Dick's Adventures of 2025 - Part 2

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Adventures of 2023          Adventures of 2024          2025 Part 1

Having first become aware of the world in the very rural, very sparsely populated foothills of the Sierra Nevada in the 1940s, my image of a cabin is a rustic, unpainted, raw wood structure with perhaps two rooms and a "facility" out back. The cabin in this story is very different - it's a three bedroom, three bathroom A-frame with the usual modern conveniences, including dishwasher, big screen TV's, Wi-Fi, attached garage, detached garage/workshop, and large deck with a fire pit and comfortable furniture. 

It belongs to my older grandson, Johnny, and his family - wife Brittany and sons Colton and Jack. It was OK when they bought it about three years ago, but has been significantly upgraded through their hard work. It's located at 4,500 feet about ten miles below Shaver Lake, and is a fantastic place to spend a weekend or a week. And it's for rent!

Many in our family gathered there on June 21 to celebrate Teri's birthday (actually coming on the 23rd) and Johnny and Brittany's wedding anniversary (just past on the 20th).

Those present were Teri the birthday girl, her Mother Jackie, her Dad Dick (me), her sister Jennifer, her sons Johnny and Mikie, daughter-in-law Brittany, Mikie's fiancée Hayley and her grandson Jack. The other grandson, Colton was spending the weekend with friends, a more frequent occurrence as he approaches his teens.

Our activities, if they can be called that, mostly consisted of sitting around talking and eating. Most of us did go on a walk around "The Horseshoe," a loop across the main road from the cabin that goes about a half mile. Along the way are other houses, views of Banner Peak, Mt. Ritter and the Minarets, and an elderberry bush which caught Jack's eye in the early days of the cabin. When they are ripe he picks and eats a few, and I bore everyone with the story of how my sister and I picked elderberries that our Mother made into delicious pies. None were eaten this day; the bush is still in bloom, with only a very few green berries.

Johnny, Brittany, Jack, Teri, Jennifer, Mikie,
Hayley holding Archie, Dick, Jackie petting Dotty

A highlight of the afternoon was when Jack picked up my camera and took excellent photos of everyone present, including the two four-legged ones.

Late in the afternoon Johnny went in to Shaver Lake to pick up pizza, and we enjoyed a second meal. After that, everyone but Teri and I had to leave. It had been a very cool day with a strong breeze, so we moved inside and relaxed for the evening. Teri goes to bed fairly early and soon climbed up to the second floor bedroom, while I stayed up till a little after 9 p.m. reading.

The next morning we had tea on the deck, bundled up against the cool morning, then walked the Horseshoe. We had a late leisurely breakfast and Teri left for home around 11 a.m. I stayed at the cabin all day, walking the Horseshoe again in the late afternoon, and wandering about the property, observing the flowers and trees. There are a bunch of yellow flowers all around the property and out in the neighborhood which are open at night, but close up in the daytime, the opposite of most flowers that open and close daily. They are a variety of madea, and close up to maintain moisture.

The property also boasts three or four young sequoias, planted by previous owners, ranging from six to twenty feet tall. There's also an eight-inch one which is Jack's. When we went to Sequoia National Park in August, 2023, one of the Ramblers bought a sequoia seedling for him in the gift shop. It did well, growing to over a foot  tall, but died last summer for unknown reasons. Teri and I bought the replacement for him at Grant Grove earlier this year.

I also spent some time engaged in animal observation. Shortly after he arrived Johnny put bird seed  in a standard feeder hanging on a nearby tree, and in a feeder made to look like a mini picnic table. After that several Steller's jays and gray squirrels chased each other, argued and fought over the treat, and managed to eat nearly all of it by Monday night.

As I was sitting on the deck on the last full day, I managed to capture several photos of a squirrel clinging to a cedar tree less than  ten feet from me. There was also a hummingbird feeder, but it went untouched till the final morning when a single bird arrived. He also flew within about two feet of me, apparently attracted by my red flannel shirt.

(8/10/25 update): When I went to McKinley Grove, I saw a deer near the turnoff to Bear Creek Camp, and also saw one while walking the Horseshoe. My notes say that I saw a lizard on "the rock steps," but I'm not sure where this was. Could have been the vista point on Highway 168 by the Auberry Road turnoff.

I also saw a couple of ravens, various unidentified small birds, and some chipmunks. Then there were the animals I did NOT see. While I was on the deck the last day, a neighbor came over to report that there had been a bear in the area the previous night. Ask Johnny to tell you about the "Skunk Incident," which happened a few weeks ago, when I was nowhere near the cabin.

When I'm staying in a place like this, I try to take advantage of being close to good hiking and sight-seeing territory. To fill my time on Monday, I decided to drive up to McKinley Grove. This is a fairly out-of-the way sequoia grove, accessible by easy, paved roads. As you approach the village of Shaver Lake on State Route 168, turn right on the Dinkey Creek Road. After a dozen miles, just before you reach the Dinkey Creek Campground and other facilities, turn right on the McKinley Grove Road and proceed just under six miles to the grove. 

There is parking on both sides of the road, with a restroom and picnic table on the side away from the trees, and another restroom by the trailhead.

There is a short, easy paved trail that winds through the trees. An energetic person could probably walk it in less than 15 minutes. I went slowly, rested often, stopped to take photos, stopped to take a close look at flowers and plants, read all the informational signs along the way, and spent at least an hour there.

The entire grove consists of several hundred big trees, but the majority of them are located on the hills across the road from the trail, in steep, brushy terrain that is virtually inaccessible. No matter. Along the trail there are a number of young sequoias, about 20 big giants, and a nice selection of wildflowers, including dogwood, azalea, and wild iris. In the east end of the grove, the trail goes past a small creek.

When I left the grove I made two more stops along the way home. First I continued on up the road about half mile to the Gigantea Campground, or more accurately, to where this campground used to be. It has been closed for several years, and now appears to be abandoned. There are no restrooms, and I saw one sagging picnic table. I drove on the paved road into the area until it turned to dirt, then I turned around and started back.

My other stop was at a vista point about two or three miles east of Shaver Lake. There's a large turnout where you can park, and you can walk out about three hundred yards to a spot where you have a view down the canyon of Dinkey Creek. I've stopped here many times in the past, partly because it used to have restroom.

There's no real trail, just a sort of path, so I went very carefully out to the edge and stood on a small granite outcrop, enjoying the view and the surrounding forest. Along the way I encountered lupines, bear clover, and a clump of bunch grass, providing a bright green contrast to the dry grass around it.

After enjoying this short outing, I returned to my car and made the drive back through Shaver Lake and down to the cabin. I did a final Horseshoe walk, had the last slice of pizza for supper, and relaxed with my book the rest of the day.

Tuesday morning I sat on the deck with tea and my iPad, getting in a final hour of what a friend has taught me is "forest bathing." OK, I didn't really sit cross-legged on a log with my eyes closed and my arms outstretched. Perhaps I should call it "cabin deck bathing" - enjoying the cedars, firs, pines, and black oaks; watching the squirrels and jays and greeting the hummingbird.

Eventually this adventure had to end. I had a breakfast of delicious peaches that Teri had brought, washed the dishes, loaded up my car, and made the 40-mile drive back to my home in Clovis. It was sad to leave, but I knew I would be spending several days there again in July.

--Dick Estel, July 2025

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From July 10 through 13 we enjoyed a family gathering at Mammoth Lakes, a resort town on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. Those participating included Teri Liddle (my daughter), Johnny and Brittany Upshaw (my older grandson and his wife), Colton and Jack Upshaw (their sons, Teri's grandsons and my great grandsons); Mikie Liddle (my younger grandson), Hayley Olivas (his fiancée), and myself, Dick Estel.

My family, especially Teri, has had a fascination with the eastern Sierra for a number of years. In the past we have mostly stayed at June Lake, but everyone was ready for a change this year. And despite the location change, most of us still spent some time along the June Lake Loop. More about that later.

Johnny and family and Teri and I traveled in separate cars, but met up at Tenaya Lake, on the Tioga Pass Road that takes you over a 9,900 foot summit to the eastern side of the mountain range. Teri and I first stopped at Olmstead Point, where you have a view of Half Dome, Cloud's Rest, and a lot of Yosemite's back country.

We then drove the short distance down to the lake, where we immediately saw the Upshaw's waving at us. The boys had been in the water, which they swore was "not cold," despite the 8,000 foot elevation. We all enjoyed a light lunch along with the amazing scenery. Since we got an early start and check-in was not till 4 p.m., the Upshaw's had taken a side trip to Glacier Point, a fantastic vista 3,000 feet above Yosemite Valley.

With plenty of time before check-in, we made a final stop at Tuolumne Meadows, where the Upshaw men did a little fishing in the river. To the best of my knowledge, Jack caught the only fish, which was released to be caught again and again (fish are not as smart as unsuccessful fishermen claim). Where we stopped the river meanders through the mostly level meadow and those of us not fishing enjoyed some beautiful scenery at this cool 8,600 foot elevation.

We got underway again, going up and over Tioga Pass and down to US 395. From here it's just a few miles south to the highway that leads in to Mammoth Lakes. When Mikie and I stayed here in 2007, it seemed like a very small town. Now it seems like a a big city, but the permanent population is a little over 7,000, about the same as in the 2000 census. However, there are hundreds, probably thousands of condos and other rentals, and the summertime population must surely be two or three times that. There seems to be a restaurant in every block, and plenty of shops ready to lighten your wallet. Many of them cater to the winter ski and snowboard contingent, but hiking, biking and fishing are also supported.

We found our condo, got settled in, and then went out for dinner at a local pub. Although the food was good, their business model was very much not. We had to scan a QR code and tap on our phones to place our order, a tedious project with six people.

We moved on, and spent a mostly quiet evening, waiting for the arrival of Mikie and Hayley. Once they appeared, we had brief greetings, then settled in for the night. Our condo had two floors, with living room, kitchen, one bedroom and bathroom on the upper floor, and three bedrooms and two baths on the ground. I slept upstairs, with the great grandsons on the two couches in the living room, where they followed in their Dad's and uncle's footsteps, falling asleep with the TV on each night. I followed in my own footsteps, tiptoeing out between 1 and 2 a.m. and turning it off.

On Friday we carried out a variety of activities, everyone to their own preference. Mikie, as always on these trips, had found a golf course in a beautiful mountain setting just a few blocks from our condo. The Upshaw's set off for Woolly's Adventure Summit, which offers a bunch of exciting activities, including bungee trampoline, climbing wall, a ropes course, and the newest attraction, the Mountain Coaster. This was what they were all looking forward to; it is a mile-long ride down rails in a sled-like vehicle. The boys reported that the 25 MPH speed felt much faster.

Meanwhile, Teri and I drove to Convict Lake and hiked a short distance on the trail that goes around the lake. This is a deep natural lake, filling a basin carved out by a glacier and surrounded by rugged peaks and high desert vegetation. Near where we parked, where the creek flows out of the lake, we saw some pretty large fish, and along the trail we enjoyed the antics of chipmunks. We saw a few flowers in bloom, and various dry country bushes.

After our hike, Teri and I found a Mexican restaurant, and had an excellent lunch. As usual, we took home enough for the only other meal we would need that day. In the afternoon the entire group got together for a gondola ride to the top of 11,059 foot Mammoth Mountain. Most of us have made this ride in the past, but it always provides a breathtaking view. Dominating to the west is the Ritter Range, topped by 13,149 Mt. Ritter, closely followed by 12,942 Banner Peak. To the south of these peaks are the Minarets, a series of jagged peaks, 17 of which have unofficial names. This range is visible from the west in a number of places, including just across the main road at the Upshaw cabin. However, the view from Mammoth is much closer.

Equally dramatic scenery lies in nearly all directions, and a short half mile walk (which we skipped this time) leads to a view of a half dozen lakes. Most of our group made the 50-yard climb up a steep, rough path to stand on the very top of the mountain.

We made our return ride back to parking area at the base and returned to the condo, where everyone did their own thing for the rest of the evening.

On Saturday, our final full day in the mountains, I decided to stay back at the condo, reading, resting and going for a short walk. Early in the day, Johnny and Brittany went hiking on the Crystal Lake Trail. The others were headed for June Lake, where we have stayed several times, hoping for a dip in the lake and some fishing. By the time they arrived, the beach area was overcrowded and there was no parking space. Fortunately the town and lake are situated on the June Lake Loop, which boasts three other lakes, so they went on to Grant Lake. Teri floated, others waded. Johnny took the boys to jump off rocks. Mikie and Hayley were on one paddle board and Mikie fished. They enjoyed a picnic lunch, and stopped at the June Lake brewery, where some of us had gone for a beer two years ago.

That evening we all went out to dinner again, choosing an area with a number of restaurants close together. About half of our group had pizza, while the rest of us ordered from the Patty Shack. An outdoor dining area ran along the sidewalk in front of the various eating spots, so we were able to sit together while we enjoyed our dinner. The rest of the evening was spent as usual, with everyone enjoying their own pursuits.

The next morning it was time to pack up and head for home. As always, the drive along the base of the eastern Sierra, then up and over Tioga Pass, offered endless joyful vistas. Beyond Tenaya and Olmstead the road goes for a long distance with only moderate ups and downs. In this section, between 7,000 and 8,000 feet, Teri and I were treated to a miles-long garden of tall lupine plants, all in beautiful blue full bloom. Huge patches of the plants extended back two or three hundred yards from the highway, and would be up to a quarter mile long.

As the road descended into the Merced River drainage from the north, we were treated to views of Half Dome, El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls. Eventually we reached our very warm, flat home region. We had a fantastic time, were glad to be home, and even gladder to realize we would be enjoying another mountain trip in less than two weeks.

--Dick Estel, July 2025

More Photos

Photos (Click to enlarge; pictures open in new window)

Cabin Days          Mammoth Lakes

Cabin Days
(Photos by Jack Upshaw and Dick Estel)