Devil’s Postpile National Monument is a natural wonder. It features tall columns of basalt. And they twist and bend in impossible contortions. A short hike a way brought us to 100=foot tall Rainbow Falls. Micah and I visited the day before starting our backpacking trip. It was convenient, as there was a shuttle from our campsite to the Monument, including both destinations.

My first time backpacking trip, 35 years ago, featured some High Sierra drama. Recently I took the same trip with Micah and was able to take the photo above, showing the route that accompanies the infamous tale. When I got home, I marked the route in red on the photo, with the key theoretical discussion. The Story of My First Backpacking Trip As a graduate student in about 1987, I was invited on a backpacking trip by my fellow student and experienced trailblazer, Mike Sipusic. It started innocently enough with a hike from the trailhead to a campsite beside Lake Ediza, at the bottom of the red line in the photo. ...

What would a backpacking trip to the Ansel Adams Wilderness be without black and white photos? Two lakes are featured, Ediza and Iceberg. John Muir called the Sierra Nevada The Range of Light. Here’s an original photo by Ansel of the same location. Enjoy the photos below, clicking to enlarge.

This view from our campsite made every one of the 18,000 steps of the climb to Lake Ediza worth it. At 9300 ft elevation, this green gem has the classic Sierra Nevada look of just four elements: bright granite, green pines, clear water and blue sky. Lake Ediza is in the Ansel Adams Wilderness, in the Inyo National Forest, near the Mammoth Ski Area. About 35 years ago, Lake Ediza was my first backpacking trip. I was a graduate student at Berkeley then, and went with my friend and fellow student, Mike Sipusic. Now I was taking my son Micah, also a graduate student at Berkeley, on the same adventure. Well, maybe without the hail and lightning, but that’s a story for another blog. ...

Stanley Clarke was a highlight at the San Jose Jazz Festival, but there was much more great music to enjoy. Marina Crouse Band As we wandered into the grounds of the festival, Marina Crouse was singing a soulful and funky version of “Cisco Kid.” We arrived midway through her band’s set but enjoyed a few minutes on the grassy law at the Blues Stage. LMR Jazz Orchestra Featuring Tierney Sutton Next we headed indoors for a real treat – Tierney Sutton singing a set with a well-arranged and conducted Big Band. The band was made up of LA session regular, the kind of musicians who can read any chart perfectly. ...