The Best for Last

Well, almost last.  And it’s hard to pick a “Best Of” when we’ve seen so much beauty across the land.  Yet, I will say The Best because the Merced River, flowing free and wild out of Yosemite, is beloved throughout our extended family.  Three of five brothers have lived in California (two still do) at one point at the same time.  All three brothers and their respective families know and love the Merced, having spent many, many summer weekends primitive camping along her shores.

Depending on the river’s flow and time of year, we have rafted, snorkeled, swum, waded, jumped from 20 foot high cliffs into 30 foot deep pools, washing ourselves clean in her emerald green waters.  We helped her gain Wild and Scenic designation through petitions and testimony as we fought the “powers that be” who wanted to tame her wild nature, damming her for all time.  We stopped gas powered, loud gold mining machines from operating on weekends, and then the loud stinky machines were stopped altogether with the Wild and Scenic status. 

Wonderful to return to hear her roar as the snow melt from the high Sierra Mts. continues to feed her river valley.
Extra: Endless Rapids area