Millerton Lake Hawk Close Up

Dale Matson

Click On Photographs To Enlarge

    This is the season where the Bald Eagles begin to return to Millerton Lake for their seasonal visit from Great Slave Lake in Canada. Most visiting eagles should be here by January 1st. I have not seen any eagles foreign or domestic on my last couple of visits. The lake is very low right now with no rain/snow in the forecast. It seems like there is as much shore as lake!

    However, there are Hawks and I had a nice Red-Tailed Hawk to photograph today. I think this hawk is an old timer and remember the same bird letting me get close a couple of years ago.

    I was walking on the Blue Oak trail with my Sony A9 and 100-400mm GM lens. It’s not my biggest telephoto but it’s my most portable. 

    What was amazing that the hawk let me get within 15 or so feet. I got lots of photographs and went on my way, walking to Winchell Point and back. That is about 1.5 miles round trip. Imagine my surprise when the Hawk was still there, so I got even more close ups. What continues to amaze me is how few photographs showed both eyes. In some cases, the one eye was in the shadows and in other cases it was a side view. Anyway, the hawk was there when I left also. I like that.

    Boy, would I love to get a photograph of an eagle that close!

Hobbes Our Mini Golden doodle

Dale Matson

Hobbes

Well, our last Airedale, Duke died this past Spring. I have owned Airedales for forty years. Their temperament grows on you. Sharon and I have had three Airedales together. Brown was our first and got carsick wherever we went. Susie was our second Airedale and she was my trail companion for many years. Duke was a big and affectionate Galoot who spent some time on the winter trails but was mostly our house dog. 

Duke had a thyroid problem that was diagnosed after he went to well over 100 pounds. After being treated, he slimmed down to a solid 90 pounds.

Anyway, when he died we looked at each other one day after saying we would not get another dog and said to each other, “We NEED a dog in our lives.” At age 75, I figured the dog would probably outlive me but we both decided another Airedale was out of the question. While active, we are too old and feeble to handle another big dog. 

We researched dogs and settled on a mini Golden doodle. Their maximum weight is about 35 pounds. 

We went to a local breeder and had a chance to pick seventh out of a litter of nine puppies. We wanted another boy and the last two were one female and one male. While the female ran around like crazy and barking, our dog snuck out through the fence into another room. He is an escape artist!

He is a sweetheart and FINALLY, after 18 weeks, he had all his shots and we could take him for a walk. He got his name Hobbes from the cartoon “Calvin and Hobbes”. We were forced to get a dog. We had very little left to say to each other after all these years. Now we have lots to talk about and the grandkids all want to take him to their house. 

Hobbes And Sharon On First Walk

Sarcopenia And The ADLs

Dale Matson

Sarcopenia is a type of muscle loss (muscle atrophy) that occurs with aging and/or immobility. It is characterized by the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass, quality, and strength. The rate of muscle loss is dependent on exercise level, co-morbidities, nutrition and other factors. The muscle loss is related to changes in muscle synthesis signaling pathways. It is distinct from cachexia, in which muscle is degraded through cytokine-mediated degradation, although both conditions may co-exist. Sarcopenia is considered a component of frailty syndrome. Sarcopenia can lead to reduced quality of life and disability. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcopenia

I have been active most of my life, either because I worked in construction, or (later) competed in endurance events. At age 76 I am aware of not having the sense of balance I once had. For example, standing on a ladder is more problematic. I don’t feel as stable. My travel speed as I walk has become slower. When my wife and I are crossing the street, we barely make it across before the second count is up. We have become more intentional about this and we now walk at about 2.5-2.7 mph. We both used to walk about 4 miles per hour. Walking speed is a measure of Sarcopenia.

I have an older friend who used to bound out of a chair without using his hands into his mid-eighties. I am able to do this but have to remember not to assist myself with my hands before I get up. I have kept my weight on the lean side and I think this helps me with walking and slow jogging. I try to get at least eight thousand steps per day. I have a Garmin Fenix watch that keeps track for me. It also keeps track of my sleep hours. I am careful to get at least eight hours of sleep a night with at least four hours of deep sleep. Being older, I get up two to three times a night to go to the bathroom. It is not always easy falling back to sleep after a trip to the bathroom as it used to be. I am also careful to eat an early enough dinner to allow three hours before bed time.

I have to think about stacking so many dishes to be put away so that the weight is not too great. The grocery bags and trash cans can be a problem if they are heavy. I have to remember to make more trips from the car with groceries and one trash can at a time going down the driveway to the curb. Patience is a virtue.

I went on two multi-day backpacking trips this summer but had mules carry my backpack the whole way on one trip and to our basecamp the second trip.

Covid 19 has not stopped my outdoor hiking and only temporarily interrupted my daily weight and resistance training. I have worked back up to five unassisted pull ups. My grip strength has improved and I am back to taking stubborn lids off jars for my wife. 

I am not as confident as when I was in my fifties but think Sharon and I can remain in our home for a few more years. God is good! 

Monterey, Pacific Grove, Point Lobos And 17 Mile Drive

Dale Matson

Click On Photos To Enlarge

We were unable drive to the east side of the Sierra because the smoke was worse over there and the Inyo National Forest trails were closed because of the smoke. So…we decided to spend a couple of days (Monday/Tuesday) on the central coast. From Fresno, we went north on Highway 99 to 152 to 156 and then south on Highway One to Monterey. It takes about 2.5 to 3 hours depending on traffic. 

The town hasn’t changed much over the years and we kind of knew our way around. We parked at the city lot near Fisherman’s Wharf and headed toward the Wharf for lunch. I think it is now called “Scales” but used to be called Fisherman’s Grotto. We got nice outside seats upstairs and had clam chowder in a bread bowl. After lunch we had a chocolate desert from a candy store just on the other side of the wharf. 

We then headed to Point Lobos (the whales are currently not migrating by). Point Lobos (poison oak aside) is a huge location with lots of trails along the ocean with some going through Cypress groves. If you want to see Pelicans, this is the place, although they migrate in the winter to Baja California (Mexico).

There are also harbor seals and sea lions on the rocks with other costal birds. Many of the rocks are white with guano from the birds. 

The sound of the ocean surf reminds me of an endless lullaby. The ocean also has its own smells. Drying seaweed mixed with dead marine life. The sound helped dull my Tinnitus. It was fun to take off our shoes and socks and let the surf run up our ankles as we walked along the beach. Some folks would call this “Grounding” or “Earthing”. I love the various shades of blue and green the ocean calls forth and the waves crashing against the rocks.

We had brought a sack lunch with us from home so we had that for dinner at the historic Martine Inn in Pacific Grove. There was no coffee until breakfast at 8am so we walked up the street to the “First Awakening” coffee shop at 7am. 

After breakfast, we checked out and headed to 17-mile drive. After that we went back to the wharf in Monterey for lunch and had the same lunch had more candy at the same places again. Then we headed home to Fresno. 

Sharon On Beach At Asilomar

Lone Cypress

  

California Department of Public Health Guidance for Private Gatherings

State of California—Health and Human Services Agency
California Department of Public Health

October 9, 2020

TO:

All Californians

SUBJECT:

Guidance for Private Gatherings

Summary

This guidance provides an updated plan for Californians to gather outside their household and replaces the prior gatherings guidance issued on September 12, 2020 and March 16, 2020. It applies to private gatherings, and all other gatherings not covered by existing sector guidance are prohibited. Gatherings are defined as social situations that bring together people from different households at the same time in a single space or place.  When people from different households mix, this increases the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

Mandatory Requirements for All Gatherings

All persons planning to host or participate in a private gathering, as defined above, must comply with the following requirements. Local health jurisdictions may be more restrictive than this guidance. Refer to your local guidance for what is allowed in your area.

1.    Attendance

• Gatherings that include more than 3 households are prohibited. This includes everyone present, including hosts and guests.  Remember, the smaller the number of people, the safer.
• Keep the households that you interact with stable over time. By spending time with the same people, risk of transmission is reduced. Participating in multiple gatherings with different households or groups is strongly discouraged.
• The host should collect names of all attendees and contact information in case contact tracing is needed later.

2.    Gather Outdoors

• Gatherings that occur outdoors are significantly safer than indoor gatherings. All gatherings must be held outside. Attendees may go inside to use restrooms as long as the restrooms are frequently sanitized.
• Gatherings may occur in outdoor spaces that are covered by umbrellas, canopies, awnings, roofs, and other shade structures provided that at least three sides of the space (or 75%) are open to the outdoors.
• A gathering of no more than three households is permitted in a public park or other outdoor space, even if unrelated gatherings of other groups up to three households are also occurring in the same park or other outdoor space.  If multiple such gatherings are occurring, mixing between group gatherings is not allowed.  Additionally, multiple gatherings of three households cannot be jointly organized or coordinated to occur in the same public park or other outdoor space at the same time – this would constitute a gathering exceeding the permitted size.  

3.    Don't Attend Gatherings If You Feel Sick or You Are in a High-Risk Group

• Anyone with any COVID-19-like symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, night sweats, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, muscle or body aches, headaches, confusion, or loss of sense of taste/smell), must stay home and not come into contact with anyone outside their household.
• Anyone who develops COVID-19 within 48 hours after attending a gathering should notify the other attendees as soon as possible regarding the potential exposure.
• People at higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 (such as older adults and people with chronic medical conditions) are strongly urged not to attend any gatherings.

4.    Practice Physical Distancing and Hand Hygiene at Gatherings

• For any gatherings permitted under this guidance, the space must be large enough so that everyone at a gathering can maintain at least a 6-foot physical distance from others (not including their own household) at all times. 
• Seating must provide at least 6 feet of distance (in all directions—front-to-back and side-to-side) between different households.
• Everyone at a gathering should frequently wash their hands with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. A place to wash hands or hand sanitizer must be available for participants to use.
• Shared items should not be used during a gathering. As much as possible, any food or beverages at outdoor gatherings must be in single-serve disposable containers. If providing single-serve containers is not possible, food and beverages must be served by a person who washes or sanitizes their hands frequently, and wears a face covering. Self-serve items from communal containers should not be used.

5.   Wear a Face Covering to Keep COVID-19 from Spreading

• When gathering, face coverings must be worn in accordance with the CDPH Guidance on the Use of Face Coverings (PDF), unless an exemption is applicable.
• People at gatherings may remove their face coverings briefly to eat or drink as long as they stay at least 6 feet away from everyone outside their own household, and put their face covering back on as soon as they are done with the activity.
• Face coverings can also be removed to meet urgent medical needs (for example, to use an asthma inhaler, take medication, or if feeling light-headed).
  

6.   Keep it short

• Gatherings should be two hours or less.  The longer the duration, the risk of transmission increases.

7.   Rules for Singing, Chanting, and Shouting at Outdoor Gatherings

• Singing, chanting, shouting, and physical exertion significantly increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission because these activities increase the release of respiratory droplets and fine aerosols into the air. Because of this, singing, chanting, and shouting are strongly discouraged, but if they occur, the following rules and recommendations apply:
• All people who are singing or chanting should wear a face covering at all times while singing or chanting, including anyone who is leading a song or chant. Because these activities pose a very high risk of COVID-19 transmission, face coverings are essential to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets and fine aerosols;
• People who are singing, shouting, chanting, or exercising are strongly encouraged to maintain physical distancing beyond 6 feet to further reduce risk.
• People who are singing or chanting are strongly encouraged to do so quietly (at or below the volume of a normal speaking voice).
• Instrumental music is allowed as long as the musicians maintain at least 6-foot physical distancing. Musicians must be from one of the three households.  Playing of wind instruments (any instrument played by the mouth, such as a trumpet or clarinet) is strongly discouraged. 
  

Words Like Forbidden and Mandatory sound like this is more than Guidance. 

 

My Favorite 20 Sierra Nevada Day Hikes

Table of Contents

01. Birch Lake

02. Cattle Mountain from Mammoth Trailhead

03. Chocolate Lakes

04. Cottonwood Lakes Basin

05. Day Hike to Brainerd and Finger Lakes

06. Day Hike to Lower Horton Lake

07. Hike to San Joaquin River at Temperance Flat

08. Hike to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point

09. Lake Genevieve from the Laurel Creek Trail

10. Lower and Upper Lamarck Lakes

11. Mitchell Peak Hike

12. Mt. Whitney as a Day Hike

13. Ostrander Lake Yosemite

14. Panorama Trail to Illilouette Falls

15. Rock Creek Trail

16. Split Mountain

17. Tamarack Lakes Day Hike 

18. Treasure Lakes

19. Twenty Lakes Basin

20. Yosemite Mono Pass Hike

This Book is available on Amazon in both paperback (Black and White) and Kindle (Color) Formats

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L5P3JQD/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=dale+matson&qid=1602639330&sr=8-4 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KZ8QYQ6/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=dale+matson&qid=1602639488&sr=8-2 Paperback