Parker Canyon Hike

Don, Ward and Dick above Silver Lake

Don Dupage and Ward Schroeder, two old hiking buddies, joined Dick and I on a hike to Parker Canyon to find another set of cascading waterfalls we spotted from a distance a day earlier.

We took the Parker Trail starting at Silver Lake on the June Lake Loop. The 6 mile RT hike was very strenuous. The trail ascends a 2,000' wall from the get go to a plateau with spectacular views of the Sierra Crest and Mono Lake.

The trail abruptly ascended a 2,000' wall. No easy warm-up today.

The trail switch-backed through clumps of aspens forests and low growing vegetation

Dick working his way up the wall

Mule ears turning color. Looking up at Mt. Wood (12,657').

Don and Ward taking a break about half-way up

After 2 miles and 2,000', we reach a vast plateau at 9,000'

Heading toward Parker Canyon over the next ridge

A fantastic view of Mono Lake from the plateau . . .

. . . and views of Mono Craters to the east (above and below)

On the plateau were stunted juniper trees hammered by winter snow and winds. All the lower branches were beaten down and dead. Life up here is brutal.

Skeletal remains of a dead juniper

We reach a ridge but could not get good view of the falls. Another ridge blocked our view.

A glimpse of upper falls

An intervening ridge obscured most of the falls. We did not have enough time to bush-whack our way to the next ridge. Well, maybe next time . . .

A grand view of the Sierra Crest north toward Tioga Pass Canyon.
Possibly L-R - Mt. Gibbs (12,773'), North Peak (12,242'), and Tioga Peak (11,526')

Grand view of Mono Lake and Grant Lake

Where forests meets the desert

Me and Grant Lake below

Heading back through a thick stand of aspen

Dick, Ward and Don about 2,000' above Silver Lake.
End of tough but great hike.

A couple last views - Convict Lake

Mt. Morrison - 12,241' - at sunset sits above Convict Lake


End of Eastern Sierra blog

Buffalo to Bar Harbor - Prologue

Tour Leader - Emperor Lee

Cycling from Buffalo to Bar Harbor, concluding in Portland, Maine. What an amazing tour!

The 5-week tour took place between July 10th and August 18th.

First and foremost, let me give Herb Lee the highest of accolades for conceiving, organizing, and leading this tour. He did a magnificent job in all respects.

Herb laid out a route that hit many of the major points of interest in New England.

We flew into Buffalo and visited Niagara Falls, followed the scenic Niagara River to Lake Ontario, and along the shores of Lake Ontario. We headed southeast to the Finger Lakes region, and then northeast to 1,000 Island State Park along the St. Lawrence Seaway. We continued east to Burlington, VT, down to Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain, then east into the Green Mountains of VT and White Mountains of NH. Finally, we crossed ME easterly to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, concluding with a ride to Portland. We flew back to Sacramento from Portland.

The total distance was 1,360 miles, averaging 45 miles/day. The route was very mountainous and hilly and we climbed a whopping total of 60,100'.

The tour encompassed 40 days and we camped 16 nights, motelled 21 nights, and stayed at the Bronk home 2 nights.

Besides Herb and myself, the tour participants included Bob Anderson from Santa Rosa, Jay Okada from Los Osos, and Tom Gamage from Watertown NY.

I jokingly referred to this tour as Emperor Lee's Kung Pao Chicken Tour. We hit as many Asian eateries we could find.

Touring with Technology

Smart-phones and GPSs have revolutionized the way we cycle tour. Herb wore out his I-Phone with way-finding, finding and reserving campgrounds and motels, and good eateries.

Most of the tour was determined on the fly so high technology pointed the way to cycle-friendly roads and minimized the grief of getting lost.

The photo-journal blog is organized with the major points of interest having separate entries:

Niagara Falls
Watkins Glen Gorge
Bronk Home Vist/Lake Skaneateles
Antique Boat Museum
1,000 Island State Park
Ft. Ticonderoga
Acadia National Park/Bar Harbor
Great Dogs
Movie Houses
Libraries
Babes!

Photos of "Places in Between" follow with 5 entries.

P.S.
A plug for Bike Fridays. Herb and I toured with our folding bikes.
This is the 3rd tour which involved flying and I can't say enough about the convenience of schlepping a Bike Friday on an airplane, let alone the cost savings.

My Pocket Rocket ROCKS!

To view the entire tour, continue to scroll down or click on "older posts" to the end.

Happy travels!!

For enlarged view, click once/twice on pic


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Niagara Falls

Below American Falls

Our first stop - Niagara Falls

Bob, Herb, Tom, and Jay

We meet up with Tom Gamage, a friend of Herb's from Watertown, NY, at Niagara Falls. He rode from his home and met us at the Falls.

View of City of Niagara Falls on the Canada side

Beautiful parkland promenade on the Canada side

Rainbow Bridge over Niagara River connecting Canada and US

Observation Tower provides great views of both falls

Edge of Horseshoe Falls (Canada-side)

A popular photo spot

View of American Falls (US side). Bridal Veil Falls to right.
American Falls drops 70-100' and is 1,060' wide.

Overlook at American Falls (above and below)

"Mist Trail" below American Falls

View of American Falls (near) and Horseshoe Falls (distant).

The Niagara Falls are the most powerful waterfalls in North America.
The waterfalls are situated on the Niagara River which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario.

Niagara Falls is composed of two sections separated by Goat Island: the Horseshoe Falls on the Canada side and American Falls on the US side. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are located on the American side.

The lads at Goat Island overlook. Goat Island separates American and Horseshoe Falls.

Another view of Goat Island

View of Horseshoe Falls overlook from the US side

Switch-back ramps below American Falls

View of ramps below Bridal Veil Falls and American Falls from boat

Taking "Maid of Mist" boat ride into Horseshoe Falls

The Blue Man Group

Tom and Jay

Bob

They don't call it Maid of the Mist for nothing!

Full speed ahead! Let's get outta' here!

One of about half-dozen tour boats

Maid of Mist at base of Horseshoe Falls.

Horseshoe Falls drops 173' and is 2,600' wide.

End of the rainbow

The "Fisherman's Wharf" Entertainment District of Niagara Falls City is pretty garish but is popular with young families

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