Meadow Moods: Reflections on a High Sierra Lifestyle

Firelight on golden granite greets sleepy eyes. A calm lake stands its ground in
the shadows, awaiting a touch of sun. Monkeys rise from frosty bivy sacks, grind the bean, and start to wake up.

The ride into the park never gets old. Excited voices discuss the day’s plans while motivation buzzes through the cab. A frozen trail crackles under boots as eyes scan a looming dome. Corners, cracks, and knobs follow each other in harmonic order. Every route is perfect.

Strength, balance, experience, and passion push the ground away. Two shapes
move across an ocean of stone, dancing feet and centered minds keeping them afloat. The sun casts end time color as the monkeys mantle onto the summit. Wild eyes take in the airy scene until the first diamonds in the sky appear. Down slabs and runnels, into the forest, and finally a shoe on asphalt. The descent is done.

Flames lick at icy air as the day’s tales spill from mouths full of burrito and beer.
Experiences come to life in fevered story telling. The jams, the smears, the edges, the runouts…everyone relives the moments between earth and sky. A crescent moon slices at the black night, eyes grow heavy, and monkeys, one by one, fade into the darkness. Soon, all is silent and dreams of high places slip through the night until the return of the firelight.