The view from the summit of 10,824 ‘Big Sammy’ into the Emigrant Wilderness.

Story and photos by Thomas Atkins

Standing on the summit of 10,824 foot ‘Big Sammy’ we are at the highest viewpoint accessible by trail in the Emigrant Wilderness and the 360 degree panorama of mountains, meadows and lakes has made the rugged six mile path from Leavitt Lake worth the trek. Stretched out below us is the Emigrant Basin, a bright blanket of blues, yellows and greens shining in the summer sun. It was a welcoming site after climbing the steep desolate slopes of Leavitt Lake Pass and Big Sam, the two mountains in the north responsible for guarding this magnificent Garden of Eden. The intimidating calloused peaks have done their job well, and few enter into the wilderness from this route. Yet my friends and I had conquered these monsters before and knew it was the quickest route into the heart of the Emigrant Wilderness. [Read more →]

Roach, lead singer for Café R&B put on one of her most explosive performances!

Story and photos by Greg Kristapovich

An astounding assemblage of artists performed in the 13th Annual Sonora Blues Festival on August 9th at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. Hard-driving guitar and harmonica-based Dossi on the Rocks opened the festival in their biggest gig to date. The Rave Ups, a Yardbirds tribute band, sounded so much like the original band it sent chills up and down this writer’s spine! Workshops, question and answer sessions and autograph signings made the festival an interactive one, to say the least. The legendary Electric Flag, accompanied by the Tower of Power horns recreated the psychedelic blues rock of the late 60’s! Tom Rigney and Flambeau cranked out their infectious fiddle-based Cajun blues. The MoFo Party Band performed in the high-energy fashion they’re known for. Guitarist Tommy Castro, who was named B.B. King Blues Entertainer of the Year put on a very solid performance. He and his band backed Magic Dick, the harmonica master of the J. Geils Band as they combined for an intense set. Later, Castro took the main stage and Magic D. came back out to join him! Headliner Joe Bonamassa (Best Blues Guitarist of 2007/2008; Guitar Player Magazine Reader’s Choice Awards) stole the show! Guitarist Magazine has called Bonamassa the “New King of the Blues,” and indeed, his performance alone was worth the price of admission!
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Crazy Funny

Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) and Saul Silver (James Franco) in one of the movies many hilarious scenes.

The Pineapple Express (Rated R) 105 mins

There are few men harder at work in Hollywood these days than Judd Apatow, although one would never know it with the continuously lighthearted spirit of his films. Everything with his hand in it has maintained an amazingly effortless feel. Just a few months ago he gave us the excellent Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and now we have yet another Apatow offering in The Pineapple Express. And even though these last two films (or three if you count Drillbit Taylor) have not been directed by him, make no mistake, they are pure Apatow, through and through. This time he reunites the creative team behind last year’s hit Superbad, and it is exactly what we all could have expected as a result, plus more. [Read more →]

Are you going on a trip? Bring a copy of the Sierra Mountain Times with you and send in a picture of you and your family or friends reading it during your travels. Please include information about the trip and the names of those in the photo. Email pictures and information to editor@sierramountaintimes.com or mail it to 18711 Tiffeni Dr., Suite 18, Twain Harte, CA 95383.

Faithful Readers: From left to right Hope, Jackson, Colby and Matt Bouchard read the Sierra Mountain Times in front of “Old Faithful” in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

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