Rock Creek Lodge

Eastern Sierra Art at Coons Gallery

2011-11-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

Just in case anyone might be in the area and interested in some great Eastern Sierra art...

Note that you must RSVP to attend the reception. Here's the Web site with info and images of the paintings they have for sale:
http://www.coonsgallery.com/

Fall Colors

2011-10-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

On my way home from Mammoth last weekend, I made a brief detour up Rock Creek to see the fall colors. The aspens near Upper Pine Grove and Lower Corral ranged from yellow to orange, and I could see a small spot up the side of Wheeler Ridge that was already red.

Near Upper Pine Grove

Wheeler Ridge

Near the cabin at Lower Corral

The rabbitbrush blanketing the Owens Valley was too gorgeous to simply drive past, so I also pulled over in Olancha and had a brief conversation with the cows about what a perfect day it was.

Olancha

A few familiar faces

2011-10-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

I joined my parents in Mammoth over this past weekend so that we could attend the memorial service / barbecue for Herb London in Bishop on Saturday. It was an absolutely gorgeous day filled with music, laughter, and great storytelling. I'm sure Herb would have approved. I had the pleasure of catching up with a few old friends, so I thought I'd share the handful of photos I took...

Jim Brumfield & me

Leonard Hunsicker & me

Kib Roby & Ginny Hunsicker

Ginny & Leonard

One of America's most beautiful highways

2011-09-20T09:48:00.000-07:00

Cattle in a field in Lone Pine graze below the magnificent range of the High Sierras in California. In middle right of range is Mount Whitney, the Old One, with its two twin spires on the left of the peak. Betsey Bruner/Arizona Daily Sun

BETSEY BRUNER Arts & Culture Editor
Arizona Daily Sun | azdailysun.com
Posted: Sunday, September 18, 2011 5:00 am

When my Phoenix cousin, Brad, asked me to photograph his wedding this summer in Lake Tahoe, Calif., I jumped at the chance for a family reunion, and a road trip.

Planning my route, I decided to get to there via U.S. Route 395 in California, a highway I have long considered one of the most stunning in our country.

A JOURNEY FOR DAD

I also had sentimental reasons for picking that route: My dad, William, who died last July at age 97, had spent many summers in his late teens and later in life hiking and camping in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, which many nickname the High Sierras or the Sierras.

He had also climbed Mount Whitney, which, at an elevation of 14, 505 feet, is the highest mountain in the contiguous United States. The Paiute Indian Tribe had called it the Old Man or the Old One, a fitting name for a stately and dramatic peak.

The steep Sierra Escarpment on the east side of the range parallels the highway for miles and is a huge fault-block created in the Cretaceous Period (145.5-65.5 million years ago) as a molten rock mass rearing up sharply from the west to the east.

The result is a drive with amazing views for hours of lovely, jagged peaks, so it is not surprising this section of the highway is called the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway. The byway identifies 23 scenic turnouts and interpretive displays from Topaz Lake in north Mono County to Little Lake in southern Inyo County.

The highway also serves as a connection to the Los Angeles area for the communities of the Owens Valley, Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake and is used as an access for both the highest point in the U.S., Mount Whitney, and the lowest point in North America, Death Valley.

RIDING THE RAILS

Probably the best sightings by car of the granite face of Mount Whitney are from the little town of Lone Pine, whose Whitney Portal (8,360 feet) at the west of the town is the preferred trail and gateway to an ascent of Whitney.

This was the way my dad always went, with his pal, Warren, as they escaped a Los Angeles suffering from the effects of the Great Depression.

They "rode the rails" from L.A., hopping into a passing train without paying, almost like the so-called hobos or homeless vagabonds.

They would probably have to hitch a ride on car or truck from the east-west train line in the Mojave to get to the road north to the Sierra.

Carrying only blanket bedrolls, thin jackets and canvas backpacks, they supplied themselves with slab bacon, canned goods like milk and even carrots and eggs.

They picked up mules at the old mule station at Whitney Portal, and lived for a few months on trout they caught in the many lakes up high.

Mount Whitney, with an elevation of 14,505 feet, is the highest summit in the contiguous United States. As seen from the east side, the two distinctive needles make it easier to spot as it looms just over two miles above the town of Lone Pine in the Owens Valley below. The ancient and worn Alabama Hills are in the foreground. Betsey Bruner/Arizona Daily Sun

MUCH LOCAL HISTORY

Mount Whitney is still considered a challenging but manageable climb for amateurs (with training) and professionals alike, and the little towns below -- Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine and Bishop, the largest city in the Owens Valley -- offer good eats and cozy places to stay, some with wonderful views of the magnificent mountain range. The range is also part of the larger John Muir Trail, another very popular backpacking route.

Also visible surrounding Lone Pine are the Alabama Hills, the ancient weathered hills of metamorphosed volcanic rock that are about 200 million years old, as compared to the 90-million-year-old granite of the Sierra Nevada range rising sharply behind.

The corridor going through these little towns has been used since the California gold rush. Before our highways were numbered, it was known by several names including El Camino Sierra.

After leaving Kramer Junction on SR 58 in the Mojave Desert and climbing up to higher elevations, travelers can stop at Randsburg, dubbed a living ghost town, for evidence these gold rush days.

The living ghost town of Randsburg (population 69) is in Kern County, Calif., just off U.S. Route 395 as it climbs out of the flatlands near Kramer Junction heading north to the Sierra Nevada or High Sierra mountain range. Gold was discovered at Rand Mine near the site in 1895. It's a fun spot to stop and stretch and even has some places to eat and sleep. Betsey Bruner/Arizona Daily Sun

MANY GREAT STOPS

Randsburg is just one of many very fun sojourns possible as one drives along Highway 395. Other stops include a high concentration of natural hot springs along the way, the Manzanar National Historic Site, a internment camp where Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II (near Independence), and, one of the best destinations in the vicinity, Mono Lake.

The lake is located northwest of Bishop as Highway 395 climbs up more than 3,000 feet in elevation, past Crowley Lake, Mammoth Lakes, June and Grant lakes and the community of Lee Vining.

Dating back at least 760,000 years ago, it is a terminal lake in a basin that has no outlet, so that dissolved salts make the lake very alkaline and saline. In fact, Mono Lake has nearly three times the concentration of salt as the ocean.

There is a state-of-the-art visitor center there with many displays to illuminate the story of the lake, including information about the unique and lovely tufa or limestone formations dotting the lake.

GREAT WATER WARS

The ecology of Mono Lake was threatened when Los Angeles extended the Los Angeles Aqueduct system farther upriver into the Mono Basin.

The original system was completed in 1913 when water was diverted from the Owens River, ultimately providing half of the water for Los Angeles and robbing farmers and ranchers of land and water.

This act incited the California Water Wars, a fierce and long-running episode in history, which also inspired the 1974 film "Chinatown."

Highway 395 briefly crosses over into Nevada, where one can cross back over to California on one of the connecting highways at Gardnerville or Minden, and on to South Lake Tahoe, my ultimate destination.

Betsey Bruner can be reached at bbruner@azdailysun.com or 556-2255.

Squirrel!

2011-08-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

I think anyone who spent time at Rock Creek as a child remembers playing with the ground squirrels. Well, Jim Bull shared this story, with photos...

"One of the years we were up, I was bored and fascinated by the number of ground squirrels digging everything up all over the place, so I set up a trap near the shower house and caught a pair of them in short order, then built a box with the help of Ron Clark and somebody on staff, to take them back south to Claremont, where they lived for about 2 years. Only problem was they did not hibernate as was their normal process and eventually died from the heat or something else."

In front of Cabin 7

At home in Claremont

And what a great Rock Creek kind of mom!

More Bull Family Photos: Early 1960s

2011-08-24T15:59:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to find another message in my inbox with photos from Jim Bull, Jr. More iconic images from the early 1960s! The last photo Jim sent was of his brother Ben, his mother Libby, and Jim sitting in front of the store. Now we get to meet the photographer, Jim Bull, Sr. Here we have my dad Kib, Jim Jr., Ben, and their dad Jim Bull, Sr.:

And what was always one of the most fun events at the Lodge? Fish truck day! I can't tell you how many people still talk about how much fun they had riding the truck, carrying the sloshing buckets, or watching the fish stream from the truck into the pool near the upper bridge.

The man standing on the truck in this image is Charlie McNeil, and that's my dad again in the plaid shirt to the right of it. Libby and Ben Bull are on the far right in front of the Lobby. Does anyone know who the others might be? (Click on the photo to see it full-size.)

Here's much of the same crowd at the dumping spot:

A huge thanks to Jim for sending these along - they made my day. There are details I had completely forgotten about. Remember the red box on the porch of the lobby? It held Forest Service tools (axes, etc.) at the ready in case of fire. And who remembers the banner across the road? My parents did not!

Side Trip to Mammoth Lakes

2011-06-10T11:03:00.000-07:00

I apologize for not posting anything here for such a long time; I've been too busy with other projects.

Since I enjoyed this brief story posted on Dave McCoy's blog about the owners of another Eastern Sierra lodge, I thought I'd share it here. Many of you who have visited the Mammoth Lakes area in addition to Rock Creek might have crossed paths with Bob Schotz or visited his Woods Lodge at Lake George. As you'll see in the blog post, he also built several prominent buildings around Mammoth.

Anyway, click here to see their story and photos.

You might also want to poke around in some of Dave McCoy's other posts; he's been sharing a lot of historic photos of Mammoth Mountain and the area in general, in addition to his own recent photography.

Enjoy!

Memorial Services for Herb London

2011-04-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

Craig London has passed along information about the two services that will be held for Herb in Ojai and Bishop. Please click here to visit the memorial page with details.

Herb London

2011-04-01T09:53:00.000-07:00

Rock Creek has lost one of its great personalities. I got word this morning that Herb London has died. He was a huge presence in my life at Rock Creek and it's difficult to think that he is gone. I'm sure most everyone has some personal memory of him, from seeing him at the Pack Station to sitting in the lobby at the Lodge listening to his stories. The most vivid image I always recall is seeing him at Lower Corral, an Airedale or two never far from his side. Rock Creek and all the people who love it will miss you, Herb. Craig, our thoughts are with you.

Here's an article from Sierra Wave:

Remembering Herb London of Inyo and Ojai

Written by Benett Kessler
Thursday, 31 March 2011 20:35

For some ten years back in the 60s and 70s, Herb London sat on the Inyo Board of Supervisors. He was a no nonsense, down to earth, straight talking man who was passionate about proper public planning and wilderness, and he was a story teller extraordinaire. London died Wednesday morning at his home in Ojai with his family and his dog Gus at his side. He was 92.

London was not a man of pretense. His son, Craig London of Bishop said his Dad was a very basic person. "He never bought anything just because if was new." London's Bishop home was simple and adequate. It looked like part of the land.

London sat on the Inyo Supervisors between 1964 and 1977. He was there when Inyo filed an environmental lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles over groundwater pumping. He opposed a road to Horseshoe Meadows. His son said London "didn't want uncontrolled growth."

John K. Smith, Inyo County's administrator for 30 years, said that London was "one of our better board members. He had a way of evaluating a problem and coming up with a real sensible conclusion." On the personal side, Smith and London made trips to Sacramento together. Smith said, "He was enjoyable to travel with. As a packer, he had a lot of stories. He was constantly entertaining."

London grew up around Glendale, graduated from UCLA with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He worked for American Airlines and was active in the Military Air Transport in World War II.

Herb and wife Marjorie and others bought Rock Creek Pack Station in 1947. They eventually bought out the other partners and operated the pack station for over 50 years. Craig London continues to run the business.

Family said London was responsible for creating the Millpond Recreation Center and fought for Wilderness that provided access to all types of people. He was one of the founders of Bishop Mule Days.

Herb is survived by his wife Aleta, his son Craig and wife Carmen and his loyal Airedale, Gus. Memorial gatherings in both Ojai and Bishop will be scheduled at a later date. For those who want to remember Herb, a memorial fund for trail maintenance on the Mono Pass Trail will be established in conjunction with the Sierra National Forest; or donate to any animal-based charity.

Note: the photo above was later replaced on the Sierra Wave site with the one below, so I'm adding it here too. Not the Herb we were used to seeing at Rock Creek, but a great photo of him.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T12:30:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a very
Merry Christmas!

~ The Roby Family

These photos are from my Grandfather Richard Roby's collection of slides, dated 1961, probably when they opened for the season.

Mancuso Brothers at Rock Creek

2010-12-08T14:08:00.000-08:00

Joe Mancuso just shared these photos with me, so I thought I'd share them with all of you. He and his brother Carl visited the Lodge in November...

View from the upper bridge

Carl enjoys the autumn sun

Dining Room in snow

And as usual, Joe's talents perfectly capture the Lodge...

Late Season Lodge 8x10 oil

Thanks for letting me share, Joe!

A Different View of Rock Creek

2010-09-27T16:49:00.000-07:00

I ran across a trip report by someone who rode their mountain bike up the road and then down the Sand Canyon trail along Wheeler Ridge. Thought you might enjoy the photos too (click on "trip report"). This is a nice one of the store...

Roby Invasion at Rock Creek

2010-07-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

We Robys have a reunion with extended family every three years. This year my mom and I were in charge of organizing it, so naturally we chose to hold it in Mammoth Lakes. This was fortuitous for many members of the family who had not been to the Lodge in many years—and for those who had never been there, even though they'd heard stories about it all their lives.

Craig London graciously allowed us to park our caravan at the Lower Corral and I stood on the cabin porch to share a brief outline of the Roby history at Rock Creek.

Photo courtesy of Martha Roby Bader.

We managed to gather almost everyone for a group shot in front of the store.

Note: included in this group are Bob Clark's three kids and one grandson with their spouses, and three of his nieces & nephews with their families—I have noted previously that he built and repaired some of the buildings.

Below are four of the Robys present: Martha, who made an appearance as a little girl in my last post, my cousin David Roby (Jim's son), and of course me and my dad.

We toured the Lodge grounds and shared a few stories before heading up to Rock Creek Lake to spend some time playing in the water.

As you can see, it was one of those perfect July days. It was nice that the canyon welcomed all of us back so generously.

View from the Lower Bridge

2010-07-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

My great-grandmother, Clara Roby, was a photographer. She had her own darkroom and produced beautiful, professional-quality images of her children and grandchildren throughout their lives. Naturally, she also photographed Rock Creek when they were there. This photo was taken from the lower bridge sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s. You can click on it to view it larger. In the lower right corner, you can see my aunt Martha just above the rocks, and my dad standing next to the tree further downstream. We're not sure if the fisherman by the logs is my grandfather or someone unrelated. Those of you who have spent time there know how little this scene has changed in all these years.

Old Postcard

2010-06-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

First, I apologize for the long absence here. I got distracted with other things and didn't realize how long it's been since I posted. Here's something quick to share. I just bought this postcard...

If you can make out the handwriting, it says, "Mack's Lake, Rock Creek Basin, Near Rock Creek Lakes Store" and it is a Frashers Foto. What's amusing is that this is not Mack Lake! For those of you who have been there, you might recognize that this is actually Serene Lake. Frasher somehow mislabeled the image. The postcard was never mailed (unless it was sent in an envelope), but someone did write a brief note on it:

"North of camp. We are right near this Lake so Elmer can launch his boat." So whoever wrote this also failed to notice this is not actually "Mack's" Lake. We Robys got a good chuckle envisioning Elmer trying to get his boat to Serene. We suppose it's possible, but certainly not as easy as getting one to Mack would have been. In the early days, you could drive there.

I'm sure this person and Elmer ended up having a wonderful time, regardless of which lake they were near.

Speaking of 1969...

2010-04-22T16:14:00.000-07:00

Check out this snow bunny! Ha! Just ran across this in a box of old photos.

Yes, this is me on June 9, 1969, according to the handwriting on the back, which looks like my Grandpa Clarence's (Mom's dad). He was obviously there helping to open as usual (and this particular year, rebuild buildings). So when did I make my first appearance at Rock Creek?

Two years earlier, in 1967, when I was just months old. Looks like a proud Papa, huh? And I look as if I'm still trying to figure out where I am. Mom will show me around...

By later that summer, I seem to have settled in...

And by the next year, 1968, I own the place! Look out, here I come...

"I like it here, Daddy!"

In 1971, I am Susie Homemaker, busy with one of my favorite activities, making mud pies.

"Coffee, anyone?"

But wait... now there's someone else hogging the sandbox! One-year-old Kib Jr. interrupts my peace...

and it seems he's decided he likes it here too. (Or is that a scream?)

And this is how it was for the next few years until we were allowed to roam on our own. We spent countless hours in this sandbox and on the slide that dumped into it. And throughout the summer, a stream of other children joined us there. I can almost still taste that wonderful dirt.

Winter Makes a Statement

2010-04-09T15:31:00.000-07:00

Originally, the Lodge was open only during the summer months. My dad and a helper or two would head up in May to do all the preparation necessary to open the cabins, store, and dining room for our summer guests. Surprisingly, for all the years our family owned the place, little damage occurred while it sat unoccupied through the winter.

But 1969 was different. It was a year of record snowfall, and my dad arrived to find that the unusually deep, heavy snow had caved in the roofs of the kitchen/dining room and my parents' cabin. This would require a bit more work than expected! But with the help of Uncle Bob Clark, the buildings were quickly repaired and life went on as usual. (I should note that someone had the wisdom to use metal roofing that would better shed the snow in the future.) I recently ran across these photos of the damage:

the dining room side

the kitchen side

ripped the cabin apart!

P.S. I thought this was amusing when I was talking to my dad about this recently... apparently someone from the Forest Service informed him that our buildings had been damaged. His response was that he was well aware of that fact because he had already repaired them! Were they seriously thinking they were being helpful? Or were they hoping to hear that we would not rebuild?

Historic Photos Restored!

2010-03-13T15:37:00.000-08:00

Before the exciting visual part, a bit of history. When we sold the Lodge, my dad allowed us to take only a few things; we had sold the place "as is," which included furniture, linens, etc. This was difficult for me, because I knew that many of the furnishings had come from family members' homes over the years. How to leave behind all that personal history (even if my dad, and probably others, considered it junk)?

I carefully selected and negotiated so that I could have the most significant things to forever remind me of my home. Remember the old hand-tinted photos that hung in the Lobby? They were at the top of my list. The one most people probably recall was hanging over the fireplace, with the antlers. It was of Serene Lake. In fact, here it is with us Robys (early 1980s). The other two were of Box Lake and Mono Pass.

For all these years they were stored at my parents' house, but a few months ago they started nagging at me and I had my mom unearth them. Boy, were they in worse shape than we remembered! Over forty years of fireplace smoke and neglect had really taken a toll. Chris and I debated what to do about it and ultimately decided that since they probably couldn't get any worse, we would ask the guy who cleans paintings for us see what he could do with them. Well... we could not believe our eyes. Here are the results! (Click on the images to view them full-size.)

Serene Lake, "before"

Serene Lake, "after"

Box Lake, "before"

Box Lake, "after"

Mono Pass, "after"
(we didn't take a "before" of this one because it was not as damaged)

All three of these photos were taken by the renowned Burton Frasher, which helped me identify what year this one of Mono Pass was taken. We collect Frasher postcards, so I knew the Pomona Public Library has a collection online. Sure enough, look what I found there...

"On Mono Pass Overlooking Rock Creek Basin "

Courtesy, Frasher Foto Postcard Collection, Pomona Public Library

That's Burton Frasher with his camera. By closely comparing the patches of snow, we quickly concluded that our photo was taken during this very photography session, in 1927! I haven't run across the other two yet, so their origin remains a mystery. I guess we can assume they were taken during a similar time period. My dad is pretty sure all of them were already at the Lodge when my grandparents bought it in 1947.

Isn't this fun?!

If you're interested in photography, I highly recommend visiting the online Frasher Foto Postcard Collection. There are over 5,000 images, including many fantastic Sierra scenes. You can narrow the results by choosing decades or using search terms (like Rock Creek). This page provides a biography and description of his amazing career.

Needless to say, I am thrilled to have this part of my history back in my life and I hope you have enjoyed this "before" and "after" tale.

1900s Photos on eBay

2010-03-09T20:07:00.000-08:00

Wow! Someone is currently selling over 30 photos of "cowboys" or packers in the backcountry, like the one above, and other scenes around the Bishop/Mammoth area taken in the very early 1900s. The information is not any more specific than that, but Devil's Postpile is certainly recognizable, as you can see below. Some of you may be able to identify other locations. Just thought I'd share in case anyone wants to take a peek before they sell (too pricy for me). The auctions end in four days, so be quick! Enjoy...

http://shop.ebay.com/amdatial/m.html?_nkw=1900%27s+sierra&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3911.m270.l1313&_sop=12&_odkw=1900%27s+sierra&_osacat=0

A Photo to Share

2010-02-13T11:20:00.000-08:00

I am happy to say that this humble little blog is starting to fulfill its purpose (hurray!). I was contacted this week by Jim Bull, Jr., whose family stayed in Cabin 7 at the Lodge in the 1950s and '60s. He ran across the blog and sent this wonderful photo taken in front of the store in 1961 or '62.

Left to right: brother Ben Bull, mother Libby Bull, and Jim Bull, Jr.

The photo was taken by his dad, Jim Bull, Sr.

Jim, thank you so much for sharing. I love hearing about people's experiences and comparing notes on who remembers what (or not!).

I also received a message from Tina (Ferrara) Trotta, who says she visits the blog regularly and enjoys the photos, new and vintage. Like so many others, she grew up visiting Rock Creek and continues to; she even ran into my parents on the trail in Little Lakes Valley a couple years ago. Thanks for contacting me, Tina; it was fun catching up.

I am so pleased that others are enjoying this virtual trip down memory lane. Anyone else out there ready to share?...

Sierra Splendor

2010-01-27T11:23:00.000-08:00

I realized I haven't posted anything in a while, so I thought I'd share a couple photos taken on December 28. I shot these from the car as we were heading south in the early morning after a trip to Mammoth. This kind of scenery is what makes it so difficult to leave!

Mount Tom

Sierra crest, west of Bishop

Ria Harboe Art in Washington

2009-12-04T20:04:00.000-08:00

Those of you who spent time at the lodge in the early 80s may remember Ria Harboe. She is now living in Washington state and we reconnected recently via e-mail. She sent out this announcement about a showing of her art at a restaurant in Bellingham, WA, so I thought I'd share it here in case anyone lives in the area or might be traveling that way. (The restaurant itself sounds like a great place.)

You can also view some of her gorgeous paintings and sculpture on her Web site. It's really nice to see how some of our fellow Rock Creekers have gone on to pursue their passions. Ria, thanks for sharing your talent!

Hot Off the Easel at the Lodge

2009-10-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

Joe Mancuso has been up at Rock Creek this week, painting en plein air in spite of the cold weather. I thought I'd share the paintings he posted on his blog, Painting Every Day.

A Chance of Snow 8x6 Oil

October 4: "While this image is being posted, it is snowing outside my cabin. This was painted yesterday in the high sierras of California. There have been very few times that it has been as cold while I've painted on location. The wind was blowing and the weather forecast was calling for a chance of snow. I loved it. This morning I awoke to snow on the ground. A treat for this southern Californian. This piece is available at Rock Creek Lodge."

October Snow 6x8 Oil

October 7: "Last Monday morning, I awoke to a temperature of 8 degrees. It had warmed up to a balmy 17 by the time I began painting this piece. Although there have been times when it can be too much to deal with, I enjoy painting in extreme weather conditions because it is part of the excitement of working on location. I love to see if I can capture the moment. This piece is available at Rock Creek Lodge."

Rock Creek in the Gilroy Dispatch

2009-08-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

Just ran across this article on the Gilroy Dispatch Web site...

Getting out: The eastern Sierra Nevada

Aug 20, 2009
By Ron Erskine

There are countless places to take in breathtaking views when visiting the eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range. Photo by: Ron Erskine

If you travel the world in search of grand mountain scenery - the Alps, the Andes, the Himalayas - you will see nothing more spectacular than the views available from your car window in the eastern Sierra Nevada.

This is not chamber of commerce hyperbole. Between Bridgeport in the north and Lone Pine in the south, U.S. Highway 395 traces the eastern escarpment of the Sierra. The mountain range has risen abruptly along faults in the east resulting in a profile that tilts gently to the west and drops dramatically to the east. So, as you drive Highway 395, peaks rising 10,000 feet above you appear nearly within reach.

The first time I drove this road, it was a revelation. Until that time, my adventures in the Sierra had been on the gentle western slope. When I finally saw such monumental topography in the mountain range I thought I knew, I was astounded. How could I have lived nearly my entire life in this state and not know this was here?

There is a catch however - it's a bit of a drive. Tioga Pass through Yosemite and the next pass north, Sonora Pass, are beautiful roads, but twisting and slow, and they are closed in winter. So, as you face the six-hour drive to the Lee Vining and Mono Lake, remember what's in store, then go to your "happy place" knowing that several RV's will be modulating your pace along the way.

There are many guidebooks and natural history books about the east side, but the one essential item you need is AAA's "Guide to the Eastern Sierra." In its folds are four large maps detailing sections of Highway 395 and the various spur roads that turn off the highway to Sierra trailheads. It also lists campgrounds, fishing information, and points of information. There are countless places to visit and a lifetime of exploring to do, so let's get started.

After five hours, you will finally reach Tioga Pass and the 9,941-foot Sierra crest. Here will be your introduction to the steep eastern escarpment. In the next 10 minutes and six miles, you will descend very steeply to the town of Lee Vining, losing much of the elevation it has taken so long to gain.

In Lee Vining, visit the Mono Lake Committee bookstore and information center, and a couple miles north of town, the Mono Lake Visitor Center. The Mono Lake Committee led the fight to save Mono Lake, and from its great selection of books, you can find the right one to guide your explorations. The Mono Lake Visitor Center commands a wonderful view of the lake and also has a great selection of local guidebooks.

Each spur road off of Highway 395 into the mountains is a doorway to true wonders, but one stands above all for easy access to stunning scenery. Fifteen miles south of Mammoth Lakes is Tom's Place. Leave Highway 395 here and drive 11 miles up lovely Rock Creek to the 10,255-foot Mosquito Flat trailhead at the end of the road. This is the entrance to Little Lakes Valley and one of the most spectacularly scenic areas anywhere. After walking up a short rise, breathtaking views appear up the valley to Bear Creek Spire and Mount Abbot (both are roughly 13,700 -feet tall).

Take the easy walk along this chain of lakes as far as your stamina permits. Looking up at the magnificent peaks or down at the changing lakes and the cascades that link them, every step is truly magical.

Your exploration of the east side has begun. There's a lot left to do, and that's good news.

Ron Erskine writes an outdoors column every Friday for the Dispatch. He can be reached at ronfoxtail@msn.com.

http://www.gilroydispatch.com/sports/258653-getting-out-the-eastern-sierra-nevada

Robys in Mammoth/Rock Creek

2009-08-23T16:14:00.001-07:00

As mentioned in my last post, my parents and I went to Mammoth for a brief visit at the beginning of August. Our first morning we canoed around Lake Mary in the old blue and white canoe from the lodge. Yes, it still gets occasional use, but it's getting heavier and heavier the older we get, so I'm not sure we'll be using it much longer. This is Rusty, keeping a close watch on the paddles; he was determined to catch one of those darn things.

A few years ago my parents switched to kayaking. So much lighter and easier to transport! I got to test-drive my dad's at Twin Lakes while he stayed on shore. As you can see, Mom is an old pro in hers.

Saturday night the Von Rohr family (3 generations) joined us for dinner at Slocums. Naturally, there was nonstop reminiscing about "the good old days." And it sounds as if Eric and Mark are doing a great job introducing Eric's kids to all the things we used to do together, even rebuilding our forts.

We finally got our dose of Rock Creek on Sunday. With two aging and unpredictable dogs in tow, we decided that a quick jaunt to Serene would be enough (I have carried 30-lb. Rusty down the McGee Creek trail—not fun). Serene is still one of the most vivid places in my memories, but none of us had been there in ages. As expected, nothing has changed; it still lives up to its name...

We circled the lake and then simply enjoyed the tranquility for a while.

Afterward we did a brief cruise of Mosquito Flats and around the lake, then headed to the Lake Store for pie. YUM. We also drove through the lodge grounds and stopped briefly to say hello again to the Von Rohrs. We checked out the changes in Cabin 11. Different, but nice. I was pleased to see a painting by Joe Mancuso on the wall.

Every time I go back it does get easier, but it still wrenches emotions. Every square inch of the grounds and beyond holds so many memories and they all suddenly come rushing back. It's amazing how minute details from 30+ years ago can remain burned so clearly in one's mind.

As we were driving out, I remarked how much the meadow has returned to forest. Remember when it was just open grass, filled with shooting stars?

Long time no see...

2009-08-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

Any of you who spent a good deal of time at the lodge over the years likely remembers Leonard Hunsicker. He was officially an employee in 1972, 1975, and 1978, but he spent much more time than that helping us out through the years. When he met his bride-to-be, Ginny Bruce, she also worked at the lodge in 1985. Seems to me the wedding occurred (in Mammoth) around 1988.

They lived in Mammoth for many years, but also spent some time in Colorado. Now they're back in the Eastern Sierra, in Independence. My parents discovered that they were working at a restaurant there called Hooligans, so on our caravan to Mammoth last week, we stopped for lunch to say hello. None of us can even remember the last time I'd seen them. Let's just say it's been way too long. Of course, none of us has changed a bit!

So... if you are headed through Independence any time soon, you now know where to stop for an excellent meal. Hooligans is across the street from the court house. With Leonard as chef and Ginny as server, you can't go wrong. Our lunch on the shaded patio was delicious and a nice respite from the road. And it's always fun to see familiar faces from the past...

The Von Rohr Family

2009-06-19T10:05:00.001-07:00

Some of you who stop by this site may recognize members of this family if you've spent as much time at Rock Creek over the years as they have. The Von Rohr family's history with Rock Creek is even longer than the Roby family's. My dad and Ken have known each other since they were boys. Kibby and I grew up with his sons, Eric and Mark. We always looked forward to their arrival for their annual visit and never failed to find creative ways to entertain ourselves. (To protect the innocent or not-so-innocent, I will say no more.) And I still have vivid memories of my parents and Ken and Connie laughing so hard they were crying as we all gathered around the fire in the lobby in the evenings (especially if they had enjoyed some dinner & drinks in Mammoth).

The entire family still stays at the lodge every year, sometimes more than once, passing the tradition on to the next generation. Mark shared photos from their recent trip and he kindly allowed me to post some here. They perfectly capture what it's like to spend family time at Rock Creek.... and how some things don't change all that much (thank goodness).

Mark grills some dinner on the cabin porch after a day of fishing...

Ken and his grandson (Eric's son) at Rock Creek Lake...

Connie peeks through the willows (I believe this is at Big Tire)...

Eric and his daughter Jillian enjoy some laughs...

The youngest generation has obviously learned how much fun can be had without much effort...

Mark says this young guy started feeding right outside their cabin door as they were having breakfast...

Remember the spot we called Big Tire? Remember why it was called that? Remember diving into that icy water on a hot day? (Not while Mark was fishing, of course.)

The lower end of the pond...

The pond...

Anyone else ready to jump in the car right this moment?

THANK YOU, Mark—and the rest of the family—for allowing us this vicarious visit.

"The Bridge View"

2009-06-19T09:43:00.001-07:00

Summer is almost here, so folks are starting to make their pilgrimages to Rock Creek and other parts of the Eastern Sierra. Joe Mancuso recently posted this painting of the creek from the upper bridge at the lodge on his Painting Every Day blog. He so skillfully captured the scene, I thought others would enjoy it too.

Norwegians at Rock Creek

2009-02-19T17:34:00.000-08:00

Beret Hallenberg, Eva Bogen, Soren Christie, Sigrid Christie, and Nils Hallenberg

Several Norwegian families visited Rock Creek every year. A couple of the kids ended up working for us at the Lodge (Peter Aarnaes, Anne Bogen). Peter just sent me several photos. They came from George Bogen, who had scanned his father’s photos to use in a slideshow for a reunion.

Thank you to all of you for providing a lot of really good times and wonderful memories! I will personally never forget my rain-soaked horseback rides with Annie Christie (not pictured – granddaughter of Soren & Sigrid Christie).

Aarnaes Family Photos

2008-03-25T14:41:00.000-07:00

Jens Peter Aarnaes recently shared these photos with me, so I have added them to the slideshow. His parents, Morton & Karen, spent a lot of time at Rock Creek with their three children. As you can see elsewhere on this site, Peter also worked at the lodge. These are wonderful examples of the kinds of experiences so many families had in the canyon.

The Aarnaes men in Little Lakes Valley.

Peter and his dad at Golden Lake in 1971.

Peter at the top of Mt. Morgan. He climbed it with Dana Aanerud in 1976. Has anyone found the frisbee they threw off the top?

Quintessential Kib

2008-03-24T09:46:00.001-07:00

Joe Mancuso recently sent this photo of my dad, Kib Sr. It seems to perfectly capture a typical day at the lodge.

Historic Frashers Postcards, etc.

2008-01-27T15:25:00.000-08:00

We collect "Frashers Foto Cards" - postcards of photos taken by the famous photographer Burton Frasher. I have scanned some of the ones of Rock Creek and posted a slideshow. A few of them were actually mailed by visitors to Rock Creek (in the '40s and '50s), so it's interesting to read their messages. I also included an old brochure for the lodge I recently purchased. It's from the days prior to Roby ownership and lists the owners as Mr. & Mrs. F. P. Baugh. Note the use of Frasher's images throughout.

Jens Peter Aarnaes

2007-12-31T15:57:00.000-08:00

Jens Peter Aarnaes and his wife Diane have lived in Colorado for ten years. He is director of marketing for a firm that sells, supports, and services digital medical imaging equipment, and she is a technical “guru” in the workers’ compensation division of an insurance company.

The Lodge fostered a life-long mountain interest in Peter. He teaches skiing part-time, and also flies and hikes in the mountains as much as possible.

The photo is of Peter & Diane near Keck Observatory in Hawaii in 2006.

Rock Creek Lodge Staff 1965-1988

2007-12-29T10:11:00.000-08:00

1965
Pamela Hunsicker, Cathy Poole, Kim Rosander

1966
Eric Boutwell, Pamela Hunsicker, Linda Mitchell, Jack Moore, Tom Roby, Kim Rosander

1967
Carla Bemetz, Dan Gallup, Pamela Hunsicker, Ed Moore, Jack Moore, Sue Sherman

1968
Cameron Aanerud, Dan Gallup, Cindy Nielsen, Roger Nielsen, Penny Sykes, Wendy Sykes

1969
Grant Clark, Roger Nielsen, Tom Pogue, Penny Sykes, Wendy Sykes

1970
Cameron Aanerud, Jody Bauernschmidt, Roger Nielsen, Penny Sykes, Wendy Sykes

1971
Cameron Aanerud, Anne Brashears, Peter Harboe, Roger Nielsen, Cindy Parker, Sally Slemsek

1972
Cameron Aanerud, Cindy Edwards, Leonard Hunsicker, Roger Nielsen, Sally Slemsek, Penny Sykes

1973
Cindy Edwards, Linda Leslie, Dan Piercey, Sharon Porchia, Mike Reilly, Tom Walsh

1974
Cindy Edwards, Casey Fitzpatrick, Linda Leslie, Sharon Porchia, Mike Reilly, Tom Walsh

1975
Peter Aarnaes, Ollie Cramer, Leonard Hunsicker, Sharon Porchia, Kelly Reilly, Nancy Williams

1976
Dana Aanerud, Peter Aarnaes, Ollie Cramer, Debbie Haney, Robbie Nicholas, Kelly Reilly, Nancy Williams after Debbie left

1977
Shirley Akin, Anne Bogen, Brian Snow, David Waterfall, Nancy Williams, Ron Williams

1978
Leonard Hunsicker, Karen Kennedy, Kelly Kyle, Donna Mangold, John Williams, Ron Williams

1979
Peggy Brose, Donna Mangold, Gail (?), Billy Villarin, John Williams, Ron Williams

1980
Lisa Cimmarustie, Donna Mangold, Billy Villarin, Jeff Williams, John Williams, Ron Williams

1981
Lisa Cimmarustie, Dawn (?), Shelly Wilson, Billy Villarin, Jeff Williams, John Williams

1982
Ollie Cramer, Chris Hesson, Leslie Roby, Billy Villarin, Jeff Williams, Mickie Willis

1983
Sue Aguilar, Aaron Brown, Tina Ferrrara, Ria Harboe, Leslie Roby, Jeff Williams, David Williams, Mickie Willis

1984
Aaron Brown, Ollie Cramer, Leslie Roby, Susan Vogt, Jeff Williams, Susan Williams

1985
Ginny Bruce, Ollie Cramer, Ria Harboe (Aug), Shelley Moore, Clint Pearson, Leslie Roby, David Spiller

1986
Christine Ferrara, Greg Jennings, Carl Mancuso, Kathy Ripley, Kibby Roby, Leslie Roby

1987
Christine Ferrara, Carl Mancuso, Joe Mancuso, Kathy Ripley, Kibby Roby, Leslie Roby, Mark Thornsley

1988
Christine Ferrara, Carl Mancuso, Chris Reavis, Kathy Ripley, Kibby Roby, Leslie Roby

Deceased:

Cameron Aanerud, Kelly Kyle, Linda (Mitchell) Roby, Ed Moore, Jack Moore, Sally Slemsek

Pamela (Hunsicker) Stadler

2007-12-24T15:19:00.000-08:00

Dear Leslie,

I feel left out of your blog.....here I was the first hired cook along with my cousin Kimberly the first year your Mother and Father took over the running of the Lodge from your grandparents. We gave your mother her first baby shower at the Lodge when she found out she was pregnant with you...we helped her through her "night sickness" instead of "morning sickness". Then the third year I worked as one of the cooks with my friend Carla, I changed your diapers all summer long and fed you your bottles. Granted you don't remember that, but I did get to watch you grow up for several summers until I lived too far away to come to the Lodge in the summertime. I had been coming to the upper Rock Creek campground and to the Lodge since I was 5 years. I met my husband at Rock Creek in front of the fireplace in the Lodge...he was the cook at the Pack Station. We will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary in Feb. and owe it all to Rock Creek and Marge London who for years had been hoping to set one of her employees up with either my sister or me.

Pamela (Hunsicker) Stadler

A note from Susie (Lawton) Reynolds

2007-12-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

Golly, Rock Creek...Spent the better part of my summers there. (Your Dad [Kib] was 7 and I was 4 the first year - about 1950!!)...Continued to go every summer for the next 40+ years.....Jim [Roby] once tossed me in the water.....They let me "be the first" in the row boat they built: They pushed me off into the pond and the boat sunk! I spent the rest of the summer trying to catch them....Tom [Roby] was sooo cute - a YOUNGER MAN...Martha [Roby] was always so nice....Charlie [McNeil] ran the store and was such a darling - gave me the name of "Hot Lips" and my cousin, MaryAnn (who died in 2004), "Poopsie". Remember the dogs that would scatter the planted fish - Rocky-the-Lab was a wonderful dog - so sweet with the kids who would climb all over him. Your grandparents were always so nice to everyone. The Lake store with the BEST hamburgers and PIE!!! Ice cream bars in the afternoon. My grandparents always camped at the campground...in the same spot for up-teen years! I remember when your parents got married...and when you [Leslie] were just a babe in arms!!

Fishing with my grandfather on the big rock near the store. Driving that last 7 miles in the back of a bouncy station wagon when my grandfather used to stop every few 100 feet to chop a log that was blocking the road...or crossing a stream that obscured the road...or, worse, moving a boulder that had blocked our path...no super-highway then...and he was pretty close to the first one after the snow started to leave. Monopoly games in the lodge when it was too cold, or rainy, to be outside. The smell of the pine trees...and the allergies which followed...and the clearest-best-tasting water EVER!! My grandmother making baked goods over an open camp fire...ah, pioneer stock! Watching my mother cast a line at the lake...so smooooth...and she always caught more fish than anyone.

Kib-the-elder taught me to build a fire...a talent which serves me to this very day. The showers at the lodge...the thinnest towels in the world!!!!! Cabin 8 which was my father's FAVORITE!!!! He loved to fall asleep with the sound of water in the background. I hated the trips to the outhouse in the middle of the night...flashlight in hand. Spreading a blanket on the meadow grass at night and watching the stars. Laughing at your mother [Shirley] trying to figure out how to multiply recipes for 8 or divide recipes for 50.

Susie (Lawton) Reynolds

Kathy Ripley (late 1980s)

2007-12-13T09:35:00.000-08:00

The things that come to mind are definitely the people/ characters that were there when I worked and the ones who came to stay or visit whom I was able to meet. The fact that we all share in the experience of simply being there and having wonderful memories that will always be a part of us, regardless of how different the memories may be for each person...vivid memories of the area...the Lower Corral and just "being" with the horses and mules, Miner's Pond, the clear ponds above the Pack Station, Tom's Place...the sense of "family" each summer with whoever you were working with that year...the many lessons learned!

My husband Jeff and I have been to Mammoth a couple times with the kids, and always go up Rock Creek canyon. My kids have seen the lodge and heard many kid-appropriate stories. They absolutely love the area, too, and are always asking when we're going back.

Kathy (Ripley) Robasciotti

Joe Mancuso Fine Art

2007-12-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

Photo by Carl Mancuso

Brothers Joe and Carl Mancuso worked at the lodge in the 80s and continue to visit the area. You may recall the wood-burned scenes of the lodge Joe created, which some of us still possess. I recently ran across an ad for a painting by an artist named "Joe Mancuso" and discovered it was indeed our own Joe Mancuso. He's become quite an accomplished artist, and many of his paintings are of the Sierras. Here's his bio and a link to his Web site:

Some of Joe's earliest memories are camping trips to the Eastern High Sierras and taking walks with his father down the railroad tracks to the rabbit fields near his home. This was his wilderness as a child and he credits his father for his early introduction to nature and the outdoors.

Joe's first art instruction began early in school when he would receive instruction on how to create shadows on simple shapes using a pencil and paper. This really began Joe's enthusiasm for drawing. One summer, while visiting an art fair in Mammoth Lakes, he came across some drawings by Helen Seal, a southern California artist. The beautiful simplicity of her High Sierra sketches made a lasting impression on the young artist. At that moment, he says, "This was something I knew I wanted to do." His mother, recognizing his obvious enthusiasm, purchased one of her drawings, which still hangs in his studio. He admires contemporary artists such as Clyde Aspevig, Matt Smith and T. Allen Lawson as well as many others.

Joe is best known for his landscapes. He is greatly influenced by the changing of seasons and weather, and the more dramatic the weather, the more inspired he feels. "Light on the landscape and the way it plays with and reveals its forms and color is extremely seductive to me. Painting on location and in the studio is a way I can interact, participate in, and respond to the magnificence." Joe celebrates the moods each season brings and he works on location often to accurately see and capture the changing light.

Joe holds signature membership with the Pastel Society of America, and The Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters. In 2007 The Pastel Society of the West Coast elected Joe to "Distinguished Pastelist." His work has been published in the Pastel Journal’s “The Year's Best” in 2004 and 2005. His collectors include film producer Lawrence Kasdan and actor Kevin Kneeland. His work has exhibited in the Napa Valley Art Museum and hangs in private collections throughout the United States.

http://www.mancusofineart.com/

Jim Brumfield, Packer & Author

2007-12-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

Many people who had contact with Rock Creek Pack Station during their time at Rock Creek may recall a packer named Jim Brumfield. He started working there in 1979, and he's still packing! He's also a published author. Here's a bit about Jim and his many talents:

James McNay Brumfield resides on a ranch in the Monterey Bay area and divides his time between writing, training horses and mules, and working as a professional packer and mountain guide for Rock Creek Pack Station located in the Eastern Sierras. He has guided trips for over 25 years, and has traveled the High Sierra back country from Sonora Pass in the north, to the Forks of the Kern in the south—a distance of over 300 miles as the crow flies. Brumfield is also five time World Champion Packer at Bishop Mule days and a member of numerous World Champion pack teams. In 2002 he trained and rode World Champion Green Cow Working Mule Lil' Joe, owned by Mrs. Aleta London. Jim's mountain heritage runs deep. He is a 6th generation Californian, a direct descendent of Captain John Jordan who led a wagon train of emigrants to California from Brazos, Texas in 1850. Captain Jordan also blazed one of the early trails across the High Sierra, the Jordan trail, and was probably the first white man to see a Golden Trout. John Jordan drowned in the Kern River in 1862.

Jim has two books in publication right now, and I can personally recommend both of them as being difficult to put down. Reading Across the High Lonesome is like being on the trail with him. You may even recognize some of the personalities. Check out the Web site for his publishing company, Tres Picos Press. You'll find a lot of wonderful photos of the Sierras in addition to information about his books.

What was your experience?

2007-11-26T16:15:00.000-08:00

I have learned that everyone has very distinct memories of their time at Rock Creek. We each remember different things, or the same things in different ways. But there are always pieces of our experiences that overlap. Here’s a list of some things that rattle around in my memory:

making mud pies in the sandbox
sliding on waxed paper down the red slide
making paper dolls in Hansi’s trailer
kittens at the lower corral
Foss Neilsen making cricket noises in my ear
having cocktails at Cabin 14 with Vic & Lydia Coppard & their cat Mai Tai
visiting Wally & Edie Hunsicker at Cabin 4
learning to fish with Grandpa Rouse
going to Tom’s Place to make a phone call (before service extended up the canyon)
the sound & smell of the generators (pre-electricity)
Delaware Punch
having to carefully choose 1 candy bar or ice cream per day
Daisy the horse (“my” horse)
special horseback rides with Marge London
rainy, cold horseback rides with Annie Christie
melting plastic Army men on the pot-belly stove in the lobby
rock-hopping up and down the creek
building forts
“camping out” in the big green tent
games, cards, and conversation in the lobby
Cameron Aanerud’s slideshows (and Wally Hunsicker snoring through one of them)
going to see the fireworks in Bishop, riding on a mattress in the back of the truck
Michener, the sporting goods salesman
Banta, the Chevron gas deliveryman
hand-pumping gasoline
playing Frisbee golf
swimming at Big Tire and Serene
the clank of someone playing horseshoes
my dad’s constant whistling
snow in July
watching lightning & hailstorms from the lobby porch
kerosene lanterns
the “chug” of pot-belly stoves
chopping wood
pulling down trees with the winch on the old blue truck
bonfires & s’mores
the signatures and drawings on the walls & ceiling of the room above the showers
the raft at the pond
the yellow mini-bike
the yellow mountain bike (we seemed to like yellow)
mail runs to Tom’s Place with kids piled in the back of the truck
hanging out in front of the store
the bubbling drinking fountain
Bill Beckett teaching me to drive on the road to Tom’s Place
after-dinner walks to the lake
The Big Tree
the fish truck & running buckets
the sound of the wringer washer
cleaning cabins & trash runs to the sounds of Reggae, The Police, etc.
the double bunk bed in Cabin 5 (wonder if it’s still there?)
Sani-Pine-drenched toilet buildings
Servel refrigerators
the buzz phones (1 for the store, 2 for the kitchen, 3 for the Roby cabin)
the hand-crank siren on the kitchen porch
4th of July barbecues (especially when Leonard Hunsicker slapped me for playing with the keg)
going to movies in Bishop
campfires at Cabin 1
the awesomely quiet chill of the morning when I was the first one up
stars, stars, stars, and more stars in a black, black sky...

The Roby Family Today

2007-11-20T08:42:00.000-08:00

Standing (l-r): Shirley, Chris, Leslie, Kib.
Seated: Diah, Kib, Little Cintya

Marge London

2003-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

North County Times, San Diego

Marge London, former packer and homemaker, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, Calif., of pulmonary fibrosis. She was 82 and lived in Bishop 56 years prior to moving to Lake San Marcos six years ago.

"Marge had an energy about her which was a catalyst for other people to live life to its fullest," said lifelong friend and prominent educator Betty Smith. "She was above all else a great host and homemaker."

"She was a real lady," remarked a longtime employee at a 50-year celebration of the London family's anniversary of Rock Creek Pack Station.

London was born in Geneva, New York, and attended Keuka College and William Smith College. She moved west to Los Angeles to work for American Airlines where she married Herb London. In 1947, the Londons bought Rock Creek Pack Station and moved to Bishop.

Until 1983, Marge lived an adventurous life as a wilderness trail guide, packer, fishing guide, cook and co-owner of a small business. During her tenure, Rock Creek Pack Station originated the "Owens Valley Horse Drive" and developed an outfitting business to serve people the length of the Sierra Nevada. She was active in the founding of Mule Days and spent over 50 years promoting tourism in the Eastern Sierra.

She was an early advocate of wilderness and spent a lifetime promoting proper use of the mountains and high desert. "She started hauling trash out of the backcountry decades before the government stopped the practice of burying garbage. And her leadership in promoting low-impact wilderness etiquette was visionary for her time," said her son, Craig.

Marge London had a passion for swimming, birding, trail riding, fishing and exploring the outdoors. "She really used her life and body up doing all the things she wanted to do," commented her sister Arleane Bardeen.

She is survived by son, Craig London, DVM, and his wife, Carmen, of Bishop, California; a sister Arleane Bardeen and husband, Robert, of Geneva, New York; and, sister-in law Betty McHale and husband, John, of Rancho Bernardo, California; and nieces Susan Vogt, Kathy Bennett Flick, Donna Magraw, Ann Bardeen, Emily Bardeen, Marjorie Bardeen, Diane Brand and Margaret Reden; and nephews, Greg Bennett, Robert Bennett, Rick D'Louhy, Brian McHale and Dr. Steve McHale.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Harry and Raymond Bennett; and sisters Esther Bennett and Roberta D'Louhy.

In addition, she is survived by numerous horses and mules from the pack station. It was Marge's desire that the old mules spend winters in Southern California. The family suggests memorial donations to the Friends of Retired Mules, PO Box 248, Bishop, CA 93515 to care for them in their retirement years.

A luncheon of thanksgiving to honor Marge's life was held Dec. 26, 2003, at Aviara, North San Diego. The date for a Bishop celebration of her life will be announced at a later date.

Cameron Leigh Aanerud

2002-12-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Santa Barbara News-Press

AANERUD, Cameron Leigh, of Santa Barbara and Bishop, departed this life on December 12, 2002. He was known to some as Lee, to others as Kim and to Cachuma Outdoor School students of the 1970's he was "Kimosabi."

He was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota, on July 21, 1950. Cameron came to Santa Barbara with his parental family in 1954. He attended McKinley Elementary and Santa Barbara Junior and Senior High Schools, graduating with the class of 1968. He attended Santa Barbara Junior College.

Cameron loved photography, the out-of-doors, Cachuma Lake and the High Sierras. In 1975 he hired a bush-pilot to fly him into the rugged grandeur of the Brooks Range in Alaska. Alone, he back-packed out through 400 miles of unmarked mountain wilderness. Soon after, he was diagnosed as having Hodgkin's Disease. After a courageous battle of five years, he recovered.

Thereafter, Cameron could not work due to continuing disabling effects of the disease and later occurring mental problems. He eventually found a way to live independently in the small quiet town of Bishop. Short forays to the mountains there were his best medicine. He had a deep affection for the natural world and all its creatures.

Cameron is survived by his parents James and Shirley Aanerud, by his brother Kevin and family (Becky and Sophie) of Seattle, by his brother Dana (and daughter Aija) of Santa Barbara and by his sister Virginia Earnshaw who lives with her husband James in Indianapolis. No funeral services are planned.