GALLERY
Mariposa County Trails Day Mariposa County Trails Day is a project to celebrate our Mariposa trails and rural lifestyle.
June 3, the first Saturday in June, is the for the second annual event. We will be showcasing our trails near and in town, the Mariposa Creek Parkway and the Stockton Creek Preserve. We want to develop a culture of exploring the outdoors in a broad way including hiking, horseback riding, non-motorized cycling, and rivers.
Mariposa County Trails Day 2022
Mountain Majesty
"Unlike Southern California, where it’s pretty much an endless summer year round, Mariposa has four seasons. This poem came to me on one of those perfect fall days." Wendy Brown, local Mariposa Poet and a community volunteer for Mariposa Mountain Riders
Mountain Majesty
poem by Wendy Brown
We left the house real early,
Before the sun came up.
Both horses in the trailer,
And all our campin’ stuff.
For Granite Creek we’re headed,
To spend some time alone.
With the dogs and horses,
Where there ain’t no telephones.
So with big smiles upon our faces,
We headed up the road.
Past Jones’ little country store,
And a rock shaped like a globe.
But we just kept on drivin’,
Till we got to Granite Creek.
A way up where the sky’s so blue,
‘Bout seven thousand feet.
The water shone like diamonds,
And rushed past with a roar.
Sounds of Nature all around us,
Oh, who could ask for more?
Jobs, TV and radio,
Had all been left behind.
Just lookin’ for some solitude,
And a little peace of mind.
So with lots of care and forethought,
We loaded up our packs.
Everything we needed,
We carried on our backs
With horses fully loaded,
Two dogs rounding out our team.
This time they carried their own packs,
They love the campin’ scene.
Up Isberg Trail we headed,
Through a place they call The Niche.
Now the passing’s easy,
but it used to be a bitch.
The trail crew had been busy,
with dynamite and stuff.
To make the crossing better,
so it wouldn’t be so tough.
The trail wound along the creek,
As we struck for Cora Lake.
All the time a wonderin’,
What we forgot to take.
But luckily to our surprise,
We didn’t forget a thing.
The flowers all were bloomin’,
Up there it was like Spring.
We didn’t get to Sadler Lake,
That’s where we’d meant to go.
So we pitched our tent at Cora,
Cause there was too much snow.
The mosquitoes swarmed like buzzards,
As they circled overhead.
They drove us all bananas,
And we wished they all were dead.
Mountain Majesty (continue)
But we learned to live among ‘em,
It became part of the routine.
There must be a reason for ‘em,
In Mother Nature’s scheme.
Next morning after breakfast,
We struck for Surprise Saddle.
Over logs and rocks and snow banks,
It really was a battle.
Past old Chetwood Cabin,
It’s laying on the ground.
Some big trees fell upon it,
Now that must have been a sound.
Meadows filled with wildflowers,
Shooting Stars two feet high.
Lots of water all around,
And a mighty pretty sky.
When we got a top the ridge,
And gazed upon the view.
The San Joaquin below us,
A vision seen by few
Lookin’ down on an eagle,
Oh, what a sight to see.
Two hundred feet below us,
A flyin’ wild and free.
Minarets across the canyon,
Still covered all in snow.
The clouds upon our shoulders,
The river far below.
We were so awe inspired,
By the hugeness of it all.
We gazed around in wonder,
Feeling very, very small.
Two days we spent at Cora,
Just goin’ with the flow.
Enjoyin’ outdoor cookin’,
And Mother Nature’s show.
The time passed all too quickly,
And soon we had to go.
The horses stepped out smartly,
And then we were below.
Leaving snow capped peaks behind us,
The dogs leading with their packs.
Lookin’ forward to the base camp,
And a chance to relax.
The beer was cold and frosty,
It went down pretty fine.
We cooled off in the creek,
And lost all track of time.
A good night’s sleep was not to happen,
And we really had a scare.
At three A.M. we were awakened,
By the passing of a bear.
The horses spooked and bolted,
Reno tangled in her rope.
She got some burns upon her legs,
And I could only hope;
That she wouldn’t be hurt badly,
And that quickly she would heal.
The wounds were superficial,
And not too big a deal.
So we counted ourselves lucky,
As we headed down the hill.
With lots of special memories,
We carry with us still.
So if ya need some inspiration,
And your Spirits need a rise.
Forget about the rat race,
And try a mountain on for size!