TRAVELS WITH MATTIE

We took off a few days ago and went adventuring in the Desolation Wilderness out of South Lake Tahoe. Here's a short version: We left in the afternoon and hiked and hiked up to beautiful granite and looked at a map somewhere along the way, and got to Gilmore Lake in the early evening. We ate the worst freeze-dried meal still in existence (it's chili macaroni and beef, by the way), ate some fig newtons, and drank hot cocoa over the lake as the sun went down (that made us forget the macaroni). We woke early the next morning and headed back out on the trail. A short jaunt past Suzie Lake, Heather Lake (LUNKING FISH), and up through a few little saddles, and we found ourselves at Lake Aloha, framed by the Crystal Range granite wall behind it. We swam, hiked more, camped, ate the BEST freeze-dried meal ever (it's the lasagna), had more hot cocoa, saw Mr. Pika, read, spaced out, and fell asleep under a perfect half-moon as the wind died down. We hiked out after a few perf...

It dawned on me that there might be a few of you out there who check the blog periodically but aren't otherwise on my social media radar. SO -- this summer Mattie and I started a little silly card company! It's called the Mattie Mae Card Company, and it's live on Etsy. Here's the link to my "shop" where you can get all the good stuff: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MattieMaeCardCompany. A couple examples of our silly, stupid, weird and ridiculous cards from the new line:  The "You Bagged Me" Card for Campers The "Dirty Girl Backpacker" Card The "Dirty Girl Gardener" Card The "Heart Jump" Card     The "I Love Ewe" Card

Hi EVERYBODY! We've had a great week!  Fun with the card company, running, climbing, and a great long weekend of camping and backpacking!  We spent some time out in the sagebrush, doing some low key (and lowball) bouldering at the Washoe Boulders. They're some of our favorites. We camped out in the middle of nowhere, the wind didn't come up, we got a beautiful sunset and the coyotes were screaming as we fell asleep somewhere between Carson and Washoe Valley.  My little heartbeat, near the Washoe Boulders. My two wander-buddies, Greg and Mattie, enjoying another sagebrush sunset. We got really lucky on the way out and saw a big gorgeous RATTLESNAKE! He was polite and friendly and just slowly slithered away into the brush. He was greener than other rattlesnakes I've seen. We love him. Again, could be a she...we don't know snakes that well. Snakely buddy! Hi! We think you're the coolest!  Then we dropped Mattie...

Hi everybody! We've had a great few weeks since I last posted, with a lot of traveling, family, adventures, music, and some fishing. It's been a great start to August. Here's a quick recap: We spent a day at Tahoe. It was hot. The water is the warmest. Reading, swimming and sandwiches at Lake Tahoe. We've been camping whenever we can, including up near  Sierraville on the Little Truckee River. Which is basically the same size as the regular Truckee River right now.  It was beautiful, and our coldest night of the summer. Greg in the evening on the Little Truckee River. The fish are also very little. My best buddy, north on Highway 89.  We went to see the Trespassers again at the Mobil,  saw old friends and made new ones. There were a lot of mango margaritas involved, then more beers at the Lee Vining Creek home. Oh, home. In the rain. It's basically my favorite thing.  We woke early the next day, got breakfast burri...