Tag Archives: mature

Turtle Man

Turtle Man
Turtle Dave* climbing the west side of Mount Whitney near the end of the John Muir Trail.

Turtle Man. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Turtle Dave* climbing the west side of Mount Whitney near the end of the John Muir Trail.

There are several stories behind this photograph. One is specific to this man and this place, and another relates more generally to people like him that I have encountered in the backcountry over the years. The specific story: “Turtle Dave” (or was it “Turtle Don?*”) was his trail name on the John Muir Trail when we encountered him. He was soloing the JMT, and on this day he was going to reach the summit of Mount Whitney. I was part of a group of experienced backpackers who had come all the way across the Sierra from the west side to get here, and we felt like a pretty tough group… until we met him. He wasn’t fast, but he seemed as at ease in the backcountry as anyone I’ve ever met.

Perhaps because of this photograph, and perhaps because I’m considering some trips into the backcountry, and perhaps because I’m no longer a child (well, not in most ways) I’ve been thinking about a string of similar “mature” backpackers I’ve met over the years. Decades ago as Patty and I embarked on our first long backpacking trip we camped near “Sig,” an “older woman” (at least a decade younger than my age today!) who starting her solo of the JMT. On another trip out of Tuolumne Meadows I spoke with a 75-year-old fellow who was starting out on the JMT all alone. If you meet one of these folks on the trail, I urge you to stop and chat a bit — there’s a good chance that the conversation will be memorable.

* Update: My local research department (a.k.a. Patty) found some web references to “Turtle Don” and his adventure. I’ll leave this post with the current title, but it is good to know the right name for this guy!


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Redwood Shoot

Redwood Shoot

Redwood Shoot. Muir Woods National Monument, California. August 19, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A new redwood tree shoot emerges from the base of a mature tree, Muir Woods National Monument, California.

This small, green shoot is the potential start of a new redwood tree at Muir Woods National Monument. Its bright green color contrasts with the browns and reds of the dark forest floor and the shaded bark of the tree.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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