost.

This is how those sailors perish
From their voyages in paradise.
I too could not stop until I'd found
To have been wrapped in deadly vice.

The rumble of thunder to the west as I climbed
Now reaching the alpine bowl.
"The lightning should hit the surrounding peaks,"
So I thought of the chances I'd stole.

The sirens had now wrapped their legs
Tightly around my head.
All reasoning was surely gone by now,
As my wonder had turned to dread.

A flash of light and a thundering CRACK
Blasted nearby from above.
A sudden downpour following at once
Pushed me into my tent with a shove.

As nightfall fell and the rain had died,

I crawled out and lay on a rock.

And I let the  calmness slowly creep in

As the enchanting slowly took stock.

What followed was of nature's fury!

Above me now an amazing feat!

Raw, breastplate filleted open,

Exposed heart pulsing electric beat!

The angst of youth driving at the core

Of climactic rawness undulating.

Gyrating and spasming in endless ecstasy.

Ghostly with nashed teeth and grating.

As if 40,000 wolves in orchestral howl

In unison and rhythm to Alpha Mother.

With grimace and snarl she conducts her song

Of persistence she is matched none other.

Rolling! Rolling! Rolling without end!

Not in waves like the sea, but constant river flow

Of electric clouds tumbling and fighting

And grinding over jagged ridges below.

A fury of gray and pink and orange

With silver streaks bent running through.

Never reaching down to the granite peaks.

3,000 salmon gathered right on que.

Jumping the falls of Earth, heavenly bound.

Fighting upstream past grizzly's jaws.

Struggling to reach holy breeding grounds.

The pure essence of nature's laws.

Pulsating crackles whipping throughout.

Explosive rumblings reverberating back

Off Earth's exposed granitic bones.

Incessant chaos with a thunderous SMACK!

After hours of this I grew weary and tired.

With sleeping bag ready, I crawled inside

While Zeus proclaimed his rightful place.

He finished his sermon fully satisfied.

The morning dawned with barely a trace

Of what went on the previous night.

I awoke to near cloudless sky.

Blue as the Aegean, and sun shining bright.

The whole of the day was spent exploring

The islands and cliffs and lakes all around.

For I had survived the sirens' trappings.

Who had silenced their singing, nor whispered a sound.