Eastern Sierra Hiking – September 2025 – Part Three

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Please click here for Part Two

Forty-two 

We settled into a favorite campsite at 9000 feet near Sagehen Peak. As an added bonus, the aspen here were at their peak.

 

 

 

We wandered until dark, then returned to our camper.

 

 

The new moon was beginning its turn back toward full.

 

 

The morning of September 24^th, our 42th wedding anniversary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few days prior, with cell service, the tub whisperer discovered a cancellation. Tub 9 was open this night. It would make a great anniversary celebration. We spent the day wandering until then.

We found groves of aspen.

 

 

Expansive views.

 

 

 

The view from our anniversary lunch spot.

 

 

We visited vast mountain meadows.

 

 

A Toyota 4 Runner stopped as we were at the Aurora and Owens River Wagon Road Monument. The fellow who climbed out was enthusiastic and animated. “I love this area!” he exclaimed. “Do you want to see an old ranch house?” He waved his arm across the landscape like a Montana Realtor showing property. “This whole area use to be the Adobe Ranch, you know. There’s an old ranch house down that road. I was there a couple hours ago.”

The ranch building was at River Springs.

 

 

 

 

 

The setting, the spring, and the broad watered meadow got us excited for a different reason. The Lady bounded up the hill above the spring.

 

 

“Wow, you’ve got to see this!” I heard above me. I quickly joined her. We found stacked rock sleeping circles, hunting blinds, and bedrock mortars.

 

 

 

 

And out of sight from the ranch building, around the corner, was an amazing stone corral.

 

 

 

We don’t believe our tour director in the 4 Runner was aware of any of this.

Our night at Benton was great. We may have overdone soaking in the restorative, healing, hot spring waters. The Lady rolled her odometer back to 26 and mine settled back on 30, our ages when we married. Those days do not feel so distant. As I write this, in eleven days the Lady will begin her 70^th circle of the sun. Three weeks later I will begin my 74^th orbit.

Storm was coming in the next morning with building clouds. We slowly moved back toward our house, deciding enroute if we’d spend another night out. Driving back roads we discovered more aspen at peak color.

 

 

 

This was a wonderful surprise.

 

 

 

 

 

For a few hours, all felt right within this tiny piece of the world around us.

 

 

 

Further up 395, rain came down hard and we made the decision to return to the house. 

 

As for the future, we’ll continue to follow Albert Einstein’s lead as he said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”