Blog

Sometimes it seems like I am a different person than I used to be.  I suppose that is true for many of us.  You may know that for many years I was a teacher and a Principal working with elementary aged students, their parents and teachers.  It was a fulfilling career and I worked very hard at it.  I have never been sorry I chose that path.

Now, however, life is so entirely different.  My interests are different.  While I still have friends from my "old life", I have an entirely new set of friends.  Then I traveled during school holidays with my family.  Now I can go almost any time and while I still travel with my family, I have found that traveling with my painting buddies opens up a perspective I never knew existed before.

Early morning sun through the smoke at Mammoth

I feel tremendously blessed.  This recent trip with my PAC6 painting friends was yet another thing I would never have done before.  We rode horses and mules for 5+ hours up into the Sierra and saw some absolutely amazing scenery.  While there were many hikers on the trail, I was extremely glad that we were riding.  That is not to say it was an easy ride.  Many of us hadn't even been on horses before.  I have, but it's certainly not something that I do regularly..... and I've NEVER ridden for over 5 hours at a time up and down sheer cliffs and trails before!

Our pack arrangements were made through Red's Meadow who did a fabulous, well-organized job! 

We left Mammoth early in the morning and were happy to escape from the smoke from nearby fires.  The ride began from Agnew Meadow and headed through the meadow and up the mountain.  We stopped at one point on the way up because a jacket had fallen off someone's horse so our pack leader went back for it.  I tried to shoot some video with my phone... (Pardon me ... because I started it sideways.)    I have some really great video for the ride back when I was a tiny bit more confident, but you'll have to wait for that.

I'll also include a photo or two of my wonderful horse, Rocket, and of the ride.  (When I got aboard, they told me his name.... Oh oh, I thought....  but he was sure-footed and patient with me.

We stopped about halfway up to take a break and eat lunch at beautiful Shadow Lake and take photos.  When we finally arrived at Ediza Lake, we circled it and headed toward camp.  I'm not sure whether the horses/ mules or we were happier to arrive.   After unloading a TON of gear, the crew and the mules and horses headed back to Agnew Meadow.

We met our wonderful cook and guardian angel, Loni Langdon.  We weren't sure what to expect but I've got to tell you... we were truly blessed.  She was a fabulous cook, a wonderful lover of all equine... especially mules and she kept a great eye out for our safety.

The Night of the Bears
All of us set about getting our gear unloaded and our tents set up.  No small feat for most of us who don't regularly camp -- but we were all proud to have completed it and very very grateful for a terrific meal cooked and served by Loni while we were busy.

After dinner we chatted for a while, made plans for the next day and fell into our tents which were scattered pretty far apart.  I was happy I wasn't too far from Nita and Sharon.  Trust me we were dead to the world within seconds despite the hard ground.

Around 2 or 3 in the morning we were awakened by shouting and banging and clanging.  Loni was shouting "Get away... get out!!"  She was tossing stones and something was making a huge racket.  After a bit it settled down ... we all drifted off and then it started again!!  BEARS!!!

The next morning we went down to breakfast.  We were a bit sheepish because not one of us had gotten out of our tents to find out if Loni was okay.  Happily she was.  But she did move her bedroll (she had no tent) a LOT farther away from the camp stove and bear boxes.

We painted and hiked around most of the day.  Happily the next night was quiet.  Apparently the bears didn't like having rocks thrown at them ... thank goodness. 

Here are the next three paintings I worked on:

"Song Of The Sierras"


"Overlooking Ediza"  (or.. The View From the Loo)

"Sunlit Peaks -- Banner and Ritter"

I hope you like them -- they are memories of a wonderful trip and may serve to help me paint some larger studio pieces.

Drop me a line.. I always love to hear from you!