Jenny and I planned on getting up there before lunch on Saturday. The weather was a little dicey for the Sierra’s but Sunday and Monday were supposed to be lovely. We were doing fine until we got to about
Iron Mountain on the Mormon Immigrant Trail where it started to snow. It was coming down rather hard but not sticking to the road so we got into the spirit of the interesting weather by putting on the Glee version of ‘We Need a Little Christmas’ on the IPod. Jenny and I have had numerous road trips over the years and music always plays an important part in the total experience of our adventures. We drove past Silver Lake on Hwy. 89 and were heading up to Carson Spur when we saw flashing lights ahead. It looked like someone had gone off the road. We were stopped on an incline and the road was getting icy. The car in front of us slid a little and Jenny started getting nervous especially since the CalTrans radio station said that Carson Pass was closed until 2:30 a.m. We decided to turn around and see about finding another way. We drove a little ways past Silver Lake when we saw a snow plow parked on the side of the road. We rolled down our window and talked to the nice driver who was trying to eat his lunch in peace. He told us they had salted the roads earlier and the other plow was on the other side of the pass so all was well. When we told him we were going up to Ebbets Pass, he stopped eating, looked at the two of us and asked if we had ever been up Ebbets Pass before? We hadn’t even thought about what was in store for us there. We thanked him and headed back in the direction we had come from with new hope and smiles on our faces. Apparently where we had turned around there were several accidents with crunched cars on both sides of the road. We held our collective breath and drove slowly. I changed the IPod to the King Kong soundtrack which greatly enhanced the feeling of impending doom while we crawled over Carson Spur and towards Carson Pass. Once we got over Carson Pass the snow continued but there was absolutely no snow on the ground…anywhere. It was like we passed through an invisible portal into another world. We looked at each other with jaws dropped and quickly changed up the music to something a cherrier and enjoyed the rest of our drive. When we finally got to the cabin, Ken and Diana had a cozy fire going and hot water on the stove for tea. Ahhhhhh, home sweet home!
Shortly after we arrived the weather started to clear so we decided to hike to the top of the mountain to Ken and Diana’s wedding spot. It was strange to be walking in snow flurries while we could see blue sky. We all commented on how magical it felt as we trudged up the mountain to what felt like the top of the world. Clouds had settled back in and our view was obscured but the air was fresh and scented with pines. This little hike never disappoints. We filled our lungs with the fresh cold air of the mountains and with happy hearts we got back to the cabin just in time for happy hour!
The next morning all the clouds were gone and it was absolutely gorgeous out. Ken is a master-planner of the best hikes I’ve ever gone on. None of us had been on this hike before. It was at a lower elevation and we didn’t encounter any snow but the snow-capped mountains were stunning as we walked along Wolf Creek. It was a pretty low-impact hike but after 9 miles we were all feeling a little weary at the end.
Once we got back to the cabin and started Happy Hour though we magically perked up and some serious Hula Hoopin’ commenced. I can only imagine what the people in the cars that passed must have been thinking seeing 3 middle-aged women out there on the rocks waving and laughing as they passed by. Good times!We were all pretty tired after our day and after a game of cards decided to retire early. Ken and Diana were sleeping in the Loft while Jenny and I chose to sleep in the WW2 bunk beds in the front room. I was on the top bunk and had to use the chair to get up there while Jenny was below. The generator was turned off so Jenny and I were reading with our headlamps in complete darkness. It wasn’t long before I tossed my book and headlamp down on the table below and fell asleep. In the middle of the night I woke up needing to take a trip down the path to the outhouse. It was dark but I knew where I had placed my chair so I could slide off the bed to find my headlamp and put on my shoes for the walk outside. I put my legs over the side of the bed and could not find my chair. I knew I couldn’t just launch myself off the top of the bunk safely and quietly so I was tapping the air with my toes in each direction when I finally made contact with the chair. As I slide down off the bunk I knocked off Jenny’s eyeglasses and book. Well I found my light, put on my shoes and headed down the path to the outhouse. On the way back I see a light making its way up the path – it was Jenny. She was admonishing me for waking her up while trying to get off the bunk. Here we were outside in the middle of the night having a conversation about her using my chair as her personal nightstand to put her book, light, eyeglasses and socks and we got the giggles. When she got back in the cabin and back into bed, the bunk bed was shaking as she got the silent chuckles thinking of me searching for my chair in the night with my toe while she was thinking how convenient that chair was for her own personal use. Nothing has changed since we were kids. We can laugh at anything.
While having coffee on the deck the next morning, I asked Ken what was over the mountain on the other side of the road? He said there was another cabin and silver mine. The old road over Ebbets Pass was there as well and we could see portions of the road from the cabin. It was about a 3 mile hike one-way so Jenny and Ken drove down the hill and left a vehicle so we didn’t have to hike back.
Ken led us up the side of the mountain as if he had hiked this trail daily. The views were spectacular. At the top of the hill we found the road that went to the cabin. No one was at the cabin so Ken respectfully led us on their property to a foundation of an old cabin that was placed in the most incredible spot for a spectacular view. I wish we knew the story of this spot and the people who built it.
After crossing the stream we hiked down the old Ebbets Pass Road taking in the views and asking Ken all sorts of questions that he always had answer for. We stopped for a little refreshment while sitting on rocks looking over at the cabin side of the canyon. Another incredible hike. Thank you Ken!!
When we got back to the cabin we had lunch, packed the cars up and the cabin cleaned. It was the end of another wonderful time in the High Sierra’s. I was feeling the fullness of appreciation for getting to be a part of this special weekend. The only thing that would have made it better is getting to spend another day with my friends in this beautiful place. As Jenny and I made our way back home we couldn’t stop talking about how much we love Ken and Diana and the ease and flow of our times together. Yes, it was truly a Memorable Memorial Day Weekend and the feeling of Well-Being is still with me. All is Well!!! More to come……….
This was just another wonderful weekend with such a wonderful friend as you! Thank you for chronicalling for us and helping to keep the memories alive! I look forward to the next celebration!
My pleasure Diana! The definition of well-being for me personally, is being with my special friends doing the things I love. I am so grateful for these experiences and your friendship.
This was such a special weekend, as are all our adventures. You described the trip brilliantly! I lauged when I read about putting on the Christmas music when it snowed; putting on King Kong when we were in peril and then when we came out putting on Disney toons. I love reading your blogs and looking at the pictures to remember how much fun we had. You have a special talent! I look forward to future blogs!
Thanks for taking the time to comment Jenny. When I feel inspired to blog about something, you know it is because it is dear to my heart.