2 Stories and photos of travel and adventure by local people ■ July 14, 2010 A LSO INSIDE C ALENDAR 25 | C LASSIFIEDS 26 | R EAL ESTATE 30 SECTION TIPS ON TRAVEL Beyond Yosemite Ashley Holt, who grew up in Photo by Frances Freyberg of Menlo Park Atherton, on the trail below Selden Pass on Day 7 of the trek. Amazing vistas await those who explore the High Sierras on foot By Frances Freyberg osemite National Park is a hiker’s para- peaceful meadows with meandering streams. and joined the JMT (which actually starts in About the author: Frances Freyberg Ydise, with countless trails crisscrossing The grandeur of the landscape is matched only Yosemite Valley) at Garnet Lake on the second of Menlo Park is a photographer the stunning granite landscape from by the challenge of traversing it. Backpackers day of our 16-day journey. We calculated our specializing in vibrant color portraits the top of Mt. Lyell to the foothills near El Por- ascend and descend more than 10 passes through total distance at just on 200 miles. of people, wildlife, nature and tal. But while Yosemite’s day hikes are world- the Sierra Nevada range, hiking at altitudes of The JMT is certainly not for the faint of architecture from her travels to more class, the truly stunning vistas and solitude 9,000 to 12,000 feet for most of the trip. The high heart or weak of sole. Blisters are just the than 50 countries. Her photographs of California’s high country wilderness await point of the trail, literally and metaphorically, is beginning of a hiker’s woes on the trail. Sore can be found in the Portola Art Gallery those who strap on a backpack and set out on 14,497-foot Mt. Whitney — the highest peak in muscles, bruised hips, bloody noses and alti- at the historic Allied Arts Guild in a multi-day expedition. the continental United States. tude headaches are part of the daily JMT expe- Menlo Park, in private collections, and What lies beyond the borders of California’s rience. Fitfully sleeping on a 1-inch pad, eating online at francesfreyberg.com. most visited national park? Stretching along the Ups and downs on the trail powdered soups and power bars every meal, High Sierras, from Yosemite Valley to Mt. Whit- I hiked a slightly shortened version of the washing yourself and your few dirty clothes ney, the 212-mile John Muir Trail (JMT) is one of JMT with my friends Ashley Holt (who grew in cold mountain streams, and digging a hole On the cover the country’s most famous long-distance hikes. up in Atherton) and Erin Conlisk, traveling for your toilet each morning probably won’t Ashley Holt descends Koip Peak It passes through beautiful and diverse scenery: from north to south in the late summer of 2008. appeal to the 5-star hotel crowd. And that’s Pass on Day Two of a long- sun-dappled lodgepole pine and aspen forests, We started just east of Tuolumne Meadows in distance hike through the High stark granite peaks, secluded alpine lakes, and Yosemite at the Mono/Parker Pass trailhead See BEYOND YOSEMITE, page 22 Sierras. In the distance are Alger Lakes. Photo by Frances Freyberg John Muir Trail by the numbers ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ of Menlo Park. 212 miles (200 for our modified route) 16 days on the trail 10 mountain passes 3 good friends Countless memories July 14, 2010 N The Almanac N21 DESTINATIONS BEYOND YOSEMITE ing mountains touched by the continued from page 21 morning light, and the air so still that you can hear the fish ignoring the daily 12.5-mile hike, jumping. carrying a 40-50 pound pack. On Day One, the novelty of the More than just experience made it fun, and, of a pretty view course, I still had clean clothes. While the scenery alone is eas- On Day Two, I wondered why ily worth the trip, it’s the friend- we hadn’t chosen a nice beach ships, the self-confidence and holiday instead. On Day Three, the funny stories that remain having lost the trail several times long after the hike is over. Hik- and exposed my embarrassingly ers will cheer one another up inadequate training, I was just grueling mountain climbs, swap about ready to call it quits. route and campsite recommen- But by Day Four, I finally dations, and even share their started to understand why peo- equipment and coveted snacks ple hike the JMT over and over when needed. On the trail, again. It’s not until you get far acquaintances quickly become enough from paved access roads friends, and friends become that you really get to experience family. the vast beauty and solitude Finally, there’s something of the High Sierras. Once we about pushing your body and passed Devil’s Postpile National mind to the limit — relying Monument (the last easy car only on your strength and your access to the northern part of friends to see you over the next the trail), we usually met only mountain pass — that’s unique- 10 to 20 hikers each day. Most ly humbling and confidence- of the time, it felt as if we had building at the same time. the entire mountain range to For most people, hiking the Photo by Frances Freyberg of Menlo Park ourselves. JMT is a once-in-a-lifetime Peaceful Grouse Meadows in the early morning light of Day 10 of the trek. Sleeping on a bed of granite experience. But whether you admittedly isn’t comfortable, hike it once or every summer, in but it’s the thick blanket of stars full or in part, take the time to overhead that makes it worth- explore the Sierras on foot. It’s More information while. Few experiences compare the best way to experience Cali- ■ http://johnmuirtrail.org ■ “John Muir Trail: The essential guide to hiking America’s most famous trail” by Elizabeth Wenk and to watching the sun rise over a fornia’s beautiful high country Kathy Morey ■ Go to is.gd/cZTpP (case-sensitive) for a day-by-day account of our hike, with photos. glassy alpine lake, the surround- wilderness. A Not much time to sign literacy ‘declaration’ at library By Renee Batti according to organizers of the the United States.” Therefore, it Almanac News Editor project, who aim to present the continues, “literacy must be a scroll to President Obama in Sep- national priority and an integral www.mominabox.net enlo Park Library tember. part of our country’s public poli- patrons have until Menlo Park Mayor Rich Cline cies, supported by an educational The “I Care” package you’ll want to send off Wednesday, July 14, to said he intends to add his signa- system that equips all learners to with your new or returning college student M put their John Hancock on a ture to the scroll, joining mayors make informed decisions, man- document passing through town and other elected officials from age their lives effectively, and on its way to Washington, D.C., around the country. Others sign- achieve their fullest potential and after traveling thousands of miles ing the scroll include business and contribution.” TOWN OF WOODSIDE across the country: the Declara- church leaders, service providers, Locally, the scroll project is tion of the Right to Literacy. adult literacy students, volunteers, sponsored by Project Read-Menlo The declaration, in the form of educational organizations, and Park and the Menlo Park Library. INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR a scroll, was scheduled to arrive at community residents from all It has been placed on a table in ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE the library on July 9, although it over the country, according to a the library’s main hall, according was delayed in transit from Sacra- press release. to Outreach Librarian Roberta REVIEW BOARD mento. But a copy of the declara- The Declaration of the Right to Roth, who is also on the Project tion was put on display that day, Literacy was conceived at a 2009 Read staff. and parchment paper was avail- convention of the Literacy Pow- The Menlo Park Library is at The Architectural and Site Review Board reviews able to sign by all who support the erline, a national group working 800 Alma St. and makes recommendations to the Director of declaration’s assertion that all U.S. to increase literacy. The project Project Read has offered free Planning and Building on residential, site design and residents, “regardless of age or sta- has been endorsed by the U.S. English-language tutoring to commercial applications. tus, (should) be able to read and Conference of Mayors, according adults in the community since write in order to participate fully to the press release. 1985. The program currently has and equitably in our democracy,” The declaration states, in part, more than 100 adult learners and Meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each and that the country’s educational that “the global competitiveness 90 volunteer tutors, according to month, 4:30 p.m. Appointment is for an unexpired system needs to be transformed to and economic security of our Ms. Roth. term through January 2011 achieve that end. nation and well-being of our Go to literacypowerline.com for The scroll has already been citizens are seriously held back more information about the dec- signed by thousands of people, by widespread low literacy in laration project. A Interested residents may request information and applications Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12 County to receive funds for energy retrofit job training, placement noon and 1-5:00 p.m.