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It’s all fun, games, and bluebird skies in these here Sierra Nevada mountains right now. Summer is almost here and our hearts are becoming high country lost for the season!

Bryon dancing on the shore of Tenaya Lake.

Snap of fingers LASIK laser beam-like (Yes, Bryon had LASIK surgery last week!) and then a week of eye antibiotics and now this guy’s got bionic eyes. Call this the “I Can See Tenaya Lake Happy Dance!”

Goofiness at Tenaya Lake

This picture session devolved from tongue-sticking-out-ness into a game of trying to toss each other into the lake. Since Tenaya Lake was iced over less than one week before, I’m glad it didn’t come to that.

The dichotomy of Tuolumne Meadows

This is what happens when a foothills girl goes to the high country, Chacos meet leftover snow and board shorts meet puffy jackets. My toes are trail runner chic! I left two of them in my Marathon des Sables recovery and I still have a black toenail leftover from a stubbing incident on Walter’s Wiggles in Zion National Park last November!

This is not recommended!

Okay, this photo should be a motto for tourists and the not-smart things they sometimes do. About 2 seconds after my camera shutter clicked, Bryon’s right leg fell through the ice. Good thing that he fell only into a frozen meadow and not a lake, so he fell to just shin deep. Don’t stand on thin ice!

Spreading Phlox spreading along the Parker Lake Trail

Spreading Phlox spread its way over the 8,000 foot level on the Sierras’ east side. These flowers hover close to the ground but form a thick vegetation mat with white and purple blossoms.

The aspens go green along the Parker Lake Trail.

The Parker Lake Trail on the Sierras’ east side was green-washed by Quaking Aspen just growing their summer leaves. I ran and hiked up this short trail and felt like I had traveled back in time a few years and into the canyons flanking the Teton Mountains. Quick-like, my spidey senses turned on and I scanned for moose and grizzly bears. Then I reminded myself that neither animal lives in the canyons of the Sierra Nevada. Funny how one’s mind remembers!

Parker Lake, eastern Sierra Nevada

A quick 2 mile jaunt and you arrive right here. Seriously, this is where I live? Parker Lake was fantastical in its glacier-carved, quiet, summer’s here canyon beauty. I could have admired all day.

Arrowleaf Balsamroot on late afternoon display.

Late-afternoon sun lit up the flower petals of Arrowleaf Balsamroot on the hills near the Parker Lake Trailhead.

How to end a day well

Happiness= Bryon, rolling hills of Sagebrush, late-day sun backlighting, and a big-boy bottle of beer.