#tuolumne

[vintagecamping]

Relaxing on the PCT between Tuolumne and Tahoe. California

1979

[vintagenational]

Kodachrome by Douglas Whiteside.

From "The Fabulous Sierra Nevada," National Geographic, June, 1954.

A Rainbow Hovers Above Waterwheel Falls Dropping into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, Yosemite Park's Mile-deep Gorge

[overeducated-and-highlymedicated]

I'm really happy with my most recent watercolors c:

Each of these flowers were flowers that I saw on the approach, the descent, or the climb for the West Ridge of Mt. Conness (5.6 trad/alpine, 1500'). I took reference photos of the flowers on my phone and then used the John Muir Laws field guide to identify them.

I climbed the West Ridge with 3 pitches on lead and the rest on simul. We took the Young Lakes approach, so from the wilderness station in Tuolumne, we hiked 7 miles and 1000ish feet of elevation and camped at Young Lakes (and got eaten alive by mosquitoes). The next day, we hiked through the wilderness for 3 miles and 1500ish feet of elevation. The climb starts at around 10,000 ft above sea level. The peak stands at 12,600 ft. After a tiring and magnificent climb, we hiked 10 miles back.

Completing this climb was a really big deal for me for a number of reasons.

I had 2 foot surgeries in the past 3 years. Basically I broke a bone I didn't know I had. (Turns out some people have extra! The more you know! 🌠) This would be my first big alpine day post-injury.

The approach and descent are very long and intense. This was going to be hard, and to be honest, I wasn't sure if I'd be up to it. I lost a lot of leg strength, ankle stability, and cardiovascular fitness over the past 3 years.

I quit smoking weed in preparation for the high elevation. The smoke was making my lungs feel Bad, especially after getting Covid a couple of times. (I still take edibles but it doesn't feel as good as smoking imo)

A big day for me, and despite my anxieties, I did the climb in great style and in good time :)

I'm happy with how these watercolors turned out, especially because they commemorate a really big achievement after 3 years of injury and subsequent healing.

And these wildflowers are so special to me. Many of these flowers can only be found at high elevations. Some of these are alpine variants of more common flowers (like the Alpine Daisy as a variant of the Sierra Daisy). Some of these flowers can only grow at >10,000 feet (like the Sky Pilot). And all of these flowers are members of a complex, rare, and resilient ecosystem.

I'm still finding my style in watercolor. Some of these I think I nailed, but some of them feel overworked or disproportionate. I loved this exercise though and I plan to do more of these climbing+botany field journal entries.

Bonus watercolor - the next day at Climber Coffee we heard some very loud, insistent tweeting from a hollowed-out tree. Some tourists had gathered around it and were taking pictures. Turns out, it was this Northern Flicker chick calling for its mom (who was delivering food every so often). The little fluffball poked his head out every once in a while, it was very cute.

[caffeinated-chaos-bean]

Behold, you are on vacation from your hometown and are attempting to see the sights of Yosemite Nation Park, only to find yourself in the rustic, small town of Tuolumne City.

While wandering the parks and seeing just how small this town really is, you bump into Hatsune Miku!! She just moved here after buying a vacation home, far from her homeland, in stay when she wants to get away from the idol life.

Art (c) Myselg

Image (c) Tuolumne County, Ca - my home town.

[travelwithz]

A few photos from our 6 day, 50 mile loop through the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River. See the full trip report here.

[paintedplanets]

Some photos from Tuolumne!

[ecowitchy]

by Luke Jones

[damianriley]

Sonora Pass

.

.

IG damianrileyphoto