This is a REALLY deep SUBJECT. A little too DEEP for me ..

just can't get enough eh?...hundreds of threads and gotta pick on ones you don't like...maybe the angry folks should go back to their cubby holes...and play some more video games...or whatever it is that "brings them joy" Maybe it would help to get AWAY FROM A COMPUTER (2900 posts).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuzaxlddWbk[/youtube]

and whoever these angry folks are, if that isn't enough hiding behind cyber-bullying personas .... let's meet in person. Bring all your weapons, guns, knives, whatever.... They say you can see FEAR in the eyes -- and it will only take a one-second look before you look away.

Too bad we can't play that game over the Internet...maybe we'll just have to wait for an EMP bomb to make the battlefield a little more clear... cheers

Have the last word if you want...this SummitPost is clearly bi-polar...some very helpful kind folks, and others...well...I'll leave it for others to apply their own labels.

Rob wrote:

This is the most beautiful place on earth.
There are many such places. Edward Abbey

All you have to do is find a nice dam to gaze upon!

goldenhopper wrote:

Rob wrote:

This is the most beautiful place on earth.
There are many such places. Edward Abbey

All you have to do is find a nice dam to gaze upon!

Can't believe the dude took me serious. I could use a few "DAM PICTURES" right now.

Circusoflife, this is a great thread. I am interested in exaclty the areas of the Sierra you described, and somehow didn't start hiking in those specific areas until this summer despite some previous visits to trailheads and roadside lakes. So, I am appreciating the suggestions you've been getting here.

You have now experienced the humor that Lcarreau brings to a thread by popping in with a random image or music video. There are others on here, as you have noted, who will use much angrier humor, or sometimes simply anger. Keep the spirtiual stuff to off-route and you'll generally be fine if you can ignore the anger. If someone really starts picking on you in a front page thread, they risk getting moderated and/or banned.

Hope that helps and thanks for stirring the suggestions. Edit: I notice you seem to be carrying a knife now, and a few other things. Feeling afraid of who lurks here?

If you ever have reason to come from the west side of the Sierra, you can also approach the Minarets area from south of Yosemite on National Forest roads coming out of North Fork or Oakhurst. I think folks already mentioned the areas to the south of there (Kaiser Pass Road and Kings Canyon).

Although I would not rate the convenience of access as highly as some of the other places mentioned, a hike to Madera peak, or even to Lady Lake below it, provides outstanding views. I did it a couple of years ago in the summer and again last weekend in the snow. Nearby is a scenic creek (Granite Creek), a lightly visited Sequoia grove (Nelder Grove) and a lightly used dome with expanisve views (Fresno Dome). Also nearby is a trailhead that heads to the Mammoth area.

circusoflife wrote:foweyman --- your photos are amazing! And thanks for the technical explanation. The one geology course I took in college (A 300-level course, I skipped 100-level, a mistake), I got a 2.2/4 or some other miserable grade close to that.

Have just been learning about the Lofoten area in Norway, too cold for what I am looking for at the moment.....but it looks like you've been there. Perhaps you will find the following DVD of interest..not about Lofoten - but Spitsbergen and Greenland Mtn scenery.

Thanks for the good words Circ.. The lakes and mountains in the Lofoten are similar to your ideal and the temperature isn't that cold in the summer. However there are no forests and the brush can be thicker since it is often a damp and gloomy place.

Forgot to mention--If one who likes easy access to water and granite should venture to the south of Yosemite, but to the north of SEKI (on the westside), check out Courtright Reservoir.