Trip to pick up Mel and Sati after their 700 mile Pacific Crest Trail hike

August 12, 2005 - Off Interstate 5 near Newman, California.<br />The California Aqueduct in the distance. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Joyce at the foot of General Sherman, the largest tree in the world by volume. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />The whole of General Sherman by stitching together three photographs.<br />Joyce barely discernible at base. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Along Congress Trail.<br />On occasion I was able to capture a whole Sequoia on the diagonal. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Along Congress Trail.<br />Joyce about to walk under the fallen Sequoia. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Along Congress Trail. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Along Congress Trail.<br />Egils. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Along Congress Trail. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Along Congress Trail.<br />Joyce. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Along Congress Trail.<br />A mule deer. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Along Congress Trail.<br />A group of Sequoias known as "The Senate". August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Along Congress Trail.<br />Browntail moth, which can give you a rash similar to poison ivy. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Along trail from Dorst Campground to Muir Grove. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Muir Grove. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Muir Grove.<br />Joyce at the base of a Sequoia. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Muir Grove. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Our campsite at Dorst Campground. August 13, 2005 - Sequoia National Park, California.<br />Bearbox at ech campsite at Dorst Campground.<br />All food, by law, is required to be kept in the box. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />At start of Paradise Valley Trail. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />View west of Kings Canyon from Bubbs CreekTrail.<br />Note smoke from a forest fire above Cedar Grove Village. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />Joyce on one of the many switchbacks of Bubbs Creek Trail. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />View of Paradise Valley from Bubbs Creek Trail through smoke of fire above Cedar Grove Village. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />The tail end of a long mule train on Bubbs Creek Trail. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />One of many logs across Bubbs Creek. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />Joyce copying a tree footprint along Bubbs Creek Trail below junction with Sphinx Creek Trail. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />Back at bridge over South Fork of Kings River<br />at junction of Bubbs Creek Trail and Paradise Valley Trail. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />Bark of either Lodgepole pine or Ponderosa pine along Paradise Valley Trail. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />A mule deer chewing the cud along Paradise Valley Trail. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />South Fork Kings River valley seen from CA-180. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />South Fork Kings River valley seen from CA-180. August 14, 2005 - Kings Canyon National Park, California.<br />Junction of Middle and South Fork Kings River seen from Junction vista point on CA-180. August 15, 2005 - Kennedy Meadows, Inyokern, California.<br />Joyce and Melody after her 700 mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail.<br />This was the purpose of the trip to California: to pick up Mel and Sati at the end of their hike. August 15, 2005 - Kennedy Meadows, Inyokern, California.<br />Melody and Sati after their 700 mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail. August 16, 2005 - Whitney Portal Road out of Lone Pine, California. August 16, 2005 - Whitney Portal Road out of Lone Pine, California.<br />The peak in the cloud window is Mt. Whitney.<br />At 14,497 feet, it is the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states. August 16, 2005 - Whitney Portal Road out of Lone Pine, California.<br />Keeler Needle with Mt. Whitney on the clouds just to the right. August 16, 2005 - Whitney Portal Road out of Lone Pine, California.<br />Melody and Joyce. August 16, 2005 - Whitney Portal Road out of Lone Pine, California.<br />The road down to Lone Pine. August 16, 2005 - Whitney Portal Road out of Lone Pine, California. August 16, 2005 - Whitney Portal Road out of Lone Pine, California.<br />One last look and still no luck in seeing the peak of Mt. Whitney. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California.<br />"Tufa towers," calcium-carbonate spires and knobs<br />formed by interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California.<br />Melody. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California.<br />Melody trying to scoop up a brine shrimp. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California.<br />Osprey in nest atop a tufa tower. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California.<br />Sati, Joyce, and Melody. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California.<br />The Sierra Nevada lives up to its name even in the summer. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California.<br />Joyce and Egils. August 16, 2005 - Mono Lake, California. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />View from Olmsted Point in the direction of Tenaya Lake. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.<br />Sati at first view point on the trail. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.<br />Joyce and Melody at the first lookout point along the trail. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.<br />View into Yosemite Valley. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.<br />Joyce, Melody, and Sati on North Dome with Half Dome in back. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.<br />Half Dome and Tenaya Canyon from North Dome (five stitched photos). August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.<br />Lizard basking on North Dome. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.<br />Vernal Fall on the Merced River in Little Yosemite Valley seen at 196mm from North Dome. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.<br />Half Dome from North Dome. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.<br />Looking into Yosemite Valley from North Dome. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.<br />Melody, Sati, Joyce having lunch on North Dome. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.<br />Egils and Joyce on North Dome with Half Dome as the backdrop. August 17, 2005 - Yosemite National Park, California.<br />Nine mile hike from CA-120 at Porcupine Creek to North Dome and back.