First, a jolt and then we got high...twice!

Started the day very early with a 3:00 a.m. 5.1 earthquake. As earthquakes go it felt like a very long one, a series of hard shakes. I later read online that there was a swarm of them (what does that mean?!) which were centered in Keeler, (California) about 7 miles from Boulder Creek RV Resort in Lone Pine, our home this week. We both woke up long enough to say "Is that an earthquake" "Yes" and we went back to sleep. In general Californians don't get too excited about earthquakes and no, there aren't any big holes in the ground and California didn't fall into the Pacific Ocean. NOTE: when I started this entry there had been one quake, since then there have been at least five more strong ones and dozens of tiny ones that we haven't felt! On my Facebook page everyone is saying "you need to get the h*** out of there!

We drove up to Mt Whitney's Portal. Elevation at the Portal where hikers take off to hike up to Mt Whitney's peak is 8,365 feet. Of course, you know us, we didn't hike the additional 6,000+ feet to reach the top of the 14,496' peak--highest point in the contiguous U.S. And, knowing us, you know that we ate...the Whitney Portal Store has good burgers and delicious fries!

We did take a short hike up to the sparkling waterfall. The water was SO cold that there are icicles on the branches hanging over the water! BRRR.

We'd noticed Horseshoe Meadow on the map so when we got back down from Portal we went to explore. My oh my, 15 miles of switch-backs! When/if I dared look down my stomach took a real turn! So I didn't! Switch-back upon switch-back until we reached Horseshoe Meadow which has an elevation of 10,060'. Could definitely feel the lack of oxygen there!

At both Portal and Horseshoe Meadow we took this sign very seriously...kept looking over our shoulders. But, no we didn't see any bears.