When I was a young teen visits from my Uncle John and Aunt Mae
were special!- Often we were included in mountain camping vacations, and
sometimes day trips. Uncle John would take off with me on one of his wandering excursions through nature.
He taught me many things and inspired in me a love
of nature and a comfort in visiting the wild places of the earth. Today when I go into the high mountains I
still remember what he taught me.
I still hear his voice... The
instruction was always in the normal course of travel - never 'preachy' or
dogmatic...
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| John Zlatnik - my uncle |
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| North peak - 20 lake basin - Hoover Wilderness - 11,500 ft. |
In our recent trip to the high country above Yosemite, I carried paper and
pen in my pocket and write down some of the "wilderness learning" from Uncle John... Ideas are listed as they occurred to me...
1. When building a campfire
keep it small. A large fire
is impractical because you can’t get close enough to warm yourself - plus it
becomes necessary to gather more wood.
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| Tuolumne campground |
2. When collecting
firewood for cooking and campfire choose smaller branches - they are easier to collect
and more practical than sawing or chopping big logs. This was the Native American way.
3. When hiking a rocky streambed or trail made up of large rocks
always step from high point to high point - it is safer and saves energy...but it takes concentration so that you don't trip.
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| High country Yosemite - Alpine terrain |
4. The
most satisfying walks are not along trails - but finding your own way as you
travel going across-country - you must stay alert to not lose your way- and you will see more interesting
things.
5. The best walks are not about reaching a
destination but being alert during the journey - being open to discover what you
find along the way. - Dont be in a hurry...
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| Knots where a branch leaves the main trunk |
6. As you return to camp, keep
your eyes open for well rotted logs - They need to
be rotted enough that you can kick free the knots that are full of resins. They burn easily, very hot flame, and make
little smoke. (Avoid wet knots - they smoke!).
7. When
you find something interesting (a flower, a rock, a bird, an animal) stop and take time to
enjoy it... to photograph and marvel at it.
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| Indian paintbrush |
8. The best trail food is a handful of raisins
and a handful of shelled peanuts.
Carry in your pocket - this can keep you going all day.
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| One of the granite domes - Tuolumne Meadows - Stand upright |
9. It is
usually more practical to tank up on water before and after a hike rather than
having to carry it. Hiking alomg an
especially hot dry trail is an exception.
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| Conness Glacier and Morraine ( on a very dry year ) - the grey below the ice is glacial moraine |
10. To
avoid getting lost - train yourself to occasionally look behind you as you hike - pay
attention to where you are - build a sense of the lay of the land so that you
can loop back to camp without having to retrace your steps. Keep aware where you are - keep reference
points in mind - (hills, water ways, large rocks).
11. Learn
the names of common flowers, birds, mammals, and rock types... Every time you
see one that you recognize it is like meeting an old friend.
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| Helen Lake |
12. Don't
be afraid of bears, rattlesnakes, scorpions, etc ... but respect them. They are
part of nature but you have to know how to deal with them with confidence. They are each beautiful in its own way... They will almost never confront you (unless
you get between them and their young). Don't kill them - they are much more interesting
alive than dead.
13. Walking
with a walking stick is a waste of energy.
Sticks are heavy and usually more burden than help.
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| Home sweet mountain home |
15. When camping there is seldom a need for a
tent (unless there is a good chance of rain).
Just find thick dry pine needles or put down an old blanket, then your sleeping bag. Be aware that you will often get cold from underneath - so you may need the under blanket on cold nights... If rain is imminent build a draining canal
around your tent. Choose a camp site to
minimize rain water draining into your tent.
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| Alpine Rock Garden Flower |
17.
Sometimes, as you hike, you have
to scramble up or across steep rocks with your hands and feet. For security, always have three points of
contact at any time.
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| To left of Conness Glacier |
18. When
you plan a trip - car camping or back packing - always travel as lightly as
possible - you don't need the luxuries of hone - take the basics needed for food
energy and basic comfort...nothing extra.
19. Uncle
John talked to animals and birds, he talked to every human we passed - Talking to
humans along the way is a good way to learn useful and interesting things.
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| Evening campfire - The heat energy released is the very energy of the sun trapped in Photosynthesis and stored in the cellulose of the wood |
20.
Evening campfires are a time to tell stories about past adventures, and
to make plans for the current one.
21. If you
find something you can’t identify take a photo and look it up - keep guidebooks
at home.
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| The steep trail to Conness lake passes to the right of this waterfall |
22. When
crossing a sloping slab or rock keep your body upright and vertical - not
perpendicular to the rock - this will give you the greatest security.
23. The
best of all firewood is dry dead sagebrush. It burns hot, little smoke, and
smells great... Downside is that it burns fast.
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| A pregnant doe |
24. When
firewood is damp, start the fire using paper, a small piece of parafine wax, add
small twigs to catch the flame, then slowly add bigger and bigger wood - arrange
wood teepee style to both dry the wood and allow it to catch on fire...
25. The greatest danger most lively to be encountered in the high mountains is extreme cold - always go prepared with sufficient clothes and for a surprise storm. Summer hail is not rare in summer storms above 9000 ft.
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| Uncle John as a young man |
Surprise!!: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/yosemite-closes-two-campgrounds-after-plague-case-n410211
...this was in the next campground to ours...
...this was in the next campground to ours...
