Dave and Jan enjoyed a camping trip in the “Smoky Mountains” of California the first two weeks of August – at a time when it seemed as if the entire state of California was on fire.  The plan was to camp near special ministry friends, Dr. David and Suzy Bancroft, who chose Silver Lake on the June Lake Loop (north of Mammoth) as a destination.  The Bancrofts arrived earlier and arranged for a camp site for Dave and Jan, but a rain storm and mud slide in the area of the campground closed that option the night before their arrival.  So Dave and Jan headed for Convict Lake – an area south of Mammoth Lakes which was a little less smoky.

Though camp sites at the lake are normally available for only one week, the camp host kindly extended their creek-side stay for all but one night of their two-week trip.

Dave and Jan made several trips to Silver Lake where the Bancrofts treated them to some special meals which Suzy prepared in their travel trailer.  The drives were sometimes very smoky, with miles of dark highways on their return trips, but the food and fellowship was very rewarding – along with some enjoyable games in the evenings.

Convict Lake is a beautiful area in the Sierras, and there were deer to enjoy every day in the campground – frequently in Dave and Jan’s campsite.  Jan also caught a glimpse of a racoon which got into their cooler one evening and ate two pieces of carrot cake.

The first hiking outing took place at Mosquito Flat which is located up the mountain to the west from “Tom’s Place” at an elevation of around 10,000 feet.  At that elevation the air was fairly clear of smoke.

The next day the Balsleys and Bancrofts took the shuttle down to Red Meadow for a hike to Rainbow Falls.  Here is a picture of David and Suzy on the trail.

During the visit to Rainbow Falls we did something to our camera which created a blue tint to the pictures taken there – but you get the idea.

Dr. Bancroft and Dave both had bikes along, so Dave rode up the Mammoth Bike Path to meet Dr. Bancroft (who took the uphill ride with his bike on the back of Dave and Jan’s car) so the two men could enjoy the five-mile ride down the paved bike trail back to Mammoth (where the ladies were shopping at a thrift store).  The bike path is very scenic, passing several lakes along the way – including Twin Lakes and Lake Mary.

On Sunday (August 5) Dave and Jan attended worship at Mammoth Community Church with the Bancrofts.  The next day they hiked around Rock Creek Lake (west of “Tom’s Place”) while the Bancrofts dealt with some electrical challenges with their camping trailer.

A bold little Golden-Mantled Squirrel insisted on sharing lunch with Dave and Jan at their picnic table at Rock Creek Lake.

The time with the Bancrofts ended on Tuesday (August 7) with a walk around Convict Lake – surrounded as it is with impressive peaks and very interesting folding and coloration in the rocks on the west side of the lake.

Dave and Jan continued in the area for another week (another blog) before heading back to Southern California, but they had a very enjoyable time with the Bancrofts in a region of amazing beauty and variety in the “Smoky Mountains” of California.  Camping trips are almost always a spiritual high for Dave and Jan in view of their relationship with the Creator!  As the song-writer expressed it, “Heaven above is softer blue, earth around is sweeter green.  Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen.”