Micah

Backpacking in the Sierras is an important tradition for me and the boys. So I was glad that Micah and I landed a last minute permit for Yosemite this August. As the sign indicates, our destimations were May Lake (2.7 miles) and Glen Aulen (10.6 miles), and in total, we walked about 18 miles in 3 days. May Lake is short hike in, but steep. And yet it has panoramic high sierra views. Micah found us a great campsite about 200 feet above the lake and we settled into our hammocks to relax. As the evening unfolded, the light on the mountain ranges grew better and better, eventually peaking in an amazing sunset. ...

Juneau Our cruising vacation with 20 family members and friends started in Juneau. The weather on our first day was sunny with the purest blue sky. This is rare in rainy, misty Junenau. And on the boat, we were very lucky to have zero rain for all six days. The Mendenhall Glacier is just outside Juneau, and we enjoyed a great hike to a waterfall. The Alaska state museum was also a good stop. And there’s plenty of shopping for trinkets in downtown Juneau (but don’t blink or you’ll miss it). ...

On a beautiful summer evening in San Francisco, Micah and I visited SFJazz for a “late father’s day” session. Daniel Villareal, a drummer, was leading his band in the intimate Joe Henderson room. Villareal plays with a rock-steady, hypnotic, driving pulse. Nothing too fancy, yet very engaging. He was joined by Brazilian-American vibraphonist Victor Vieira-Branco and upright bassist John Moran. Victor was very intense and vibraphone worked really well in a trio format and in a small room. ...

It was a real treat to see John Scofield at the intimate Bach Dynamite and Dancing Society. And a special treat to celebrate Micah’s birthday with some delicious cupcakes overlooking the ocean. Scofield and his quartet played a wide variety of tunes. A Cole Porter song was memorable as were some of his original compositions. Some of his trademark funky grooves were included. For Half Moon Bay, we also had unusually clear skies (no fog!) and a calm ocean. ...

The forecast showed a cold front, rain, and dropping snow levels. Not a promising outlook for a backpacking trip. So Micah and I changed plans to car camping instead, and visiting Yosemite nonetheless. Stormy weather brings interesting clouds. And we saw a rare rainbow in Yosemite Valley, below the peaks. On one hike, we saw a bobcat and also came across a herd of stags with many points. You can’t truly understand biblical tales unless you’ve heard thunder explode through a mountain valley, which we did one night amidst a tremendous downpour. Our tent held firm and we were warm and dry. During the days, we only had sprinkles. ...