Mountain matriarchs
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 9:48 am
Over the past two years, three of the Sierra’s most venerated matriarchs have crossed ultimate divide, taking that trail to which all trails lead.
They include Andrea Mead Lawrence of Mammoth Lakes;
Adeline Smith, the guiding light for the Muir Trail Ranch, and Clarabelle Ross of the Blayney Meadows and Auberry. All three were Sierraphiles of the highest order.
Mrs. Lawrence, who gained fame in 1952 Winter Olympics with two gold medals, achieved an even higher calling with her efforts to protect the Sierra from run-away development. Among other things, Mrs. Lawrence was the founding spark-plug for Friends of Mammoth and Sierra Alliance. She died in April, 2009 at age 76.
Adeline Smith was the wife of the late Karl Smith who took over the what was then the Diamond D Guest Ranch in the early 1950s. Over the years they introduced thousands of Sierra, offering up a guest ranch setting in the midst of the John Muir Wilderness.
In addition, they operated the ferry service and store on Florence Lake. He died in 1983, while closing the resort for the season. Adeline stepped into the void with her
daughter and son-in-law and granddaughter have continued the family tradition
Most recently, Clarabelle Ross died in March concluding a Sierra stay that reached back to the 1940s. Her husband Fred had established a Boy Scout camp at Blayney Meadows even earlier. In the post-World War II years, they operated a pack station, specializing the burros.
Currently, their adult children Richard Ross and Penny Ross now operate the High Sierra Elderhostel at that location.
Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Ross were friends as well as neighbors, occupying patented lands along the south fork of the San Joaquin River, about four miles east of Florence Lake.
For many of today’s PCT movers and shakers, the three woman may appear
generations apart. But they provided a measure of stewardship that is particular to the
Sierra--the world’s foremost mountain range. They were part of that legacy, indeed.
By any measure, they will be missed.
They include Andrea Mead Lawrence of Mammoth Lakes;
Adeline Smith, the guiding light for the Muir Trail Ranch, and Clarabelle Ross of the Blayney Meadows and Auberry. All three were Sierraphiles of the highest order.
Mrs. Lawrence, who gained fame in 1952 Winter Olympics with two gold medals, achieved an even higher calling with her efforts to protect the Sierra from run-away development. Among other things, Mrs. Lawrence was the founding spark-plug for Friends of Mammoth and Sierra Alliance. She died in April, 2009 at age 76.
Adeline Smith was the wife of the late Karl Smith who took over the what was then the Diamond D Guest Ranch in the early 1950s. Over the years they introduced thousands of Sierra, offering up a guest ranch setting in the midst of the John Muir Wilderness.
In addition, they operated the ferry service and store on Florence Lake. He died in 1983, while closing the resort for the season. Adeline stepped into the void with her
daughter and son-in-law and granddaughter have continued the family tradition
Most recently, Clarabelle Ross died in March concluding a Sierra stay that reached back to the 1940s. Her husband Fred had established a Boy Scout camp at Blayney Meadows even earlier. In the post-World War II years, they operated a pack station, specializing the burros.
Currently, their adult children Richard Ross and Penny Ross now operate the High Sierra Elderhostel at that location.
Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Ross were friends as well as neighbors, occupying patented lands along the south fork of the San Joaquin River, about four miles east of Florence Lake.
For many of today’s PCT movers and shakers, the three woman may appear
generations apart. But they provided a measure of stewardship that is particular to the
Sierra--the world’s foremost mountain range. They were part of that legacy, indeed.
By any measure, they will be missed.