7-4-09 Yosemite National Park

Our first trip in the FJ was to Yosemite National Park Ca. 4th of July weekend. Yosemite is about 5 1/2 hours from Las Vegas and well worth the drive. The hotel we stayed at, was actually in Mammoth Lakes Ca. around 60 miles east of Yosemite. This park by far is the most beautiful place we have ventured since we started our Ruin Running.

We entered Yosemite through the east gate on the Tioga pass road State route 120. Greeted by lush green meadow with a crystal clear river running through it's center. The road surrounded by dense forest and towering mountain sides almost took my breath away. Huge granite domes rose above the tree lines to our right and to our left the road followed the river. We stopped at Tuolumne meadows to take some pictures and let the dogs stretch their legs. Before we had the dogs out of the FJ, we were informed by a very polite park ranger that we could not take the dogs on to most of the parks trails. He apologized and stated, " Unfortunately Yosemite is not very dog friendly." We learned this was do to the liability created from past pet interaction with both bears and other park wildlife. We were however able to walk them within 50 feet of the road as long as they were leashed.

Back on the road, we headed to Yosemite Valley as the scenery seemed to become even more beautiful. We noticed some smoke on the horizon and then some signs stating that, a controlled burn was in progress. The traffic soon backed up and came to a complete stop, as the Forest Department fire fighters narrowed the two lane road to just one lane. While we waited for the opposing cars to pass, we sat parked only a few feet from the actual fires.

Upon entering Yosemite Valley we had a wonderful view of El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and Half Dome. It was the perfect time of the year to view Yosemite Falls, it normally slows down it's flow in August. The lighting in the valley was remarkable, do to the smoke from the near by fire. I took some photos of the reddish glow of sun light shimmering down through the trees. The sound of the river, the falls and the beams of amber light made for a serene setting.

We then set out for Mariposa Grove, home to the Giant Sequoias, at the southern most point of Yosemite Park. These trees were unbelievable and dwarfed the surrounding pines by hundreds of feet. I was looking forward to driving through one of the Sequoias, which had a tunnel carved into it's trunk. Unfortunately this mighty giant had fallen and just laid upon the ground, only to be remembered in old photos and post cards. While here we watched a trophy Buck and it's Doe forge for food , just a short distance from the parking lot.

The sun slowly began to set, so we began our journey back through the park. We had truly hoped to see a bear or two, but it was not to be. On one back road Jen thought she heard a bear, I didn't have the heart to tell her, I had gas. We made our way up and down the winding roads, stopping to take some photos of the numerous mountain lakes. As we approached the east gate, herds of deer gathered in the meadows, drinking from the streams and rivers.

The end of the Jeep era.......

After our Memorial Day trip to the Eastern Sierras, I came to the conclusion it was time to upgrade. After years of modifying, tweaking and customizing my beloved Jeep, it became apparent, the Jeep was just not made for long trips. This vehicle was perfect for short trips into the desert and conquering nearly impossible trails. It never failed to amaze me with its unstoppable 4x4 capabilities and it's head turning appearance. During long trips into the desert, it was almost as if we were cruising the freeway in a rotisserie oven. During the summer, the heat whirled around us causing chapped lips, dry and gritty feeling skin. Our dog's really lacked space and probably felt like beef jerky at the end of our trips.

We had been eyeing Toyota's new FJ Cruiser since it had come out, but we were not to keen on it's unique appearance at first. After several months of seeing it on the trails and around town, it began to grow on us. I began to read several reviews and checked out videos of the FJ online and was soon sold. Stock, it boasted all the same capabilities of my Wrangler and several my Jeep lacked. The biggest sale to me however, was " Air Conditioning" and the cloud like ride over rough terrain.

So on June 16th we traded in the Jeep for a FJ Cruiser. OH MY!!!! Happy Days are here again!!!

The FJ came stock with a rear locking differential, limited slip control, sub woofer, built in compass,outside temp gauge and inclinometer. My plans for add ons include, 33 inch mud terrain tires, blacked out rims, a leveling kit, ARB front bumper with a winch, and a aftermarket roof rack. I am currently taken donations on these items : )

5/25/09 Owens Valley Ca.

Monday morning we headed back down into the desert, just north of Bishop, Ca.. In the Fish Slough Wetlands area, where we had heard there was some rock art panels. This area was once inhabited by the Paiute and Shoshone. These two Native American groups had settled the western foothills of the White mountains around 8,000 years ago.

Several miles of dirt roads led us to our first stop just, outside the wetlands. This area had a few dozen petroglyphs, scattered on various boulders. It also had a few smooth polished grinding slicks, as well as cupules used to prepare food.

The second stop held even more rock art panels, many of which pertained to the spiritual rituals of the Native Americans.

The third and last of these stops was by far the most remarkable, with hundreds and hundreds of petroglyphs. Several Shaman, Graph, Foot and Hand prints covered almost every rock face. Some Believe the foot prints to represent a diminutive human spirit, Known as Water Baby. This spirit was called upon during some Shaman rituals.

5-23-09 Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is located in the White Mountains of the Inyo National Forest California.It is approximately 250 miles north west of Las Vegas, Nv. and about 17 miles east of Big Pine, Ca.. The forest can be accessed of state highway 168 from either direction.

On our 1st night we camped in a tent at the Grandview camp grounds. This camp site is located below the Bristlecone forest at around 8,500 feet. At this altitude, the weather was continuously changing, at times for the worst. Hail and lightning storms were slowly passing through. Nothing gets your heart going like being in a tent during a lightning storm!!! The following morning the skies had cleared up and we headed up to check things out.

Bristlecone pines live at about 11,000 feet, with not much of anything to call neighbors. Exposed to high winds and harsh winters, these trees are true survivors. They tend to stand out from other trees near them, having half dead and twisted limbs. The Bristlecone Pines are the oldest known trees, ranging in age from 4,700 years old and older. One such tree was named Prometheus. Sacrificed in the name of science to determine it's age of 4,950 years. Another still living is named Methuselah and it's age is close to 4,700 years. Both of these ancient trees have been alive even before the Egyptians built their first pyramids. Due to the invasive tree dating process, only these two trees were tested. Therefore, any tree in this grove can be as old or older.

After leaving the paved road at the Schulman Groove visitor center we took to the dirt. We traveled the some what graded dirt which winded further up the mountain. As we climbed in elevation the trees disappeared except for some Bristlecones scattered through out the hill sides. The landscape became a tundra, both desolate and yet still beautiful.

At elevations of 12,000 feet plus, the views of the lower valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains across the valley were breath taking.