Tuolumne Meadows 2009

First week of August we took our annual trip to Tuolumne Meadows. It was the usual gathering of friends up at the TMds campground.













Steve's Birthday was celebrated down at the now famous Mobile Station







The weather was a little more unsettled than usual, including a bit of snow/sleet toward the end of the week.







But, we did the usual mix of hiking, climbing and hanging out.







Kitty and I checked out Gaylor Lakes (beautiful).







We climbed the Golfer's Route, Guide Cracks and Puppy Crack.










Steve and Kevin zipped up Holdless Horror while Kitty John and I climbed a nice 3-pitch face/knob climb called Errett Bit. Note my  lack of  sport-climbing  skills (the clip).
















Frances caught a shot of bear #60 in the campground.







Last day we took a stroll around the meadows under very stormy skies and occasional snow/sleet showers and headed home.

Washington Bolte Visit: June 2009

Sister Becky and her son Matt came down for a visit from Washington. They wanted to check out UCSC as a possible school for Matt and to check out California summer fun. We had fun:


Matt and John helped Kitty whip the PCS Life Lab Garden into shape








Matt helped John break in his new birthday board















The oldsters checked out the amazing California Legion of Honor while the kids bussed around to the interesting parts of San Francisco (Chinatown, Haught)

Spent a great day at Point Lobos

The boy turned 14

Down a creek with a paddle

Our neighbor Mike used to be a raft guide.

He still goes out when he can get away and invited us and some other neighbors to do a trip down the Middle Fork of the American over by Coloma on Father's Day 2009.




Drove to Coloma Saturday night, dinner and live music at the Sierra Nevada House then off to some friends of Mike's who live near Coloma and have a great house with a big lawn we crashed on for the evening.



Up sort-of near the crack of dawn, breakfast, drop a car at the take-out and head up to Chile Bar. We know nothing, but Mike is a pro and his kids have been doing this all their lives. Get all the gear sorted, pump up the boat (Dex and Bobby supervising). It is a perfect day. Sunny, not too hot.








Launch the Boat, get some instructions and off we go.

Captain Mike reads the river like a book and shouts out instructions: "One forward", "Left side two back". We do what he says and slide miraculously through waves, past rocks, around underwater obstacles--some kind of zen thing between him and the river.









We had lunch after dropping through a great wave and watched other rafts and kayaks run through.










6 hours later and we're in the slower, lower river, then packing up to head home. Great day!

Give me a break

Well, school got out and on 8 of the first 9 days of summer vacation, John has been up early to go surfing.
















Cowell's has got to be the best place to learn to surf anywhere

New member of the Bolte household

May 2, 2009 I got a new guitar and I love it! Guild 1959 T-100D thin, hollowbody, single cutaway, with dual P90-style pickups and a Bigsby. Plays like a dream and sounds incredible. I've been looking at Gibson ES 125 TDC and Gibson ES 225's for years (ever since my brother bought a great 125 out from under my nose in 1972).

I'm jazzed.

Castle Rock: April 2009

We were planning a quick trip to Yosemite, but a late Spring storm was delivering rain and snow. Quick regroup and we decided to head up to Castle Rock. These trips start with a power smoothie. The boy is a pro at these.













At the parking lot - weather is perfect.









A nice stroll down to the WaterFall Route, brutal trudge back up the trail to check out Chewtooth and the California Ridge. Relax in the sun for a little bit then decide to head to Castle Rock and the boulders.














John cranks one of he warm ups on the main Magoo boulder




Anisa is next







Gymboy John doesn't like the little crimpers












I have no comment about this photo
















Steve fires "Mr Magoo" (and some other good problems of course)














It was a ton of fun

Spring Skiing: Sugar Bowl in April

Last day of Spring Break. Kitty was studying so John and I zipped over to Truckee (zipped is not the right word. 8 hours because of horrendous traffic through the Bay area and Sacramento) Thursday night and hit the slopes at Sugar Bowl first thing in the morning.














Top of Pioneer Trail




The boy is getting good on his board! I'm still pathetic on my skis. But, it was fun and I didn't break anything.

Santa Cruz heritage showing

It was "60's" day at the kid's school. The gal didn't look any different than usual!