Fall Colors and Other Distractions

[Fred]

In the last week I've made a few trips over the Sierras via three mountain passes and the fall colors and scenery have been very nice. Thought I'ld share some pics and videos as I slowly dredge them out of the cell phone.

When I was done playing with spiders and riding with the TW gang at the Russ Memorial I went home via Yosemite.
After encouraging the Roadtrips to go there I just had to roll the bike out to ride the Glacier Point road. Very nice on a TW . I recommend it.

[Fred]

I made it up Lundy Canyon to attempt a better shot of the scenery TopPredator had admired. Truely beautifull canyon, those beavers live in a very scenic place

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[TW-Brian]

That drive up to Glacier Point can be tedious in a car, but sure would be fun on a TW.

(p.s. I liked that shot of two Half Domes coming into view at 0:14 !)

[Fred]

When I was near Carson Pass I stopped to inspect some ancient river gravels above 8,000 feet ( well rounded boulders up to 3 ft across) that were the bed load of a major river before the entire paleo- topography was buried under massive basalt flows.
Much of the northwest still remains buried under these regional volcanic flows. In places mountain uplift and resulting erosion has cut down revealing glimpses into the past. Treasures from the past too...whatever mountains existed before contained gold which these buried rivers concentrated creating many of the placer gold deposits hydraulic miners pursued after the 49-ers cleaned up the modern river placers. Wherever these ancient perched river gravels were found the prospectors would build flumes collecting water from far afield to process the auriferous gravels. Remnants of these 140+ year old flumes can be found here and there perched along cliff faces and traversing slopes. Sometimes impressive tunnels were built to channel surface water to these remote dry ancient river deposits.
Around here the volcanic cap rock pokes up here and there but I appreciate where erosion has cut down revealing and sculpting the granite batholith and metamorphic belts below.

[Fred]

Certainly Yosemite can be spectacular despite the crowds.
Getting off the roads avoids most of the crush of humanity. As I wasted last hours of daylight looking for campsite in the park I ended up hiking up Lambert dome as the moon rose, no crowds after dark. Quite and magical scrambling up the smooth rock faces just me and the moonlight.

[Fred]

So following a moonlit cruise out over Tioga Pass to Mono Lake I ended camping by some hot springs. A beautiful sunrise followed by fresh brewed coffee while soaking weary bones was a good way to start the day
.

[stagewex]

Beautiful.

[Moabman]

Thanks, Fred. I love it!

[Hoot Gibson]

Got out before the Rains came last night...yesterday was perfect riding weather in West Central Ohio...Colors about a week from "Peak", temps in the lower 70s, Sunshine until late afternoon:

Fall Ride TW October 003 (2).JPGFall Ride TW October 010 (1).JPGFall Ride TW October 017 (2).JPGFall Ride TW October 016 (1).JPGFall Ride TW October 015 (1).JPG

[Hoot Gibson]

And a few more

Fall Ride TW October 007.JPGFall Ride TW October 008.JPG