There is nothing quite like living in the mountains of California. The hushed sounds of stillness, and the perfection of peace is displayed in the most picturesque setting, nestled in our forest, 4500 feet closer to heaven.
The cost of living so close to untamed nature comes with consequences, and sometimes they bring destruction so violent and disruptive that you do find yourself questioning your choice of locale.
This past year, living in the Sierra Nevada has brought evacuations from wildfires that drove us from our homes for two weeks...
Floods that ripped our roads apart from underneath
Snow that piled on top of us like never before, and then MORE rain pelted that melted all that snow in raging floods again.
But when all is said and done, and the skies finally pour out all their wrath, we get the most glorious skies that promise that everything can be made new again!
Here below, we see the beautiful mountains looming behind gorgeous puffy clouds... but what lies behind all that fluffiness? A mystery of great proportions!
From the valley floor and looking between the rows of a grove, you can see how majestic everything looks! It seems far enough away, but let me show you what it can do from even that distance!!
The mountain snow melting brings new waterfalls all around which are beautiful, but when they come close to civilization, havoc ensues!
The rivers you see here were not here before! Just a dry "valley" with nothing but drought all around! But when thousands of tons of snow melts all at once, rushed by rain? New rivers gush and flood!
And what it does to roads? Well, in a word... CLOSED! Lots of repairs need to happen, and soon!
But even with all the destruction, I have to admit...Look at this! Isn't it wonderful when you see how water can carve a brand new landscape from its sheer power? Of course, when it's near your house and your porch collapses and your house floods- it's not so appealing! But out in nature, we are free to just enjoy!
I hope you all loved this journey through central California near the Sierra Nevadas, from a very safe distance away! hehe
This post was submitted to Pinmapple community for all.the awesome travel posts they encourage us to do, and it also had to be in 
All images are mine, except for the single collage of road devastation - those were taken yesterday my by friend, Joshua Embry 鈽猴笍
