Today we take a trail that climbs out of the main valley and switchbacks up to Ruby Lake perched high up, just below the crest.
Esten’s brother, Kirk is along with us for
a few days and joins us on the hike. Kirk and I have
the wildflower guide book and enjoy keying out some trailside flowers. Paintbrush, penstemone, shooting star, columbine
Kirk “I think this is another kind of Phlox”
Esten “Come on you two let’s get up to the lake”
Me “ Phlox is close enough for me”
Putting a name on a plant sort of starts a file in the mind. Other information can be added with time.( Where else have I seen lodgepole pine? Is this the same paintbrush we see in the dessert?)
We learn that the colorfull part of the paintbrush is not the flower but a sepal. The flower itself is tiny and inconspicuous. File that away.
Our attention sweeps form the small flowers to the panoramic view of the valley below in a dizzing leap of the senses. With so much to see, hear and smell there’s no room for other thoughts. A great way to clear the head.
Ruby Lake sits in a glacial cirque just below an impressive granite wall forming the crest of the Sierras. Snow still sits in the shady cervices. It’s hard to imagine a prettier setting. I take time forming an image to take with me.
Kirk fly fishes. Catch and release. Good thing we’re not fishing for dinner. The trout this high are minnow size. This lake is frozen very solid much of the year. He caught a 20 inch trout yesterday. Catch and release seems futile to me. He says he loves outsmarting a trout. Hmm.
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