A Great Beginning

A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water. - Carl Reiner

Don't knock the weather; nine-tenths of the people couldn't start a conversation if it didn't change once in a while. - Kin Hubbard


Forests, lakes, and rivers, clouds and winds, stars and flowers, stupendous glaciers and crystal snowflakes - every form of animate or inanimate existence, leaves its impress upon the soul of man. - Orison Swett Marden

I'm very gregarious, but I love being in the hills on my own.  - Norman MacCaig

So what better way to introduce the new year than wander through High Sierras, ponder reflections in mirror lakes, study ice crystals on frozen water's edge, breathe the fresh mountain air and stroll through the marsh-land trails watching the ducks feed on the stream bottoms?
I could not think of anything better so that's what happened. Follow along.........

I don't know if you can read these signs but the advise that Fallen Leaf Lake in California is several miles long and about 400 ft deep. Today, the sky was bright blue and the sun added warm rays.... one of the mildest New Year's days the locals can remember in a long time

Fallen Leaf Lake is a little over 6000' elevation and a couple miles off the highway down a long narrow road. As you approach today you will not see a ripple on the water... it is smooth as glass.... notice the reflections in the next several pictures .... awesome... have you ever seen anything like it? It takes your breath away.

Climbing a little higher is Glens Falls with a frosting of glistening ice. The locals say that this is a rare occassion because usually one can not see this without plowing thru deep snow. It is a gorgeous sight !

Proceeding even higher there is Lilly Lake nestled high in the hills amount the pines and firs.

It would have been nice to continue up the wilderness trail but there was this very intimidating sign ... stopped me in my tracks.....

Meanwhile on over at Lilly Lake other visitors found it to be frozxen over with a thick layer of ice .... again, something a person does not usually get to experience without trudging through deep snow this time of year. Did they enjoy this good day?

Upper part of Lilly Lake... yup, frozen deep!

Lots of tall grasses at the edge of the lake... inlets frozen...... under the ice out there in the middle is running water which fed the falls we saw earlier then ran on down into Fallen Leaf Lake.

It was truely a great day.... hope yours was too.