John Muir Trail - Ansel Adams and the Pacific Crest Trail
Mt Whitney Summit
California 2025
This journey was more than a trail.
For twenty two days the mountains gave us clear skies, cold mornings, and
nights so beautiful that one evening we slept cowboy-style under the open
sky. I looked up and saw the Milky Way, the constellations, and that silent
reminder of how small we are and how lucky we are to walk here.
The pika greeted us every time we entered her territory, warning the other
hikers that humans were passing through. The giant sequoias stood like
guardians of time. And the never ending granite… strong, steady, eternal.
Mount Whitney was a challenge. The altitude, the thin air, the long climb.
But step by step, without rushing, without ego, we made it. We reached the
summit together. And standing there I felt gratitude more than anything else.
Another journey that shapes the soul. Another reminder that life is meant to
be walked with patience, humility, and joy.
La pica nos saludaba cada vez que entrábamos en su territorio, avisando a los
otros caminantes que los humanos estábamos pasando. Las secuoyas gigantes se
alzaban como guardianes del tiempo. Y el granito, interminable… fuerte,
firme, eterno.
El Monte Whitney fue un reto. La altura, el aire fino, la subida larga. Pero
paso a paso, sin prisa y sin ego, lo logramos. Llegamos a la cumbre juntos. Y
al estar allà sentà gratitud más que cualquier otra cosa.
Otro viaje que moldea el alma. Otro recordatorio de que la vida se debe
caminar con paciencia, humildad y alegrÃa.
The writings, photographs, and content shared on this blog are the work of the author and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission, except for brief quotations used in reviews or educational discussion.
Many of the ideas presented here are also part of The Kitties of the Camino Book Series – A Journey of Values, a collection of bilingual stories for children inspired by the spirit of the Camino.
To learn more about the books and follow the journey of the series, please visit the books section of the blog: The Kitties of the Camino Book Series – A Journey of Values https://tortuga-hiker-camino.blogspot.com
For permissions, questions, or inquiries regarding the books or the blog, please contact the author at caminante.abe@gmail.com
Thank you for visiting and for hiking and walking with me .
Camino del Norte - Primitivo 1/2 Camino de Los Faros. 2025 Bayonne - Oviedo - Santiago - Malpica - Laxe Los faros/2 - Finisterre by Abe Sanoja O ver the past months of September, October, and November, the Camino treated me very kindly. I began in Bayonne, France, where I...
Kitties of the Caminos ! by Abe Sanoja Along the dusty pilgrim’s trail, Where stories ride on breeze and gale, Small guardians greet with silent cheer The kitties of the Way appear. They stretch on stones in morning sun, Or leap through fields in bursts of fun. By farms they prowl, in barns they nap, Or curl upon a fisher’s lap. In seaside towns and mountain bends, They walk beside us, furry friends. They hunt in shadows, soft and sly, Then chase the butterflies that fly. They doze on pews, in chapel shade, As pilgrims pass—hopeful, afraid. No sermon preached, no tales they tell, Just watchful eyes that know the shell. They purr beneath the milky skies, A gentle hush as moonrise sighs. ...
T he Kitties of the Camino Book Series A Journey of Values L a Serie de Libros Los Gatitos del Camino Un Viaje Lleno de Valores The stories are written in English and Spanish R eleased March 09, 2026 . Available on Amazon. The Kitties of the Camino is more than a children's book series. It is a project dedicated to sharing kindness, empathy, friendship, courage, gratitude, truth, inclusion, and joy with young readers. Our mission extends beyond the pages of each book. Through this series, we support children, animals, education, and environmental stewardship. We are actively partnering with schools, libraries, bookstores, gift shops, and community organizations that believe in helping children thrive, supporting cat rescue efforts, and protecting our natural world. How Your Purchase Makes a Difference • A portion of our efforts supports the Assistance League of the Eastside (ALE) and its mission to help children in need start the school year with con...
Antartica Antarctica, Our Southern Star by Abe Sanoja Antarctica Journey – Drake Passage Two days we danced on Drake’s wild back, like riding horses on a shifting track, or swaying softly in a restless sleep, cradled by waves so cold and deep. But lucky I was no sickness came, just wonder rising with each wave’s name. I walked the decks and breathed the chill, the sea alive, the air so still. Then white appeared pure, grand, austere, a frozen dream so crystal clear. Whales breached near, with curious grace, a gentle eye, a smiling face. Seals lounged on floes like lazy kings, penguins waddled in little rings, birds soared above in winds so bold, and glaciers carved the tales...
by Abe Sanoja Alaska, The Last Frontier: Trails and Glaciers Alaska Journey 2025 Alaska continues to surprise and humble me with its vastness, silence, and overwhelming beauty. During this journey, I explored a wide stretch of its rugged landscape, beginning in Fairbanks, where the summer skies often fill with smoke from wildfires sparked by lightning. These fires, documented since before 1924, are part of the rhythm of this land. Just south of the city, I found peace and stillness at Harding Lake, one of the countless lakes across Alaska that reflect the sky and i... I was warmly welcomed in Fairbanks by my friend Kelly, whose generosity and friendship I deeply appreciate. From there, we traveled first to McCarthy, a remote and almost romantic village surrounded by mountains and history. Nearby, the Kennicott copper mines tell stories of resilience and boom times long past. ...
Whispers Beneath the Leaves: Mushrooms of Two Worlds by Abe Sanoja (with a nod to the Camino de Compostela) In forests deep, where shadows sleep, The mushrooms rise, then secrets keep From Alpine trails to Redwood floors, They sprout like tales from ancient spores. Some wear caps of ruby red, Like fairy crowns on mossy bed. Others hide in earthy brown, Like monks in cloaks bent softly down. Some bring delight with scented grace, To sizzle slow in butter’s place On crusty bread or in a stew, They charm the tongue with woods and dew. But tread with care, oh hungry soul, For beauty may demand a toll. A bite too bold, a guess astray, The forest does not always play. Chanterelles, morels, the prized bolet Their flavors sing,...
Five Days to the Sun In the spring of twenty-two , by Abe Sanoja Beneath the Andean skies. We walked where the Incas whispered, where ancient spirits rise. Five days above ten thousand feet, stone by sacred stone, each step a story, each breath a prayer, we journeyed not alone. The clouds would kiss the ridges high, the wind would hum its song, and we pilgrims chasing wonder kept our hearts and strides strong. Through mountain passes wrapped in mist, through ruins worn but proud, until we reached the Sun Gate's edge and gasped beneath the clouds. There Machu Picchu, morning-born, in silence it appea...
Comments
Post a Comment