High Sierra Topix

On our way homeward after a road trip up through the Cascades of Oregon and Washington, and then south down the west coast, we decided we would get out of the van and onto our feet in the Sierra before home.  We chose the Emigrant Wilderness for its quota-free trailheads, this time Gianelli TH for the first time.  Our loose goals were to see and fish new lakes and new country-- the new country being the group of lakes perched high on the north side of Granite Dome.   Re. the fishing, we didn't do enough research, and still dont know if we may have missed some great fishing ops.  The Pinecrest ranger station had little to offer-- just a printout of about 10 widely scattered lakes that had fish for sure.  None of the lakes on our high route were on the list.  We were hoping to visit and fish the 2 Lewis Lakes, and Iceland, Ridge, and Sardella Lakes too.  As it turned out, the off-trail route to get up there from Upper Relief Valley was more than we'd bargained for.  It is challenging trail finding, with a lot of steep cliffy bits mixed with quite a lot of lingering snowfields.  We climbed about 800 feet above the valley before taking a long look at the rest of the route, and then going for a plan B.  
Plan B was the simple retreat down Upper Relief Valley via the trail on the other side of the valley, making a small circle of new ground, and including the visit to Toejam and Leopold Lakes-- the former being on the "fishing list."  We made that new trip work for us all; both of those lakes were wonderful playgrounds for our dogs, who swam and ran through meadows and especially snowfields.  Bearzy's favorite play place is a soft snowfield, where he rolls, and digs, making happy growling sounds all the while.  He chases Wolfie, and gets chased in return.  They had more fun than ever, while we, by turns, admired the lake's scenery, and then cursed the difficulty of catching the smallish brookies.  Leopold Lake is especially lovely, with several wooded islets and a nicely sculptured shoreline.  It looks at times like a piece of one of those old scrolls of Chinese landscape painting.





We did sporadically encounter the Brook Trout, and caught enough to make two dinners there, and then dry and pack a third trout dinner to our last camp above Powell Lake.  Powell Lake is another gem of a scene, with clean granite rock arching out into the water from the northern shore.


Powell Lake with the Three Chimneys in the distance.


We had some luck with the wildlife, birds in particular.  I got to see an Osprey circle Toejam Lake and then swoop down to ever-so-neatly grab a big Trout from the center of the lake!  On two other occasions the same Osprey passed over our heads with a fish in its talons.  We saw three of our favorite birds in wonderful light-- the Mountain Bluebirds, the sunset orange Western Tanagers, and one Green-tailed Towhee in the sagebrush.  The views of the near volcanic peaks were very fine, and included my first close-up view of The Three Chimneys.  On several of the ridges on our route, and from high points above the lakes, we had nice but distant views of the peaks of the Main Divide, plus the distinctive Clark Range.





Penstemon flowers and dogs, with the peaks Forsyth, Tower and Bigelow in the upper right.



Since over the years many of you have gotten to know Bearzy, and shown real interest in his life, I will share our burden of his death.  At our last camp above Powell, we had the experience we have been dreading.  8 months ago we had been warned that he likely had less than 3 months to live.  With our care and the drugs, he more than doubled that, but finally Bearzy's epileptic seizure disorder took a turn for the very worst.  Instead of his miraculous resiliency post seizure, he instead took several hours instead of a few minutes to recover.  Then his fourth seizure led to another after another until it just wouldn't stop.  I held on to his snapping and thrashing body for 5 hours, from 10:00 pm till 3 in the morning.  Thankfully, we have been told time and again that he is unconscious during these events.   I was sure he was going to die, and Lizzie and I resolved ourselves to it.  It seemed fitting that he would die in the mountains he so loved. Lizzie put a sleeping bag over us, and a pad under, and yet Bear somehow survived!  Sadly,  he was left in a much diminished state.   In truth he did kind of die up there in the Sierra-- his brain was never the same-- it was as if his spirit was gone away.  I planned to carry him out, and lightened my pack into Lizzie's, and set the sleeping bag on top to cushion Bear.  And I did need to carry him over the snowfields, and all of the uphills, but he could stagger downhill guided by us on the leash, and thankfully, it's downhill the majority of the trail back to Gianelli.  We got him out, got him home; had the difficult talk with our vet friend who gave us no real hope, and after watching his aimless staggering around our property, and listening to his sad sounds, my son and I took him into the forest and ended his life in a painless and immediate way.
Bear was a rescue who had spent his first year in a cement floored, 3 x 5' chain link cage, and we are sure we gave him a great life ever after.  He was 10 and a half years old when he died.  We will thank you in advance for your words or thoughts in sympathy.  

Okay then, Whew! ... on to the pretty pictures:







Nice photo by Lizzie.


Full moon from our ridge camp.


Whitesides Meadow.


"Wolfie."

Whitesides Meadow is soon followed by Upper Relief Valley.




Heading up toward the lakes of Granite Dome.


Instead we made it to Toejam Lake for a 10 mile day.


Moonset in the early morning.


There are really nice campsites around the north and west sides of the lake.






While seizure-wrestling Bearzy he nearly caught my eye with his thrashing claw.



Wolfie remains fascinated by fish.





You'll see that I did get some big ones, using my special art of B.S'ing:  Here are some very big fish-- their great length confirmed by my hunting knife, which has a 12" blade. 

Our favorite day hike was to Leopold Lake, and above and around it.


Western White Pines are even beautiful in death.




Back at Toejam Lake with Granite Dome in the distance.


These are new flowers to me.  They look like either Bighorn Sheep heads, or bulls with curved horns.  What are they?


By the lake we followed a bolting bird's flight back to her nest.  It is a White-crowned Sparrow's.





Wolfie's nest.




Powell Lake, and sunset for Bearzy.


Bearzy on Taboose Pass.


Bearzy in the Minarets! 

Ian -
I am truly sorry for your loss. Bearzy was a wonderful dog and obviously a big part of your life for the time that he was with you. We all have enjoyed seeing the photos of him coming along on your adventures, and he will be missed.
Grampy (Mike)

Mike wrote:

I am truly sorry for your loss. Bearzy was a wonderful dog and obviously a big part of your life for the time that he was with you. We all have enjoyed seeing the photos of him coming along on your adventures, and he will be missed.
Grampy (Mike)

Thanks man. It is hard, as expected, and we are quite literally wrung out. As luck would have it, we have some cerveza to replace the fluids. Ian.


A few more pics of Bearzy in the snow he loved:

Carson Pass area.


Blue Lake.


Deso wilderness-- Rolling and laughing!

Ian - here’s my amateur botanical input: your “new to me” flower is Dicentra uniflora (Steer’s head … or various other common names). I am used to seeing Dicentra formosa (Pacific bleeding heart); they have somewhat similar ranges in California but I’ve never seen your flower myself.
Also, I especially liked the “Powell Lake with Three Chimneys” photo.

Ian,
My condolences on your's and Lizzie's loss. I remember you introducing us to Bearzy, and anxiously reading your documenting the joy he brought you in sharing your love of the mountains.

It is gut wrenching and heart-breakingly painful to experience the helpless feeling of trying to comfort and ultimately say goodbye to an animal partner. But, as your signature notes, you've been "properly trained", and know the blessings and grief associated with being a "best friend."

So a raise a toast with those cervezas, and though for sure, drown a few tears, raise that toast to the joy two kindred spirits bring one another when sharing the thing they love.

Thanks for sharing this part of your life.
Steve

Sorry, Ian, I have been busy and missed this TR. It is very sad for me to read about Bearzy's transitioning, but it was also not unexpected, though it doesn't make it easier.

Bearzy was the first natural hiking/climbing dog I have met. I truly enjoyed playing with him during our 2019 Greene search in the Minarets, and he left a lasting impression on me.

Bearzy was the first dog I met who got belayed like he was on South Notch and has visited numerous places that most backpackers have never visited, especially during the winter/spring seasons.

I know you are mourning Bearzy, Ian. Bearzy was part of the family.

The spirit of Breazy lives on; hold on to the memories and privilege of 10+ beautiful years with him, Ian. Bearzy's life is truly an inspiration!

Here are some photos of Bearzy while out on our 2019 search:

Ian - I never had the pleasure of meeting Bearzy, but all the photos you have posted of him on your many adventures make me feel like I almost have. Seems like he had a great life thanks to you. That bond between human and canine is like no other, and their doggy lives are too short. The grief of that loss is the price we pay for the joy of the companionship. My deep condolences to you and your family.
I hope Wolfie is not taking this too hard; he must miss his buddy.

Thanks for all of the kind words above, and for those favorite photos of Bear you posted Mav.
And thanks Paul; we feel we know you too, through this HST community, and because we ride the same skis, which you provided for me. Lizzie and I tried to imagine you ski touring over the airy ridges above Gianelli, and through those wide open meadows* all in white on your spring trips through "your own private ski touring area." The forest too must be brilliant in snow-- all of those magnificent Red Fir trees, and Western White Pines. We wrapped our arms around a couple and found their circumferences to be 15 and 18 feet! I recall you saying that Granite Dome is often your goal-- have you skied onto the northern side, where the lakes are? We were trying to hike up there from Upper Relief Valley, and it looked interesting.

Maybe we can do it together one Spring, but I am a less interesting partner without my better half- Bearzy.

* Speaking of those meadow, you probably noticed that I have an error in my report re. "Whitesides Meadow." The photo in question is actually Upper Relief Valley, and the image that caption should have went with is this one:

Whitesides Meadow.