Early Despair

Old and new feelings of angst over the start of school back at the Bowers Elementary School in Manchester, Connecticut.

Follow this link: September, 1959

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Phil Mickelson at the US Open 2008 (3rd Round)

Phil Mickelson, it seems that the US Open will not be yours this year. People question your 'Driver Strategy', and point to your 'meltdown' at the 13th hole. It was your candor and humor in the interview after the round that reminded me how much I love and appreciate your game, as well as how you deal with us, the fans.

When asked if you have ever had a 9 at the 13th hole, you replied that, yes, you had, but you were only 8 years old at the time.

Hang in there Lefty, and make us proud. You have great days ahead.

Laudizen

Yosemite: Tioga Road and the Valley

On the day after Memorial Day, (May 27, 2008) Shirley and I took a drive through Yosemite National Park. The weather was unsettled, and we had periods of rain, hail, snow, and sleet. But the Tioga Road remained open and we traveled through Tioga Pass (at 9943' the highest pass crossed by public road in California) and down the impressive slope of the Eastern Sierra. After lunch in Lee Vining on rte 395, we headed back through the park and stopped in Yosemite Valley to view the falls.

We had views of Tuolumne Meadows, Dana Meadows, Cathedral Peak, Emery Lake, the Coxcomb, Unicorn Peak, El Capitan, Cathedral Rock, Yosemite Valley, and Yosemite Falls.

The link below will take you to a three-page image gallery describing the trip.

Yosemite Drive

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Franconia Ridge

Here is an image gallery comprised of some old pictures that I recently scanned at home here in California. These photos were taken back in the years when I enjoyed the trails of the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

This trip covers a traverse of the Franconia Ridge, high above Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch. We ascended the Falling Waters Trail to the ridge; to the south rose Mt Liberty and Mt Flume. We went across the ridge from Little Haystack to Mt Lincoln, and then to Mt Lafayette. We then descended the Greenleaf Trail to Greenleaf Hut; from there we finished the trip on the Old Bridle Path.

The photos are old, but you can understand why this is considered one of the best loop hikes in the White Mountains.

Franconia Ridge

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Mt San Gorgonio

In 1992 and 1993, I made two attempts on Mt San Gorgonio, or Old Grayback as it is also known. At 11,500', it is the highest summit in Southern California. One attempt was successful and one a failure, yet both were memorable and exciting.

From Dollar Saddle at 10,000', we could see Dollar Lake below us. We followed the trail around Charlton Peak to Dry Lake View, and we could see a sliver of Dry Lake in the distance. Mt Jepson towered above us. From there, we made our way to the summit.

To read the story of the two hikes, and view an image gallery of the successful climb, follow the links below.


Mt San Gorgonio

Mt San Gorgonio Image Gallery

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Sentinel Dome in Yosemite

In 1999, Brian Illari visited me in California and I took him to Yosemite for some October hiking. While there, we parked on the Glacier Point Road and climbed to Sentinel Dome where we were rewarded with spectacular views of Half Dome and Little Yosemite Valley. We could also see that a storm was approaching. Nevertheless, we continued on the trail down to Glacier Point. On the return, we were caught in a blizzard on the way to Taft Point and found ourselves lost in a blizzard in the forest high above Yosemite Valley. To read the story of the hike, and view some images from that adventure on the trail, follow the link below.


Sentinel Dome Snow

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