The sun was well past having set and the boats that had been skimming the lake that day had long since left for their docks at reduced speed calming the surface of the water. It was quiet now that the waves no longer lapped at the shoreline while a light breeze made the lake shimmer in the intense color of the last bit of daylight. The future for this area is uncertain as things are changing fast. When I returned to the mountains it was hard to find a vista on this little lake in the Sierra Nevada where you could get down to the waterline. The entire shoreline was lined with ponderosa and sugar pines from end to end. As the climate changes so do the views and while it is sad to see the trees die off, it has opened up many views of Bass Lake that are stunning. I will admit the change is scary but the one thing I do know is that whether it is pines or oaks, there will always be beauty here. As a friend recently reminded me, we stay because of that beauty. This is home and we are fortunate to see these things and I don’t take one moment for granted. Our grandchildren may not know the mountains as we did except through photos like this but they will still know the mountains. This is and always will be a special place.