Rebecca M. Douglass, Author

Continuing the tale of how I spent my August...  Still in training for carrying serious packs with several days' gear and food, we took ourselves to the Bishop Creek area, found a campsite (sadly, this one had mosquitoes. Even in August of a dry year, a wet grassy meadow by a stream has mosquitoes), and did a couple more good hikes. Our first expedition was to the Tyee Lakes, located on the ridge between South Lake and Sabrina Lake. It was new to all of us, but the series of four lakes was touted as being worth the climb. The trail started right up.  More old trees The first lake, as we were warned in the guidebook, was pretty enough, but nothing really special. The best part for a photographer may have been the grasses at one end.     I loved the silvery lines of the grass reflecting the sun. Also as advertised, the fourth lake was the best.  While we sat on the shores of the fourth and highest Tyee Lake, I started studying the map--and found that I could make the hike into a one-

After three weeks of teasers, it's time I got started on the real photo posts. Since those three weeks were absolutely jammed with hikes, I have about... 2500 images to sort and edit (the goal is to delete 1/3 to 1/2. A real photographer would make that about 3/4, but I'm not that tough-minded). Then I pick a few from each hike to share with you. For that reason, this is just the first couple of hikes. Our first effort at hiking was a quickly-aborted outing from Wright's Lake, across the mountains from Tahoe (this was before the current fire threatening South Lake Tahoe; there was another fire just south of the lake, as well as the Dixie fire to the north). There was a pretty bridge with reflection near the start of the hike. Within a mile, we could see that this was a bad idea. We had intended to spend several days in that area, where we could hike at moderate elevations, but instead, we moved on to the eastern Sierra, driving south until we got to some clear air. That put

But not zero writing! I have continued to write every day when camped in the front country, and the novel is now nearing 65K. I took a break while backpacking this week, but came up with a vision (I think) for where it goes from here more or less to the end. Since that vision was developed while hiking at over 11,000', I will believe it when it actually works out on paper! For those who are wondering, the new book is a new heroine, new setting, and as yet lacks a title. I'm just calling it Seffi's Book for now. More updates on that when inspiration strikes! We are enjoying three nights of front-country camping, then four more of backpacking, before I head home and try to tie up the loose ends. By the time we end the trip, I expect to be over 70K words and have the end in sight--today is a total rest day, so a good writing day (well, rest, groceries, laundry, and a few other errands, but mostly entertaining ourselves). Here are a few more teaser photos from the cell phone. L

 We are back in civilization for an hour or two to do laundry. It comes to every camper and hiker! So here's my chance to catch up. Yes, as a writer! Since our hikes have started typically by 7:15 or 7:30 a.m., we've been done and in camp by mid-afternoon. That's enough time to do some writing, and so far I have written every day, I think at least 1000 words. The new novel is up to 59,237  words as of this writing, and keeping the daily momentum means it's kind of coming together. I do think there will be a lot of moving scenes around--I'm envisioning a lot of notecards to rearrange on a big wall. Meanwhile, here is proof I've been writing: Outside when conditions allow. When the mosquitoes are too bad, I move into my BiL/SiL's camper Mornings are spent soaking up the soul-healing beauty of the Sierra Nevada. Little Lakes Valley, Rock Creek The beauty of the ancient trees Table Mountain, above Bishop Creek. Treasure Lake, S. Fork Bishop Creek Three happy hik

Okay, that doesn't alliterate, but I wanted to finish up my trip report and still participate in Flashback Friday this week, so here it is! When last seen, we were high up along Picket Creek, working our way down out of the Kaweah Basin. We pick up our story on Day 7 . Another day, another gorgeous morning in the mountains! That's pretty much how it went, and usually does if you're willing to get up early enough. We enjoyed a view up the valley to Picket Guard Peak, ate our breakfast, and began what we expected to be a moderately long day. The creek expanded and contracted in a maze of rocks and water that almost rose to the rank of "lake," all of it evidence of the glaciers that passed through long ago. Walking the dragon's back. Not far downstream we came on a lake in about a perfect setting. We kind of wished we'd gone a little farther the day before. From the far rim of the lake, we could see where we needed to go. Yup, need to go way back down there,