Orlando Fuller established the Golden Crown Mine in 1879 and built his cabin hanging over Parker Pass Lake so that a horse could walk over the ice with safety. Now that is plenty of reason for me to visit that location and learn more about him.Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 12.67 MilesDifficulty: Moderate Elevation Range: 9,596′ – 11,142′Elevation Gain: 1,765′Date: August ...

OAKHURST — Susan Madden, proprietor of the Mindful Café blog and longtime mindfulness and meditation teacher, has practiced Forest Bathing all her life, she says. She just didn’t call it that. She has always felt connected to the outdoors, and mindfulness has been a lifestyle for many years. A certified mindfulness and meditation teacher, she also facilitates (and even constructs) ...

OAKHURST – You gaze, mesmerized, at the scene before you:  majestic Half Dome — known as Tis-sa-sak to the first settlers of this valley — crowns Tenaya Canyon leading to the Yosemite high country. El Capitan, sentinel of Yosemite Valley, guards the western edge. The scene is pure majesty, a valley ringed by mountains approaching 10,000 feet in elevation. You ...

I thought of the people whose footsteps walked before me on the historic trail Mono Pass Trail. Native Americans have been using this trail to travel from the Mono Basin toward Tuolumne Meadows and beyond for eons. Miners with dreams of hitting a big gold strike walked on it. Mules carrying loads of whisky, and apparently sardines, to those miners ...

Sure wasn’t an easy hike up to the top of 13,061′ Mount Dana with 3,000′ gain in elevation over 2 1/2 miles, full of rocks of every size, shape and slipperiness on switchbacks too many to count. All of my hard work was richly rewarded with many Pikas and Marmots paying visits along the route. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: 5.41 ...

How about a short hike not too far from home with beautiful views of Oakhurst and the surrounding mountains? It was known to the Mono Indians as “wah-me-yelo” (“the greeting place”), much more poetic of a name than Fresno Dome in my opinion. Where: Sierra National ForestDistance: 1.8 miles Difficulty: Easy to moderateElevation Range: 7,184′ – 7,503′Date: August 5, 2021CALTOPO: ...

Oakhurst – TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2021 Coarsegold Stampede Barrel Racing – 7:30 pm Coarsegold Rodeo Grounds 44777 Rodeo Grounds Lane, Coarsegold, CA 93614 View Website Madera County Arts Council & Circle Gallery 10 AM – 6 PM 424 N. Gateway Drive, Madera, CA 93637 Occurs: Every week on Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, until August 27, 2021 View Website WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, ...

Fireweed was the star of the wildflower show on my looped hike from Bridalveil Campground through Empire Meadows. A sea of brilliant pink with crazy billowy blooms were throughout the Empire Fire burn. Wildflowers are putting on a tremendous show right now in the meadows off of Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park and if you want to see ...

A bit of a change this week:  Scroll down for a list of recurring events as well as select events in Yosemite National Park. There’s lots to do in our mountain area. Get out there! THIS WEEK’S EVENTS THURSDAY, JULY 29 Make & Take Wine Cork Birdhouse at Yosemite Wine Tails 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Admission: $20. Advance Reservations Required ...

Sally the Weimaraner, Fannie the Corgi and I headed up to the glacial-fed Conness Lakes in the Tioga Pass area. I have no doubt they enjoyed their adventure but I especially love to visit these magical lakes that change color before my eyes. Where: Harvey Monroe Hall Research Natural Area, Hoover Wilderness, Inyo National ForestDistance: 9.95 Miles (includes about 2.6 ...