Friday, September 20, 2013

Water for great coffee, though no moose

Water from a glacial tarn above the tree line tastes like it just came out of a tap in northern Maine. At least, that's what I think.

I never thought I would taste water as cold and pure as the water we drank when we spent eight days in Maine a few years ago. We rented a place about a mile from the gate at Acadia National Park. The only thing missing as a moose.

I have had plenty of water from high Sierra tarns, but never really paid much attention until after that trip to Maine. Now I notice.

The little body of water in the photograph is in magnificent Dusy Basin, which was an easy hike from South Lake west of Bishop. The pass is about 12,000 feet, but you really don't have to work very hard for very big reward on the other side in Kings Canyon National Park.

In the photo above, I was getting water for coffee one morning. Starbucks instant never tasted so good. It was Italian roast. All I needed was a bistro table, a few chairs and an indolent morning. There are no moose up in Kings Canyon, but I didn't miss it this time.
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