Ladybug Heaven

We are camping for three nights in ladybug heaven! When we first pulled into Minaret Campground at Devils Postpile National Monument, we thought the swarms might indicate we were driving into mosquito hell. Turns out, the ladybugs had just hatched and thousands upon thousands of them were zigzagging all about the camp. We took it to be a good sign. Of course, we are alongside the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, so the mosquitos, large ones, are here as well, but the ladybugs make it all alright. 

The drive down to the camp was a challenging one. For three miles it was a one lane road, which I drove in the lowest gear possible, just creeping along. Fortunately, we were able to successfully navigate the few times we came across other vehicles, including the shuttle bus that ferries most visitors from Mammoth into the monument. When we pull out Friday morning, we are going early, with the sunrise perhaps, to avoid traffic!

I was relieved to make it down without much worry or concern since just the day before I smoked the heck out of the brakes descending Monitor Pass. Oops. Big oops, actually. I didn’t even realize that my foot was resting on the brake! Rookie mistake and lesson learned. If you come across a Minnie Winnie descending a mountain pass slowly, it might be us, so please be patient! We’re just not in a rush, and we want to get down safely and with brakes intact!

The Devil’s Postpile is spectacular! I’d never heard of it until Alanna said it was a must see this first week. Turns out it is the best example of columnar basalt in the world! It’s super cool and definitely unlike anything I have seen before. Today, we hiked to the Postpile as well as to Rainbow Falls and Lower Falls, somewhere around eight miles. We are over 7,000 feet in elevation, so we are being pushed, yet what better way to get in excellent hiking shape than to put some miles on the boots and some mountain air in the lungs! Over coffee this morning, Alanna said, “I love lacing up my hiking boots again.” As do I, and we are both excited for the miles and the sites and the wonders that lie ahead. 

Now that my feet have stopped aching, it’s time to hit the hammock, smell the pine, listen to Minaret Falls (where we are hiking tomorrow) and enjoy some more of ladybug heaven.