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Category Archives: Shakespeare
Director-proof Much Ado met its match in Mark Rylance
Posted by Dr. Jami Rogers in Americans on the UK stage, Shakespeare
Gregory Doran, James Earl Jones, Mark Rylance, Much Ado About Nothing, Old Vic, staging, Vanessa Redgrave, William Shakespeare
On the most basic level Much Ado About Nothing at the Old Vic should have been absolutely brilliant if for nothing else than the two leads. James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave are arguably two of the best Shakespearean actors of their generation from either side of the Atlantic. They also clearly enjoy working with one another as this project seems sparked by their previous stint in the West End in Driving Miss Daisy, so chemistry should not have been a problem either. Yet the production got slated by the critics and it was indeed disappointing. The high point for me was that at the matinee I saw Vanessa Redgrave was off and the excellent Penelope Beaumont was in her stead.
After seeing Gregory Doran's Richard II at the RSC (review to be published in Shakespeare Bulletin, possible scratchings to come after I've finished that) and The Winter's Tale in Sheffield (musings here), to come back to mediocre Shakespeare was dull in the extreme. And that was largely the problem with Much Ado: it was exceedingly dull and lacklustre. Without seeing it multiple times (and since I didn't take notes), I can't comment on nuances within the production but there were several things that were worth noting in the staging.
The director seemed to make no compromises to the fact that he was no longer at the Globe's open air space with its square stage in close proximity with a portion of its audience standing in the yard. Mark Rylance's designer had provided a set that was a polished wooden surface, doors that opened at the back like a large aircraft hanger and a square canopy that stood centre stage crafted from the same polished wood as the rest of the set. No doubt due to the presence of Jones, Rylance had set it on or near a US Air Force base during World War II (ish), which turned Benedick, Don Pedro and their comrades – including Don John, Borachio and Conrade – into USAF officers. On a logical basis, this makes no sense given the wars are over at the beginning of Shakespeare's play.
Shakespeare himself is also key – although the director loves Shakespeare so much that he thinks the playwright's actually Edward de Vere. Which may explain the dismal use of text (or not). Having both worked with directors and observed the rehearsals of others (see piece on David Thacker's rehearsals here) who are meticulous in their attention to text, Rylance's method was blatantly obviously one that had little connection with the words other than that his actors said their lines. No nuance was pulled out of the script, little emotion that wasn't provided through technique (i.e., faked) was present in the delivery and almost every scene contained extraneous background business that distracted from what was being said, rather than added to it (which is one of the best indicators, I find, that the text has been worked with only on the most superficial of levels). For example, when the audience is supposed to be finding out why Don John is so unpleasant, characters were scurrying around upstage placing chairs, moving furniture, and just walking across the stage on the pretext of setting up the next scene (the revels), preventing the audience's concentration on the important dialogue taking place downstage. In well-staged productions, this scene change happens between scenes but in Rylance's the eye was completely distracted by the business to the point that I wasn't listening to the words; the text was superfluous to the action rather than the action coming out of the text. This happened throughout the production.
As touched on before, the setting was also layered on to Shakespeare's script rather than being an organic part of it. Yes, there needs to be a military-infused element to it but very specific questions need to be asked about the society in which the play takes place, not least of which are those dealing with ideas of patriarchy, honour and male attitudes to women. These can be difficult concepts for a contemporary audience to comprehend – despite the fact that women are still disadvantaged in the workplace and domestic abuse, both physical and mental, is still present – because as a society we no longer overtly (key word: overtly) tolerate the idea that women are property and a woman's chastity linked to male concepts of honour. Productions that succeed in drawing out these elements are often those that place the play in a society that parallels the action of the play, for example John Barton's 1976 British Raj setting and Gregory Doran's 2002 Sicilian omerta-infused 2002 productions. Doran's in particular highlighted the notion of women as property with the result a particularly violent rebuttal of Hero by not only Claudio but Leonato and an Antonio who menacingly threatened Claudio with a switchblade. I have written about it at length in my thesis and in the shorter article "Much Ado, Sicilian Style" (available here), but essentially Leonato's language in the church scene is unpleasant in the extreme as he threatens his daughter with death because she has sullied the family's honour – there is no room for doubt in Leonato's head that his daughter could be slandered; he believes the men, not the women. None of this was apparent in Rylance's production largely because the setting was not a society associated with this mindset; Leonato paced and yelled and circled the large wooden object in the middle of the stage, but his shouting was over-compensating for an incomprehension of Shakespeare's text (it goes back to lack of work on the script).
In short, Rylance's directorial style was clearly lazy with too much movement and seemingly no work done on the script. When Jones did get his teeth into it, he began to soar – but those moments were rare and were just that: moments. Penelope Beaumont rocked it, though – very strong, assertive and funny.


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In 1970s Mexico City, two domestic workers help a mother of four while her husband is away for an extended period of time.
Director: Alfonso Cuarón, Natalia Moguel
Actors: Carlos Peralta, Daniela Demesa, Diego Cortina Autrey, Fernando Grediaga, Jorge Antonio Guerrero, Marco Graf, Marina de Tavira, Nancy García García, Verónica García, Yalitza Aparicio
The Homecoming: A Christmas Story
The Walton family is preparing for Christmas in the early 1930s. It's Christmas Eve, and they are waiting for Daddy Walton to come home from his job in the city…
Genre: Drama, Family, TV Movie
Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family
After the death of her husband, Mrs Toda and her youngest daughter receive a frosty welcome from the extended family.
In the woods, a 13-year-old boy is grabbed by an escaped convict and told to bring money later that day. The boy does as he's told, only to be attacked…
Four black women, all of whom have suffered for lack of money and at the hands of the majority, undertake to rob banks. While initially successful, a policeman who was…
The story of a US Air Force major who was captured during the Korean War, and cracked signing a confession. After his release he ultimately arrives at Edwards Air Force…
London, June 29th, 1613. The Globe Theater, ran by the famous playwright William Shakespeare, accidentally burns to ashes. Seriously affected, he stops writing and returns to his hometown, where his…
Sara joins Julliard in New York to fulfill her and her mother's dream of becoming the Prima ballerina of the school. She befriends her roommates, Zoe and Miles, who teach…
A word for word depiction of the life of Jesus Christ from the Good News Translation Bible as recorded in the Gospel of John.
On her wild quest for love, 9-year-old Benni's untamed energy drives everyone around her to despair.
After her mother is killed by a car bomb, a 17-year-old girl lives a reckless and decadent lifestyle. She begins having sex with a boy who works at a local…

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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On Television: Do Democrats Want To Make Policy Or Make Headlines?
April 23, 2015 | by Rob Port
Do Democrats care about making good policy, or making headlines?
On my television segment last night with Chris Berg on Valley News Live (watch it here) we discussed the news I broke yesterday regarding legislative Democrats and their treatment of one of their own who broke ranks on the oil tax reform bill.
Senator Connie Triplett (D-Grand Forks) co-sponsored an amendment to HB1476 in the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee with *gasp*, a Republican!
This is a bill that Democrats have described as a "doomsday" proposal and a "nightmare" (even though a similar proposal was a Democrat bill back in 2011). They've invested themselves heavily in hating this bill, and convincing the public that it's little more than a mortgaging of the state's future in order to give a tax cut to "big oil."
But Triplett's efforts to amend the bill (the committee approved the bill last night on a 6-1 vote with 5 Republicans and Triplett supporting it), and presumably her vote in favor of the amended bill when it comes to the Senate floor, are inconvenient for Democrat talking points. Because now the bill has bipartisan support.
The reaction from Triplett's fellow Democrats was pretty vicious. As I reported yesterday, Senator George Sinner (R-Fargo) made a motion to strip her of her seat on the influential interim Legislative Management committee. "As a member of the Finance and Taxation Committee, my job is to do the best work I'm capable of to make bills better," Triplett told the Bismarck Tribune after my post went public.
More from the Grand Forks Herald:
Triplett said Sen. George Sinner, D-Fargo, told her he intends to make a motion to have her removed from Legislative Management, an upcoming interim appointment she was elected to last week.
Sinner said he's not happy Triplett proposed the amendments without talking to other Democrats, calling the proposed tax reform the biggest piece of legislation to be considered in 10 years.
If Democrats hate the idea of taking a massive and unpredictable tax exemption, which causes wild swings in state revenues, away from the oil industry in favor of a slightly lower overall rate then fine. That's misguided, I think, but that's their prerogative.
But to attack one of their own for working with Republicans on the bill to make it somewhat more palatable to Democrats?
That makes me wonder if Democrats are working in Bismarck to make good policy, or just to make media headlines they can turn into campaign slogans.
Rob Port
Rob Port is the editor of SayAnythingBlog.com, a columnist for the Forum News Service, and host of the Plain Talk Podcast which you can subscribe to by clicking here.


Whether you call it Burton-on-Trent, Burton Upon Trent or simply Burton, this is a small town with a big love for beer. Alongside its brewing pedigree, there's loads to do in this town for the whole family, making it perfect for a day out or even a weekend away.
Burton-on-Trent Station is a short walk from the town centre, but if you prefer there are regular buses which can connect you instead.
Burton-on-Trent offers a range of shopping experiences close to the station. There are shopping centres within the town itself: The Octagon Shopping Centre, Coopers Square and Burton Place Shopping Centre. Each has a great range of shops, cafés and restaurants, providing hours of retail therapy between them.
Burton Market Hall first opened in 1883 and, following a recent refurbish, it's taken its rightful place as a mainstay of the shopping scene in Burton-on-Trent. The building is home to permanent stalls selling food and local crafts, but there is also a revolving cast of pop-up stalls offering an exciting array of goods.
An outdoor market is also held in the aptly-named Market Place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You'll be able to find fresh produce here, as well clothing, plants and flowers. On Thursdays, there's even more on offer with books, magazines and home accessories available as well.
Any section on food and drink in Burton has to start with where to get a pint. The Devonshire Arms offers a great range of beers from Burton Bridge Brewery, and is a favourite place for Burtonians to sit and sip, particularly in the summer months when you can enjoy the sunny beer garden.
If beer isn't really your thing, but you still fancy a tipple, head down to The Crossing. This pub, run by a member of punk band Anti Pasti, has the most impressive cocktail menu in town. They also offer great food, with an extensive menu catering to even the pickiest eaters. There's even a good selection of veggie and vegan options.
When it comes to eating, there's something for everyone in Burton – whether you love your favourite chain or prefer something unique and independent, you'll find the perfect option for you. Choose between family-favourite Pinocchio's, The Dial, with its friendly atmosphere, or The Winery, housed in an ancient abbey.
The first thing on your to do list in Burton is probably a brewery visit. We recommend the National Brewery Centre – the entry price to the museum includes samples at the restaurant, so after you learn about the history of brewing in the UK, you can taste the fruits of centuries of expertise.
Beer aside, Burton has a lot going on. One of our favourite attractions is the Claymills Pumping Station, where you'll find out all about Victorian engineering with a side of scatological humour for the kids.
If you're looking to get outdoors, you're in luck in Burton; there are several parks and outdoor spaces including Stapenhill Gardens, The Washlands, and Sinai Park Woodlands. With so many different outdoor spaces offering unique landscapes and flora and fauna, you won't want to come indoors.
Does Burton-on-Trent Station have step-free access?
Burton-on-Trent Station has step-free access throughout. Accessible ticket machines are available in the station, as are ramps for train access.
Burton is served by a great bus system, with regular connections around town and to the surrounding villages and countryside. Please note that accessible taxis are not available at this station; however, a taxi number is displayed at the station.
For further information about Burton-on-Trent Station, check out our station guide.
We want to help you travel affordably, so as long as you buy your ticket 15 minutes before departure via our website or Traint tickets app, you can still enjoy great savings! To get the very best out of your train travel, read our top tips to find cheap train tickets and learn about our exclusive benefits offered to registered customers.
If you want to explore Burton and all it has to offer, you'll want to stay longer than a day! So, make sure you book a great value hotel in Burton before you arrive.
Book your cheap train tickets to Burton using the 'Buy Tickets' button at the top of the page.


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Actors Toolbox
Course Description: 3 Hours of quick yet highly effective procedures to tune you up vocally, physically, and emotionally. You will be at your best with these unique and powerful techniques from getting ready for the audition, working during rehearsals and on through opening night and all performances. Improv, cold reading, and effective stage movement will also be covered.
Instructor Bio:Douglas has over 30 years' experience as a working professional in film, television, audio and theatre. He's an award-winning director, actor, writer, and teacher. He has a BFA from York University in Stagecraft, Production and Design, graduating on the Dean's list and with the Cheryl Rosen Award for Excellence. He studied acting on scholarship at the Banff Centre for Performing Arts. Douglas then went to the University of Georgia on a full Academic Scholarship graduating Summa Cum Laude with an MFA in Directing for Stage Television and Film. His film directorial debut Stick Up won a Best Comedy award during its festival tour in 2004 and was then sold to the Comedy Network and is still playing. Douglas is a produced playwright for the stage and CBC radio. His screenplays have won awards in Los Angeles for two years. He has performed in over 100 films, TV shows, commercials, cartoons, plays, and audio works. He was a resident street performer for 6 months at Expo 86 and performed his street show every year during Vancouver's First Night celebrations. Douglas has also taught at a number of post-secondary institutions in BC and Alberta. He served as a jury member for the 2012 Vancouver Island One-Act Play Festival in Qualicum Beach. Theatre BC: Douglas has served as adjudicator for both the Central Interior and Skeena Zone festivals, and he led workshops in Commercial Voice Over (2001), Physical Action (2007), Directing (2006, 2009), The Actor's Toolbox (2013) and Well Slap Me Silly (2013) at Mainstage.
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Monster Hunter World has a limited-time event quest going on right now, so if you want another piece of headwear with which to adorn your hunter, you're in luck. The new Egg Lovers United Event Quest is live now, and it involves the infamous Kulu-Ya-Ku monster. If you complete this Event Quest, you'll get a Kulu-Ya-Ku headpiece to wear — just in case you wanted to become a big bird for the holiday.
Egg Lovers United is a six-star quest that you'll only be able to undertake if you're Hunter Rank 11 or higher, and you'll have to kill off a giant Kulu-Ya-Ku in the arena if you want to receive the spoils that come along with that. But you don't get to just beat him once. You need to beat him three times, and then you'll be rewarded with the headwear.
The Kulu-Ya-Ku head will increase your speed when you transport items, and it can be colored just about any color you want. You've got until April 5 to collect your reward and finish up the quest, so that should be plenty of time to get your hunt on. Monster Hunter World often has similar quests to reward you with gear like this if you want to try and get it, so keep an eye out for similar missions in the future.


Top flange has 9 holes, four threaded 5/16 " N.C. Bottom flange has 12 holes, seven threaded 5/16 " N.C. The back side of the rail has ten 3/8 " N.C. threaded holes. Matches #DR 802 top tank. Note: frames are not interchangeable. Order left for driver 's side, right for passenger 's side or pairs.


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Weekly Shift
Delivered every Monday by 10 a.m., Weekly Shift examines the latest news in employment, labor and immigration politics and policy.
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What unions want in 2020
By REBECCA RAINEY
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Morning Shift will not be published from Monday, Aug. 26, through Monday, Sept. 2. We'll be back on our normal schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Please continue to follow Pro Employment and Immigration.
Editor's Note: This edition of Morning Shift is published weekdays at 10 a.m. POLITICO Pro Employment & Immigration subscribers hold exclusive early access to the newsletter each morning at 6 a.m. Learn more about POLITICO Pro's comprehensive policy intelligence coverage, policy tools and services at politicopro.com.
— Unions know they are a key voting bloc in the 2020 election, and some are demanding a broad overhaul of federal labor laws in order to win their endorsement.
— President Donald Trump resurrected his plan to end birthright citizenship Wednesday.
— The Trump administration is drafting a regulation that will bar asylum seekers from receiving work permits unless they cross into the U.S. at a port of entry.
GOOD MORNING! It's Thursday, Aug. 22, and this is Morning Shift, your daily tipsheet on labor and immigration news. Send tips, exclusives, and suggestions to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter at @RebeccaARainey, @tedhesson, @IanKullgren, and @TimothyNoah1.
Driving the Day
WHAT UNIONS WANT IN 2020: Union households turned away from labor-backed Hillary Clinton in 2016 to help deliver the White House to Trump, so this time around labor leaders are warning 2020 Democratic candidates to beef up their pro-worker bona fides to gain their support. "We're setting the bar high — higher than it's ever been," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka at the Iowa Federation of Labor's annual convention. "If you want our endorsement … show us that you're unambiguously pro-worker and pro-union," Trumka said. "Tell us about your plan to make it easier to form unions and harder to bust them."
The Service Employees International Union, which has over 2 million members, announced on Wednesday that to win its endorsement, Democrats must pass a "litmus test" that includes supporting industry-wide bargaining and ending the National Labor Relations Act's preemption of local and state laws.
The union also says it will only back a candidate who includes collective bargaining rights in any major economic proposals and ensure that every job funded by a federal contract or grant provides a $15 minimum wage and union rights. SEIU President Mary Kay Henry said Wednesday that Democrats' proposals have been "good," but that "every progressive policy should include unions for all."
"To truly transform the lives of fast food workers, those candidates have got to commit to put McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King at a national bargaining table and make them bargain with 4 million fast food workers to improve wages, hours and working conditions for every fast food worker in this nation," Henry told a crowd of union supporters at a speech in Milwaukee.
Sanders already on it: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders announced a plan Wednesday that would "at least double" union membership in the United States and "substantially raise wages" among middle-class workers, POLITICO's Ian Kullgren reports. Sanders said he would also overhaul federal labor law to allow union leaders and managers to agree on minimum standards for an entire industry sector rather than negotiating separately with each individual company — meeting at least one of the SEIU's demands.
Much of Sanders' plan is based on legislation he's introduced, such as the Workplace Democracy Act that's also sponsored by fellow 2020 candidates Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Kamala Harris (Calif.), Cory Booker (N.J.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.). More from Kullgren.
OTHER 2020 PROPOSALS: "How Michael Bennet would support workers," also from Kullgren
ENDING BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP? President Trump on Wednesday brought back the idea that his administration is looking into ending birthright citizenship, Reuters reports. "We're looking at that very seriously, birthright citizenship, where you have a baby on our land, you walk over the border, have a baby — congratulations, the baby is now a U.S. citizen. ... It's frankly ridiculous," Trump said outside the White House.
Such a move would have to supersede the 14th Amendment, which states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside."
Trump has long promised to end birthright citizenship. He teased last year, just ahead of the midterm elections, that he could address the issue via executive order instead of amending the Constitution.
TRUMP TO LIMIT WORK PERMITS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS: The Trump administration is expected to issue a proposed regulation "that would deny work permits to asylum-seekers who cross the border without authorization as well as those who are convicted of a felony, and significantly delay when those qualified to apply for a permit can do so," Hamed Aleaziz reports for BuzzFeed News. Trump called for the changes in an April memo that instructed the heads of DHS and the Justice Department to implement the restrictions within 90 days, in an effort to curb the number of migrants arriving at the southern border.
"The policy will also aim to delay the time it takes for those who apply for asylum — either while already present in the U.S. or after crossing the border and referred to immigration court — to become qualified to apply for a work permit, from 150 days to 365 days," Aleaziz writes. "Those who are arrested or charged with certain crimes could also be denied access to work permits." More from BuzzFeed News.
ICYMI: The administration officially moved Wednesday to expand detentions of migrant families. More from POLITICO's Ted Hesson.
TRUMP CONSIDERS ALLOWING STATES TO DENY REFUGEES: The president is considering issuing an executive order that would allow state and local governments to deny refugees from resettling in their jurisdictions, Julia Ainsley reports for NBC News. According to a draft of the order, which is currently being reviewed, "the federal government will resettle refugees only where both the relevant state and local governments have consented to participate" in the resettlement program, Ainsley reports.
The potential executive action comes as the Trump administration is considering slashing refugee admissions to nearly zero next year. Refugee admissions were cut by a third this year to 30,000.
Trade Corner
ARE TRUMP'S TARIFFS REALLY BRINGING JOBS TO THE U.S.? Trump had promised that his steep tariffs on Chinese goods would help bring jobs back to the U.S, but while firms are moving out of China, they "are not flocking" here, Adam Behsudi and Finbarr Bermingham report for POLITICO. Instead, "cheaper labor markets in Southeast Asia are the ones benefiting the most amid the trade war that has ratcheted up duties on Chinese goods," they write.
U.S. economic growth is also slowing this year, while manufacturing job trends fall. "The latest U.S. jobs report showed manufacturing employment rose by an average of 8,000 per month so far in 2019, compared with an increase of 22,000 jobs per month in the sector in 2018."
"The majority of jobs are going to other countries," said Jeff Ferry, chief economist for the Coalition for a Prosperous America, a major backer of Trump's tariffs. The group estimates across-the-board tariffs on Chinese imports could create more than 1 million U.S. jobs. "Ferry acknowledged the coalition's study advocating a blanket tariff would only have 1 percent of jobs leaving China come to the U.S. in the first year. By year 5 though, that number would increase to 17 percent, he said." More from POLITICO.
JOB GROWTH WEAKER THAN THOUGHT: "Employers added a half-million fewer jobs in 2018 and early 2019 than previously reported," after the Labor Department revised its job data Wednesday, Ben Casselman reports for The New York Times. The preliminary revisions "are part of an annual process in which survey-based estimates are brought into alignment with more definitive data from state unemployment insurance records," according to Casselman.
While he says the revisions "don't change the overall picture of a healthy job market," they "do mean that 2018, which had ranked among the strongest years of job growth in the decade-long recovery, was weaker than previously believed."
"After the revision, hiring probably averaged under 200,000 jobs per month last year, down from the 223,000 initially reported and only modestly better than the 179,000 monthly jobs added in 2017." More from the Times.
CBO: ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN COMING: Congress' bipartisan scoring office said Wednesday that the Trump administration's trade policies, less consumer spending and an ebb in government buying is expected to "gradually" slow economic growth in the next four years, POLITICO's Jennifer Scholtes reports. "The nation's fiscal outlook is 'challenging,' the budget office said, with federal debt 'on an unsustainable course' that can only be righted with 'significant' changes to both spending and tax policy changes that bring in more revenue."
Trump on Wednesday reversed himself on the idea that he was considering a payroll tax cut, saying he thinks the economy is strong. White House officials have been mulling a series of measures to reduce the risk of an election year recession, including cuts to the corporate tax rate and payroll taxes. More from Scholtes.
— "She blew the whistle on Koch Foods. This little-known visa kept her from being deported by ICE," from The New Food Economy
— "Amazon's strategy to win over congressional critics: Tours of its giant warehouses," from The Washington Post
— "North Carolina Governor Vetoes Bill Requiring Sheriffs to Cooperate With ICE," from The Wall Street Journal
— "On Trial in a Language You Don't Speak," from In These Times
— "Feds arrest former state police union leader and lobbyist," from The Associated Press
— "Amazon drivers can move forward with class-action lawsuit," The Boston Globe
THAT'S ALL FOR MORNING SHIFT!
Rebecca Rainey @rebeccaarainey
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About The Author : Rebecca Rainey
Rebecca Rainey is an employment and immigration reporter with POLITICO Pro and the author of the Morning Shift newsletter.
Prior to joining POLITICO in August 2018, Rainey covered the Occupational Safety and Health administration and regulatory reform on Capitol Hill. Her work has been published by The Washington Post and the Associated Press, among other outlets.
Rainey holds a bachelor's degree from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.
She was born and raised on the eastern shore of Maryland and grew up 30 minutes from the beach. She loves to camp, hike and be by the water whenever she can.
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Our philosophy concerning employees is to hire good people full-time, pay competitive wages, and offer employer-paid benefits to retain them. We find that well compensated employees take pride in their work and we see this pride every day with our staff. Their commitment, fuelled by the passion that comes from realizing just how valuable they are to Progressive Building Services and to the hospital, can literally facilitate a culture shift that is felt by the entire organization!
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Adventure Travel1 / Southern Sierra High Route – an alternative to the JMT2 / Trip Reports3 / Trip Guides4
Southern Sierra High Route – an alternative to the JMT
The Southern Sierra High Route (SoSHR) is a superb alternative to the JMT for the adventurous traveler. Compared to the John Muir Trail (JMT), the SoSHR is higher and more remote. It avoids the JMT crowds, the landscape is more spectacular, and the travel more challenging. The increased solitude of the SoSHR intensifies your high-country experience. The SoSHR is significantly higher & more rugged than the JMT with 14 passes over 11,000 ft vs. 4 for the JMT and crosses the Sierra Crest 8 times vs. the JMT's single crossing.
The SoSHR can be done as an elegant route in its own right—about 100 miles of hiking from end to end. Or it can be appended to the SHR to create a route paralleling the best of the Sierra – a spectacular ~270 mile route stretching from Twin Lakes in the north to Cottonwood Lakes in the south.
Revised in 2016: Includes new/validated route over the Baxter/Acrodectes Ridge. This route:
Bypasses an additional 13 miles of the John Muir Trail
Avoids the crowded Rae Lakes Basin (via another beautiful lake basin)
Keeps the route continuously over 10,000 ft (by avoiding the drop into "Woods Hole")
Most of the 100 miles are off-trail or on unmaintained/decommissioned trails (only 20 mile on JMT)
Lead photo: Dawn view of Mt. Whitney. We summited with Full Packs via the Mountaineer's route. But rather than exiting at the traditional Whitney Portal we traversed the Whitney Crest and continued south to exit the high peaks near the shoulder of Mt. Langley 14,026′ (4,275 m), the southernmost 14er in the Sierras. [photo Don Wilson]
Overview of the Southern Sierra High Route
by Alan Dixon and Don Wilson
To put it plainly, Roper's Sierra High Route completely misses the highest and grandest part of the Sierra Mountains. This glorious 40 miles of the Southern Sierra Crest includes Mt. Whitney the highest peak in the lower 48 and the traditional finishing point of the JMT. It's a must for an aficionado of the High Sierra.
In 2014 Don Wilson and I decided to see if we could put a line together that extended the SHR to the south, traversing near the Sierra crest to Mount Whitney and beyond. A good look at the maps revealed a beautiful line that weaves across the Sierra crest numerous times, maintaining the spirit of the SHR, and offers hiking as good or better than any portion of the SHR. Our Southern Sierra High Route (SoSHR) extends south from Upper Basin, where the SHR turns west and goes toward lower terrain. It traverses the highest part of the range, mixing travel on the JMT with many miles of superb off trail hiking.
Don Wilson on Russell Carillon Col en-route to the Mountaineer's Route for Mt. Whitney.
The SoSHR is a route in keeping with the spirit of the original SHR, and a route we believe would be close to John Muir's heart. It starts high in the Palisades, the most rugged sub-range in the Sierra, and offers a summit of Mt Sill 14,154′ (4,314 m). According to R.J. Secor in his must-have book The High Sierra, "Mount Sill has the best summit view of any peak in the Sierra." The route also includes an ascent of the Mountaineer's Route up Mt. Whitney 14,505′ (4,421 m) and a traverse across its summit, before continuing on to exit the high peaks near the shoulder of Mt. Langley 14,026′ (4,275 m), the southernmost 14er in the Sierra.
Like Roper with the SHR, we do not claim to be the first or even hundredth people to hike any portion of this route. We stand on the shoulders of many generations of rugged and adventurous travelers in the Range of Light. We simply chained together existing high passes, summits, and trails pioneered by others to create a much longer route.
Resources for the SoSHR
Full Mapset – (8) 11×17 pages [PDF] 54 Mb
Waypoints and Hiking Timetable [PDF]
Current Gear List (of the gear we'd use for this trip) an our older gear List
Other Published References (books, maps, etc.)
Photo Equipment, and Electronics/communicaton gear, and SOS and Tracking Devices. Since we were documenting this trip for publication we brought a bunch of gear that we might not have brought for a "normal trip." Nonetheless we thought folks might be interested.
Death Valley If you get the chance, it's certainly worth tagging on a trip to Death Valley on either end of this trip. After climbing Mt. Whitney the highest point in the Lower 48 at 14,505 feet you can go to Badwater, the lowest point in North America, −282 feet (−86 m).
First light approach to climb the Mountaineer's Route on Mt Whitney.
Southern Sierra High Route Overview Map
Where the Sierra High Route goes low and ends in Kings Canyon, the SoSHR continues south along the highest part of the Sierra for another 80 miles. [Click on overview map image to enlarge]
SoSHR vs. JMT — Basic stats from LeConte Canyon to Whitney Portal
From LeConte Canyon to its the southern terminus, the SoSHR stays closer to the Sierra crest and significantly higher than the JMT.
Don explores the shoreline of beautiful Golden Bear Lake. The lake lies at 11,171 feet in pristine Center Basin, on the way to Junction Pass. Lots of solitude here as it is on a portion of the old JMT that has been "decommissioned" for years.
Permits, Logistics and Other Particulars
Hiking this route requires a wilderness permit from Inyo National Forest. The entry point at South Lake trailhead is quite popular, so it is best to reserve your permit in advance. As of 2014, permits can be reserved up to 6 months in advance.
When you apply for your permit, it is crucial that you indicate that you will be traveling cross country through the Mount Whitney Zone, which will require an extra fee. After applying online, you will receive a confirmation of your reservation, but you must still pick up your actual permit on the day before your trip begins. Permits can be picked up at the forest service offices in either Lone Pine or Bishop. You can arrange to pick up your permit after hours, or on the day your trip begins by calling the forest service office.
Be aware that travel near Mount Whitney is regulated more tightly than in other areas of the range. By entering the area near from the north, you will not need to compete via the lottery for a permit, and your permit from South Lake will be all you need (be sure to choose the option to travel through the Whitney Zone!). Once you enter the area known as the Mount Whitney Zone, special regulations apply. Most notable among these regulations is the requirement to pack out your human waste. Numerous options are available for wag bags that are made for this purpose.
Alan on the upper part of the talus approach, below the steep class 3 section, on the climb to 13,300 foot Russell-Carillon Col. Tulainyo Lake lies below. Tulainyo Lake is the highest lake of its size in North America. The route enters near the upper left corner of the photo, crosses the snow field and traverses along the shore before starting up the talus. [photo Don Wilson]
The obvious point to access the northern start of SoSHR is Bishop Pass via the South Lake Trailhead. This popular trailhead is just outside of the town of Bishop California. Some may choose to stay overnight in either Bishop or Lone Pine to get an early morning start.
Another option, and one that we used, is to start in late in the day, hike a few miles to a convenient place, such as Long Lake, and make camp for the night. This allows you one night to acclimatize at over 10,000 feet, and gives you a dawn jumpstart the next morning, with a few miles and a thousand feet of climbing under your belt—advantageous if you plan on making it to Palisade Lakes that day. This also saves a vacation day as you can fly, even from the East Coast, and be hiking in the Sierras the same day. I.e. you can do what Alan did and fly to LAS or LAX early in the morning, rent a car, dive to Lone Pine, meet your shuttle and be at the South Lake trailhead by mid-late afternoon. There is no taxi or public bus service from the town of Bishop to the South Lake Trailhead. You'll need to arrange a private shuttle or hitch from town.
The route terminates at Cottonwood Lakes trailhead near Horseshoe Meadows. If you opt to leave your car in the town of Lone Pine, you can easily hitch back to town from Cottonwood Lakes. By leaving your car in Lone Pine the logistics are also easier should you end up leaving the route at an earlier trailhead (Whitney Portal, for example) due to weather, slow progress or other reasons. We arranged to leave our car at the Comfort Inn, at the southern end of town.
We spent about 5½ days on the route. We had 5 full days of hiking, plus very short days on entry and exit. This included a half day of rest at Upper Boy Scout Lake, where we arrived about noon and spent the rest of the day exploring and relaxing. We did not take the option to climb Mount Sill on this trip, since we had climbed it on a previous trip. Climbing Mount Sill would add between a half and full day to the trip, depending on your climbing speed and the arrival time to start the route.
The Eastern Sierra trailheads and entry towns of Lone Pine and Bishop are approximately equidistant from the airports in Las Vegas (LAS) and Los Angeles (LAX) —LAS is four hours to Lone Pine (but a stunning drive through Death Valley National Park!), and LAX about three-and-quarter hours to Lone Pine (but susceptible to traffic problems).
From the airports you can either rent a car to get to Lone Pine, or get a shuttle bus from LAX (see East Side Sierra Shuttle). The shuttle from LAX is a bit pricey and might best be a shared expense when traveling with others. There are other private shuttle options from LAX to Lone Pine.
The following shuttle and bus services are available in the area. We opted to leave our car in the town of Lone Pine and take a shuttle straight to the trailhead at South Lake.
East Side Sierra Shuttle http://www.eastsidesierrashuttle.com/
This operates in the southern end of the Sierras out of Independence. You can get shuttled between Bishop and Lone Pine trailheads, or get picked up at LAX and driven to trailhead.
Mammoth Shuttle http://originalmammothshuttle.com/
A bit further from SoSHR trailheads (i.e. a bit more expensive) this operates in the more northern portion of the Sierras out of Mammoth Lakes CA.
Eastern Sierra Transit http://www.estransit.com/CMS/content/395-routes
A bus service that operates along Highway 395 on the eastern side of the Sierras and connecting the towns of Lone Pine, Bishop and Mammoth Lakes
Bear Canisters
No way around it, a bear canister is required for this trip. The trip passes through Dusy Basin and Rae Lakes, well known hot spots for bear activity as well as the Mt. Whitney area which also requires bear canisters.
Depending on how fast you travel it may be a challenge to fit all your food into a single canister. We just barely fit our food into a Bear Vault BV500 (Don) and a Bearikade Weekender (Alan). There are no easy re-supply points for this trip, so you may need to be creative (but obviously comply with all regulations) if you have more than a canister's worth of food—possibly sharing a smaller third canister (~300 to 400 in3) with a partner. Here's another useful reference for bear canisters
As a high country route, snow conditions play a significant role in how quickly and safely the route can be completed. While almost all of the route will hold snow early in the season, portions of the route that are most susceptible to holding late snow include Mather Pass, Grasshopper Pass, some parts of the Wallace Creek Valley, Tulainyo Lake, Russell-Carillon Col and the upper part of the Mountaineer's Route on Mount Whitney. It is up to you to determine the proper gear based on the time of year, snow levels, and your own experience. The route is most easily done when it is nearly snow free. On our trip, it had recently snowed on Mt. Whitney with an ensuing melt and freeze cycle, leaving the final 300 ft of the Mountaineer's Route icy and more challenging.
We describe the SoSHR from north to south, but it can obviously be hiked in either direction. By hiking from north to south you will save the highest and best parts of the route for the last days, when your pack is lighter and your body more acclimatized to the altitude. The route enters at Bishop Pass, joins the SHR in Dusy Basin, and then winds through lovely and complex Palisade Basin. Once over Mather Pass the SoSHR and SHR part ways. The SoSHR heads south toward the high peaks of the Southern Sierra while the SHR heads away from the Sierra Crest towards the lower terrain of the Monarch Divide and Kings Canyon. From Mather Pass, the SoSHR follows the JMT for about 11 miles to the far side of Pinchot Pass. There the SoSHR leaves the JMT and stays mostly off-trail and off of the JMT for the next 60 miles.
SECTION 1: SOUTH LAKE TO UPPER BASIN
The Southern Sierra High Route (SoSHR) starts at the South Lake trailhead, west of Bishop, CA. This popular trailhead allows fast access to the beautiful high country terrain that we seek. In this section we cross the Sierra crest for the first time, and then descend to join Roper's Sierra High Route (SHR) near Dusy Basin. We will follow the Sierra High Route to Upper Basin, just south of Mather Pass, where our route will head south to higher country as Roper's route heads west, toward King's Canyon and lower terrain.
The route stays on trail for its initial miles and climbs over popular Bishop Pass. From Bishop Pass you will see rugged Mount Agassiz (13,899 feet), with its summit less than a mile to the east. Mount Agassiz is the northernmost peak in the Palisades – a fitting place to enter the high country. The Palisades are generally considered the most rugged sub-range in the Sierra, and we will get a close up view of numerous peaks as we traverse just west of the crest all the way to Upper Basin.
Leaving Bishop Pass, head south on the trail for about a mile and a half. The trail descends gradually towards lush Dusy Basin. Just below 11,000 feet the trail makes an abrupt right turn to the west. Leave the trail here and descend cross country to the south, and slightly east. It is only about 5 miles of cross country terrain from this point until you reach the John Muir Trail (JMT) at Lower Palisade Lake. While not technically difficult, much of the terrain in this section is complex and the travel is slow. Expect to spend 5 to 8 hours working your way from Dusy Basin to Lower Palisade Lake.
Your first goal is to traverse toward the head of Dusy Basin at the bottom of Knapsack Pass. Travel is mostly easy through this section and you may pick up an occasional use trail. Upon reaching the head of the canyon, look for a weakness and small gully system below the pass. Ascend this gully system past occasional cairns up to the pass. From the top of the pass you will not drop directly down, but instead head left (east) toward Barrett Lakes. You can drop diagonally down and left, or you can stay high (nearly the height of the pass) along a use trail for some distance before dropping. Either way, your objective is to reach the outlet of the westernmost of the Barrett Lakes (Lake 11428 on your map). Traverse along the south side of this lake and then along a use trail on the north side of the larger Barrett Lake. Your next objective is to climb up to a non-obvious saddle located just northeast of point 12,085. After reaching this saddle, an obvious and easy half mile traverse will take you to Potluck Pass.
Alan hops across rocks near Barrett Lakes, in Palisade Basin. Crossing Palisade Basin involves climbing three passes and some complex terrain. [photo Don Wilson]
From the top of Potluck Pass you need to connect to ramps off to the right (south). Head directly right, looking for ramps that go further right, then slightly down, then right again. Follow these to where the ramps end and you join a steep scree slope. Descend this slope via obvious use trails. Continue southeast to reach the outlet of the large lake between Potluck Pass and Cirque Pass.
At this point you have the option (highly recommended) to summit Mount Sill. Mount Sill (14,162 feet) is a classic climb and one of the most beautiful peaks in the Sierra. According to R.J. Secor in his highly recommended book The High Sierra, "Mount Sill has the best summit view of any peak in the Sierra." Head to the north end of the lake between Potluck Pass and Cirque Pass. Then continue north up slabs and talus into the cirque between Polemonium Peak and Mount Sill. Stay north of the snowfields in this cirque if possible and head to the obvious west ridge of Mount Sill. Once on the ridge, the rock improves dramatically. Ascend steep but good rock to the summit. We encountered several class 3+ boulders on the west ridge below the summit. With careful route finding you may be able to keep the difficulty at the class 2-3 grade reported by Secor. For more route information, see the description of the Southwest Slope route (The High Sierra, page 245, 3rd edition). You can expect to spend about 5-6 hours to ascend and descend this climb. By taking the option to climb Mount Sill, you will have climbed a superb 3rd class 14K peak at the beginning of the trip to match another great 3rd class 14K summit at the southern end of the trip; Mt. Whitney via the Mountaineer's Route.
We highly recommend summiting Mount Sill. At (14,162 feet) it is a classic climb and one of the most beautiful peaks in the Sierra. According to R.J. Secor in his highly recommended book The High Sierra, "Mount Sill has the best summit view of any peak in the Sierra." [photo Don Wilson]
Mount Sill, in the center of the photo, taken from the outlet of Lake 11,680, between Potluck Pass and Cirque Pass.
Ascending a late season snowfield en-route to summiting Mt. Sill. [photo Don Wilson]
Descending from the summit of Mt. Sill. The route to the summit is the ridge behind Alan and continues up and to the right in this photo. [photo Don Wilson]
Looking north back at Potluck Pass from the vicinity of Cirque Pass. North Palisade and Thunderbolt peak in the background. Unnamed lake at 11,680 spreads out below. Mt Sill is out of the picture to the right.
From the outlet of the large lake between Potluck Pass and Cirque Pass, head southeast up slabs, then turn left when you hit obvious ramps that head up toward the pass. Follow the ramps up to an obvious narrow slot about 6 feet wide. Hike up through this slot and then head left up more ramps and ledges to the summit.
Once on Cirque Pass you have only one more descent remaining before you reach the comfort of the JMT for a number of miles. Expect the terrain to slow you down, as many ledges and slab systems complicate the initial part of the descent. Stay right as you start to hike down, connecting ramp systems and grassy small meadows. The terrain eases up after several hundred feet of descent. As Lower Palisade Lake comes into view, do not head directly toward its outlet. Instead, stay more right heading almost directly south and carefully looking for ledge systems that will connect you to the Palisade Lakes basin below. The further left you go in this final section of the descent, the steeper the terrain will be. You should reach the John Muir Trail in nearly flat terrain west of Lower Palisade Lake. There are popular campsites at the lake's outlet, but even better sites near the trail about a mile farther along toward Mather Pass. The route ascends the John Muir Trail over 12,100 foot Mather Pass, and then drops into pristine Upper Basin. As the trail levels off and reaches the uppermost lakes in Upper Basin, we reach the end of our first section. Here Roper's SHR heads to the southwest and Frozen Lake Pass. Our route continues south along the JMT, heading for Pinchot Pass and the highest peaks in the Sierra.
Mount Bolton Brown at sunset, taken from near Palisade Lakes.
SECTION 2: UPPER BASIN TO VIDETTE MEADOW
New for 2016: There are two options for the route between Pinchot Pass and Glen Pass
Note: The new B route is courtesy of our friends Jim Yurchenco and Amy Lauterbach who traversed/scouted it in September 2016 (see their Baxter Pass article). Thanks a million!
This version follows the JMT all the way from Pinchot Pass to Glen Pass. It has the advantage of being on-trail, easy to follow and with little risk. It's disadvantages are the usual hiker traffic on the JMT and especially in the Rae Lakes Basin. Also, it is the only point on the route that drops below 10,000 feet into "Woods Hole," at 8,500 ft. (if you take Option B the entire SoSHR will be over 10K.)
*This version leaves the JMT and takes a higher off-trail route. After going over Pinchot Pass it goes off-trail to the Woods Lake Basin. Then summits Mt. Baxter to gain access to Baxter Lakes Basin. From there the route briefly regains the JMT before going southwest at Arrowhead Lake to bypass Rae Lakes via 60 Lakes Basin. It regains the JMT at the base of Glen Pass. The advantages of this route is that it avoids some of the highest JMT traffic areas including Rae Lakes. It it is a much higher route (keeping your entire SoSHR hike above 10,000 feet), with superb views. There's the option of an easy and fine summit of Mt. Cotter from 60 Lakes Basin. Downsides are challenging navigation, strenuous hiking, and some risk crossing between Woods Lake and Baxter Lakes.
SECTION 2: The Start (for both Options A and B) – Upper Basin and over Pinchot Pass
From Upper Basin the route follows the John Muir Trail for about 11 miles to the 3400m contour on the far (east) side of Pinchot Pass. The first few miles through Upper Basin are some of the most beautiful miles of the JMT, filled with alpine grasses, many small creeks and surrounded by the 14,000 foot crest containing Split Mountain and Cardinal mountain to the east, and the clean granite spires of Vennacher Needle and Mount Ruskin to the west. Descend gradually through Upper Basin, crossing many small creeklets and an infinite selection of beautiful campsites. After about 5 miles the trail reaches the valley bottom, where four creeks come together to form the South Fork of the Kings River. The crossing here can be exciting in early season, but there are frequently good log crossings. Look both upstream and downstream if the water is high. From the crossing, stay on the John Muir Trail, climbing rapidly out of the forest and into the basin below Pinchot Pass. Follow the trail up to 12,100 foot Pinchot Pass, passing several large lakes in cirques below the pass. From the top of the pass there is a beautiful view to the south. Here one can spot Grasshopper Pass in an obvious notch a little less than 6 miles distant as the crow flies. Grasshopper Pass lies at a bearing of 155 degrees (true) from Pinchot Pass. Just to the left of Grasshopper Pass is Mt. Baxter which is the route from Woods Lake Basin into Baxter Lakes basin for Route Option B.
SECTION 2: Option A – Take the JMT from Pinchot Pass to Glen Pass
Red markers on map: Stay on the JMT to the Sawmill Pass Trail junction. [Note: that there is an option to take the Sawmill Pass Trail and join the Option B route]. Go past the SPT Junction and continue on the JMT dropping gradually and following Woods Creek on its west side. After descending all the way to 8,500 feet, you reach a junction where the JMT turns southeast and crosses Woods Creek on an impressive suspension bridge. A heavily used campsite with bear boxes lies on the far side of the bridge. From this low point on the trail the route climbs steadily to the beautiful Rae Lakes which has many campsites, some with bear boxes. Note: The Option A and Option B Routes converge on the JMT above Rae Lakes at el. 3460; just before the main switchbacks at the base of Glen Pass (west of "Painted Lady").
If you opt for the higher, non-JMT alternate route (SECTION 2: Option B) you'll enter the beautiful Woods Lake Basin. Here due to the long closure for bighorn sheep, and now low-use as an "unmaintained" trail, we found an abundance of wildlife in this basin. It is highly recommended as an overnight (side trip, 3-4 miles total, out and back) off of the JMT even if you decide not to go over Mt Baxter and into Baxter Lakes Basin.
SECTION 2: Option B – Leave the JMT and take a higher route over Mt Baxter
Purple markers on the map: A mostly non-JMT route exists between Pinchot and Glen Passes. In no place does the route exceed class 2 in difficulty, although some short sections are quite loose and require caution to cross safely. It is assumed that the hiker has previous off-trail experience, good navigational skills and appropriate judgment.
Picture [click on image to enlarge] showing the key points for the ascent of the north ridge of Mt. Baxter (from near Stocking Lake). A more detailed route description is below. [Photo Jim Yurchenco]
Go over Pinchot Pass and leave the JMT around the 3400m contour and head southeast into the drainage east of Twin Lakes. Contour south and climb to the saddle between Mt. Cedric Wright and Coliseum Mtn. This is Coliseum Col. (From here it is an easy class 1 ascent of Coliseum Mountain.)
Drop down the south side of the Col to the old Sawmill Pass Trail. Cross the trail and continue cross-country to Lake 3331. [Note: see below for an alternate route to here using the Sawmill Pass Trail – green markers on map.] Skirt the lake on its right side, cross the inlet creek and ascend a series of ramps and benches on the east side of the Stocking Lake drainage. Heading south, your target is a large scree slope and low point east of the mid point of Stocking Lake. South of this low point is the prominent north ridge of Mt. Baxter.
To gain the scree slopes below the crest of the ridge, a prominent chute at the 3700-meter level is climbed. This chute shows as a distinct notch on the USGS topo immediately west of the word CO in "FRESNO CO" on the map. The chute is maybe 40 to 60 meters in length and is loose but not horrible. Ascend the chute and continue up the scree to the Baxter north ridge.
The ridge is solid and easy to ascend. On ridge's west side and at its top will be another short chute leading to just west of the Baxter summit. Once on top of Baxter, descend southwest to the lake at 3600 (see note below*) and then to the larger Baxter Lake at 3390. Here you will find remnants of the old Baxter Pass Trail. This trail heads west and appears, disappears, and reappears again as it travels down canyon. Follow this trail for something over 3.6 miles to its junction with the JMT near Dollar Lake.
Take the JMT south for a short distance to where it crosses the main drainage from the Rae Lakes. From here, head southwest cross-country to Basin Notch. Climb Basin Notch and enter the 60 Lakes Basin. Use paths and an old trail lead to the lakes at 3300. Here the trail heads east towards Rae Lakes. Leave the trail near the north end of Lake 3304 if you want to climb Mt. Cotter via the south ridge (blue markers on map – Class 2/3, Secor 3rd ed., pg. 166). This is a very pleasant climb to a peak with fine views.
Otherwise, continue on the old trail for another half mile or so and then head south off-trail to lake 3353. From here continue south cross-country over the pass at 3560 and descend the other side to the lakes just west of the JMT. Regain the JMT just below the switchbacks leading to Glen Pass. [Note there is also the option to continue on the 60LB trail to meet the JMT a bit sooner at Rae Lake "3213." green markers on map]
* Note: Some travelers have advised to be careful when descending to the lake at 3600 as a number of the chutes to the lake have loose rock and debris. Pay close attention to the route on the map, and pick your route carefully. Note that the route holds the ridge/county line until almost reaching "PARK" before descending SW towards the lake. Be sure to take your time to find the best and most solid footing on the way down.
Alternate route into Woods Lake basin to connect with SECTION 2: Option B
Green markers on the map: From the 3400m contour hike the JMT about 1.5 mils to the Sawmill Pass Trail Junction. Take the SPT southeast and immediately cross Woods Creek. The sometimes faint trail then climbs slowly and turns east, traversing along the northern boundary of several lakes. To the south, you will get occasional views of enormous Woods Lake. Your objective is to leave the trail about two miles after the Sawmill Pass junction and head to an L shaped lake at 10,930 feet. This lake is labelled as Lake 3331T on the USGS Quad. You will now join the "SECTION 2: Option B" route and headed over Mt. Baxter.
View of Acrodectes Peak from the summit of Mt. Baxter. Grasshopper "pass" is hidden behind the near pile of talus. [Photo Jim Yurchenco]
SECTION 2: The End (for both Options A and B) – Glen Pass to Vedette Meadow
The Option A and Option B Routes converge on the JMT above Rae Lakes at el. 3460; just before the main switchbacks at the base of Glen Pass (west of "Painted Lady"). From here the JMT climbs steeply via switchbacks to 11,930 foot Glen Pass. Follow the trail down from the pass for several miles, where you will encounter several junctions with trails heading down from Kearsarge Pass. Look at your map carefully. After crossing a sandy flat basin below the trail junctions, you will drop more steeply toward Vidette Meadow. Finally reaching the valley floor near Bubbs Creek, you come upon a junction where you will turn east and traverse along the nearly level Lower Vidette Meadow. There is little that resembles a meadow here. The terrain is heavily forested, with a few small glimpses of grass. There is reason to celebrate your arrival here. You've completed a long section on the SoSHR, and the route ahead gets much more challenging. It contains some of the best and highest cross country travel in the Sierra.
SECTION 3: VIDETTE MEADOW TO UPPER BOY SCOUT LAKE
Leaving the junction at 9500 feet, you travel east on the JMT through thick pines and past numerous campsites. The trail stays fairly level for a little over a mile, then begins a gradual climb. Just before reaching 10,000 feet the trail enters a sandy flat section with open forest. For the next mile and a half the trail stays close along the east side of Bubbs Creek. Good campsites abound again from about 9900 feet to 10,200 feet.
Finally departing slightly from Bubbs Creek, the trail climbs more steeply. When you reach 10,650 feet, a faint trail cuts off to your left, heading east where the JMT turns south. This junction is difficult to find. There is no sign and not much evidence of travel (there has obviously been a dedicated effort to conceal the turn-off to this "decommissioned" trail). After the hard to find junction, the trail will level off and drop slightly to a small creek at 10,600 feet. If you missed the trail junction (we missed it), leave the JMT at this creek and begin a gradual climb to the east through the forest. When you encounter steeper rocky terrain ahead, bear diagonally left and you will eventually cross the faint trail heading up to Golden Bear Lake. Stay on the trail, winding around some meadows and boggy terrain, reaching sublime Golden Bear Lake at 11,175 feet. Continue on this faint trail, which is the former route of the JMT, heading upward toward Junction Pass. You will pass above two lakes and climb onto a ridge at 12,600 feet. From this ridge a great view of Forester Pass and the JMT opens up before you as the JMT climbs toward the dramatic notch of Forester Pass. You can be a voyeur here and watch tiny backpacker ants slowly toil up to the pass. Continue up to the Sierra crest at 13,320 foot Junction Pass and admire the view of Junction Peak, just to your south. Get a good rest here, as the route ahead will require your full attention.
Early morning reflections on Golden Bear Lake. [photo Don Wilson]
Alan hikes along the 12,600 foot ridge approaching Junction Pass. This ridge has spectacular views of Junction Peak, Forrester Pass and the JMT. You can be a voyeur here and watch tiny backpacker ants slowly toil up Forester pass. [photo Don Wilson]
When you drop off Junction Pass you will likely find footprints and a faint sign of a trail that heads southeast from the pass. The terrain here is not too steep and the sandy footing makes for easy walking and obvious footprints. At about 12,900 feet, the route turns back to the southwest and begins a drop into the drainage that lies south of Junction Pass. Your objective is to reach the head of this canyon at about 12,400 feet. On the drop into this canyon, the trail will disappear and you will descend on loose, nasty talus and all manner of crud all the way down. Proceed slowly and with caution. The footing is loose and perilous. We both had a couple of slips on this section and we were being careful. Many routes down the slope are possible. When in doubt, stay right and head towards the upper end of the canyon bottom. About 150 vertical feet above the canyon floor, you may see some evidence of the old JMT. Only a few small sections remain. Nearly all the old trail has been obliterated by the loose crumbing terrain above–possibly a reason the trail was abandoned.
The descent from Junction Pass starts with easy walking and then degrades into steep, loose talus. Here Alan looks back uphill part way down the loose descent. [photo Don Wilson]
As you get near the bottom, turn again to the southeast and begin a mile long traverse across a seemingly infinite slope of scree and talus. At some point you will drop to the bottom of the canyon and continue on the almost flat canyon bottom on more scree and huge talus. After a long mile, you will reach terrain which becomes more easily walkable, and a few sections of grass appear. A small stream emerges from the talus here too. At this point, stay south of the stream and look for evidence of a faint trail turning south and down across a hillside. Follow this past several switchbacks as it drops toward The Pothole, which can be seen below. The much more heavily used trail up to Shepherd Pass can be seen to the south and east, coming up from the canyon below. At approximately 11,200 feet, the trail levels out and continues across a flatish basin. The trail is difficult to follow in this basin. We decided to leave the trail here and traverse directly south at approximately 11,100 feet, heading toward the visible Shepherd Pass trail a half mile away. This traverse is fairly easy, and avoids a further drop of 300 vertical feet into The Pothole. Once on the Shepherd Pass trail, take a break and rest up for the steep climb above.
The climb up to Shepherd Pass is steep, but the trail is fairly good and the climb goes easily. Once on Shepherd Pass (just over 12,000 feet), you enter a long section of excellent travel across high basins and passes. Follow the trail down from Shepherd Pass for about 1.5 miles on mostly low angle terrain. At about 11,500 feet, turn directly south, heading for an obvious notch, which we call Wright Lakes Pass. Easy class 2 hiking leads up to the 12,040 foot pass. Descend south toward Wright Lakes on easy terrain and begin a beautiful 2.5 mile long walk past Wright Lakes across a high basin dotted with ancient dead pines. South of Wright Lakes, you will begin to pass through some trees and meadows, heading toward Wallace Creek.
Alan on the approach to Wright Lakes Pass. Shepherd Pass lies in the notch at the right side of the photo. [photo Don Wilson]
Ancient pines dot the 11,500 foot plateau south of Wright Lakes. Easy walking and great views abound along the two miles south of Wright Lakes Pass, heading toward Wallace Creek.
As you near Wallace Creek you will encounter increasingly rocky terrain. Depending on your location, you will likely need to climb slightly up, and then drop several hundred feet before encountering the faint trail that lies north of the creek. You should aim to hit the trail following Wallace Creek at about 10,800 feet, crossing the ridge north of Wallace Creek at around 11,000 feet or a bit lower. (Note: don't succumb to the urge to cross too soon and too directly into Wallace Creek. The ridge north of the creek is rocky, and there are a steep sets of cliff bands descending into Wallace creek that are hard to navigate).
The southern shore of Wallace Lake makes for easy walking on the approach to Russell-Carillon Col. The lake lies on the left of the photo. Mount Russell is the furthest peak that can be seen on the right. [photo Don Wilson]
Once on Wallace Creek, turn east when you hit the trail and begin the climb up toward Wallace Lake. The faint trail up to the lake is unmaintained and fades out in places. You can expect to lose it now and again. Beyond the lake, all signs of a trail quickly disappear. At 11,480 feet, Wallace Lake is a huge azure gem, with spectacular walls to its north and inviting flat terrain along its south side. Continue past the lake to a steep looking headwall southeast of the lake. The best way up this headwall is to directly attack its center, where the drainage from the basin above empties down the slope heading for Wallace Lake. This 500 foot climb involves a lot of large talus and some class 2 scrambling.
Above the headwall, a welcome and inviting walk of just over a mile leads toward Tulainyo Lake. This lake is the highest lake of its size in the lower 48 states. It has no inlet or outlet, instead it is tucked away in a bowl just below 13,000 feet, where few people get the pleasure of seeing it. Take another rest at the lake and get your bearings. Your next objective is the Russell-Carillon Col. This pass will be located far off to your right as you initially encounter the lake, and is not fully visible when you first see the lake. Drop down to the lakeshore, probably crossing large snowfields that are nearly permanent, and traverse along the southwest shore. The Russell-Carillon Col will now become obvious and somewhat intimidating. It is easier than it appears. As you near the southern tip of the lake, begin the climb up on the talus, heading for a point directly below the low point of the pass. At the top of the talus you will encounter a point where the rock suddenly gets steeper and scrambling is required. This climb of about 250 feet is moderate class 3, and is broken up by numerous large ledges. Some hikers may want a hand in a few places, or may want to pass up their packs for a move or two. The ledges make this climb quite safe, with the most significant danger being loose rock dislodged by your own party. We suggest you alternate climbing and use the large ledges to keep your party clear of the fall line from your highest members at all times. In a few fun minutes you will emerge again onto the Sierra crest at 13,300 feet on the Russell-Carillon Col.
Don checks out the blue depths of Tulainyo Lake from the top of Russell-Carillon Col.
Alan begins the descent from Russell-Carillon Col down to Upper Boy Scout Lake. The col is at far right, Mount Russell is directly behind Alan. Mount Whitney is the highest (rightmost) peak of the three peaks on the left. [photo Don Wilson]
From the col, the famous east ridge of Mount Russell lies to the west. This steep and airy climb is known as one of the best class 3 climbs in North America (and would make a spectacular side-trip/peak bag). Because of the popularity of this climb, there is a use trail that heads up to the col from Upper Boy Scout Lake. You will follow this use trail down to the lake. The terrain down to the lake is mostly loose sand and scree. While this makes for some fun walking, you can expect to fill up your shoes with plenty of souvenirs. As you begin the descent, follow obvious paths to the southeast, eventually turning more east and traveling through a vague notch. Continue east, following a mesh of paths and occasional cairns. As you approach steeper terrain, several large cairns may appear, marking potential points to drop onto steeper terrain. There are numerous options that will become clear when you can see onto the steeper terrain below. Work your way down these quite slippery and steep slopes, heading towards the North Fork of Lone Pine Creek. When several hundred feet above the creek, at about 11500 feet, a use trail will fork off to the right and head directly toward Upper Boy Scout Lake (which is not visible from above). If you miss this fork, you can descend to the creek and then climb back toward Upper Boy Scout Lake. The lake lies at nearly 11,400 feet and will be a welcome site to your dusty feet and rock filled shoes. This is a good place to bivy prior to ascending Mount Whitney via the Mountaineer's Route. (Or if you have time, you could hump up to Iceberg Lake and save yourself a bit of distance and elevation when climbing Whitney the next day.)
SECTION 4: UPPER BOY SCOUT LAKE TO HORSESHOE MEADOWS
It just keeps getting better. This section is the highest bit of off trail hiking that either of us has done in the US. It contains a full traverse of Mount Whitney, a walk along the highest mountain ridge in the lower 48, an enormous and fun scree slope, challenging and intricate navigation, and several large and lonely alpine lakes. It's worth a reminder that you will be in the Mount Whitney Zone, with its regulations regarding human waste, from the time you cross the Russell-Carillon Col until you summit Mount Whitney.
Our first downtime of the trip. Don reading some Rilke at Upper Boy Scout Lake. We arrived here mid-afternoon and had a relaxing and restorative afternoon before climbing Mt. Whitney the next morning.
Alan at our bivy site along the shores of Upper Boy Scout Lake. [photo Don Wilson]
Morning light on the east face of Mount Whitney. Keeler Needle rises in the center of the photo, left of Mount Whitney.
Leaving Upper Boy Scout Lake, head south across its outlet and scramble up slabs until you join the informal climber's trail that heads east up and over a headwall. If you hike this section in the early morning you will be granted spectacular views of the east face of Mount Whitney as the sun lights up the peaks. Continue east up fairly easy to follow trails until you begin to traverse along a south facing slope which is south of Iceberg Lake. There are many possible routes to reach Iceberg Lake, all of them requiring an eventual turn to the north up steep slopes. There are numerous seeps in this area which can make the slabs slippery, especially if temperatures are near or below freezing. At 12,700 feet you will climb over a final rise and come to the south shore of Iceberg Lake. Isolated and cold, the lake is nestled snugly in a steep cirque between Mount Whitney and Mount Russell. There are numerous bivy sites along the south shore, most with level camping and stone walls to provide some protection on windy nights. This is a good place to rest, get a drink and refill your water supplies. There is no water, other than possible snowmelt, for the next 5 hours or so of hiking (until you reach the uppermost Crabtree Lake, below Crabtree Pass).
Your next objective is an ascent of Mount Whitney via the Mountaineer's Route. This route is not at all difficult in good conditions, but if the route holds significant snow or ice it can quickly become more serious, requiring a rope and crampons for most people. It's a popular route, so a little searching on the internet can usually provide good info on current route conditions before you leave home. In most years the route is in good shape by early July and remains so until mid September.
Alan slogs his way of steep, loose scree on the Mountaineer's Route. The climb of Whitney and traverse across its southern ridge is a highlight of the SoSHR.
From Iceberg Lake, head almost directly east up slabs and boulders, aiming for the north side of the east buttress. The notch that is your eventual objective is obvious on the skyline at 14,000 feet, some 1,300 feet above Iceberg Lake. By staying left of the scree you can hike and scramble to the base of the east buttress on mostly good rock. As you reach the base of the east buttress you will be forced to the right into the main gully of the Mountaineer's Route. Continue up the gully, staying on the most stable rock you can find (usually on the left). Eventually you will be forced to head directly up a long section of loose scree. This can be a lot of work, as you climb up and slide down with each step. But it is not difficult, and your position alongside the east buttress is simply spectacular. Clean, golden granite surrounds you, and the vistas to the north and east more than make up for the loose conditions of the climb. After a long grunt, you arrive at the notch, just above 14,000 feet. From here you will climb the most technical section of the route in the final push to the summit.
The final Class 3 portion of the Mountaineer's Route to the summit of Mt. Whitney. It had snowed on Mt. Whitney the week before with an ensuing melt and freeze cycle. This left the final 300 ft of the Mountaineer's Route quite icy and a bit more entertaining. The easier route up the notch (to the left of Alan in the photo) is completely covered in a sheet of ice (verglas). This forced us up on steeper and more difficult rock. Fortunately we were able to find non-icy rock and did not need any traction devices. [photo Don Wilson]
Drop down onto the west side of the notch, losing only 20 or 30 vertical feet. After this very short drop, to your left (north) an obvious gully will head directly north towards the summit. This first gully on the west side of the ridge is your route. The gully lies well above 14,000 feet and is nearly always in the shade. It may be cold, and will hold snow or ice when other parts of the route are balmy. The very first move up this gully is generally considered the most difficult obstacle between you and the summit. Scramble up and left from the base, then wander up the gully past rolling ledges and slabs over class 3 terrain. On our ascent a recent storm had left considerable ice in the gully, and it limited our options on the way up. But we were still able for the most part to stay on good, ice-free rock all the way up. As you near the top of the gully you may be able to head right (into the warm sun!) to easier terrain. After about 400 feet of climbing, you emerge rather suddenly onto the summit plateau of Mount Whitney. Wander over to the summit and enjoy the perfect flat slabs that are abundant on the highest point in the continental US.
Alan looks off to the northeast from the summit of Mount Whitney. [photo Don Wilson]
From the summit you will join the Mount Whitney trail that heads initially west and then south from the summit. For the next 2.5 miles you will stay on this trail, walking just west of the spectacular ridge that heads south of Whitney, past Keeler Needle and Mount Muir, both 14,000+ summits. Although this trail is crowded with Mount Whitney hikers, the position is spectacular and the walking and views are thoroughly enjoyable. After about two miles you will reach a trail junction where the JMT comes up from the west. Stay left here, and climb up to the crest. Cross the crest (this location is known at Trail Crest) on the trail and staying on the trail, begin a traverse to the east, the start of the drop toward Whitney Portal. About a quarter mile past Trail Crest, you reach the first switchback, where the trail turns left and continues a long series of switchbacks down a steep slope.
Look back uphill at this switchback and you will see a very faint use trail that heads directly up on talus and scree, back towards the crest. Leave the trail here knowing you are heading into a challenging section of hiking. Head south, climbing directly uphill until you reach the crest and a low angle plateau at 13,600 feet. Once on the crest, begin dropping to the south, slowly at first, and then with an ever increasing angle on sandy scree. Your objective is to reach the upper end of the lake that lies just west of Crabtree Pass. As you drop, look for ledge systems that allow you to traverse east toward relatively flat terrain above the upper end of the lake. Then turn south to reach a small grassy haven on the east shore. This is the first reliable water since you left Iceberg Lake.
Taking a rest at the uppermost Crabtree Lake, just west of Crabtree Pass. At 12,119 feet, this isolated lake is the first water source since Iceberg Lake (i.e. summiting Mt. Whitney and traversing the Whitney Crest). It has a small patch of grass on its eastern shore. The lake is a welcome respite after the dusty 1500 foot descent from the crest. [photo Don Wilson]
From the lake, head directly up class 2 scrambling to the lowest point on Crabtree Pass. Here you enter a section of complicated terrain and navigation that will occupy you until you arrive at Sky Blue Lake. Along this entire section the terrain will force you to make many small detours. Sky Blue Lake will not be visible until you are nearly upon it and past all the difficulties.
Sky Blue Lake, looking north towards Crabtree Pass from near the lake's outlet. (Pass not visible in the photo but in the vicinity of the larger of the two white cloulds on the right horizon.) The obvious cliff bands above and right of the lake force a roundabout descent to the west (on the left in the photo) from Crabtree Pass. Neither the cliff bands nor the lake can be seen for most of the descent.
Drop down from the pass, heading slightly right (south) of the direct fall line, aiming for the northwest corner of Lake 3697. Upon nearly reaching the shore of this lake, turn more west and go over a rise and through a faint notch, heading toward the smaller lake west of Lake 3697. You may be able to follow occasional cairns along this section (although not all are to be trusted). Continue traversing to the southeast shore of this lake, then turning south down slabs. About a half mile directly south of this lake the terrain flattens out. Head toward these flat sections and turn east, joining inlet streams that head down to Sky Blue Lake (still not visible). Hike east along these streams through narrow valleys, finally emerging onto slopes that provide a grand view of awesome Sky Blue Lake. Hike directly toward the north shore of the lake, where you can pick up use trails that circle the lake on its north and east sides. Cross the lakes' outlet stream and scramble down slopes on the west side of the stream toward an obvious flatter valley below. Once on the valley floor, head south along Rock Creek, staying on the west side of the creek most of the way down. Intermittent use trails may appear, but much of the upper valley is devoid of trails. High, steep granite walls rise on both sides of the upper canyon. Use trails become more obvious as you get near 11,000 feet in elevation, and eventually the route becomes a good trail which you can follow all the way to a junction at 10,460 feet. Here you come upon a large meadow with a good trail that runs nearly perpendicular to your line of travel. There is good camping here. You have completed all the off trail travel and only pleasant trails separate you from the trailhead near Horseshoe Meadows.
Turn east (left) when you hit the trail and climb several hundred feet to another junction at 10,800 feet. Here you can take a short walk to Soldier Lake (not named on the map). Your route turns south (right) at this junction and begins a gradual climb toward New Army Pass. At 10,950 feet pass another junction where you turn east (left) toward New Army Pass. Hike up your final climb through alpine terrain. The climb up to New Army Pass does not cross the crest at its low point (huge cliffs on the far side), and instead the pass lies south of the low point, much higher up the crest at 12,300 feet. From the top of the pass you leave the Sierra crest for the last time and head down a series of impressive switchbacks past High Lake and Long Lake, and on popular trails along Cottonwood Creek. About 7 miles beyond New Army Pass you arrive at the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead, where a thrilling car ride down the steep and exposed road leads to the town of Lone Pine. This is a very popular trailhead – hitching a ride down to Lone Pine should be a simple affair.
Surveying the vast and trailess expanse of the Wrights Lake Basin. [photo Don Wilson]
High Sierra: Peaks, Passes, Trails, 3rd Ed.Feb 9, 2009
by R.J. Secor. Pretty much the bible of off-trail travel for the Sierras
The Sierra High Route: Traversing Timberline CountryMay 1, 1997
by Steve Roper The book that started it all!
Original Sierra High Route Mapset & Databook Andrew Skurka's electronic mapset and data-book for Roper's route. An excellent resource.
John Muir Wilderness/SEKI map set" Forest Service Publication; 3 map set at 1:63k
Long Name: A Guide to the John Muir Wilderness and Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness. Inyo and Sierra National Forests, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks ISBN: 978-1-59351-417-4 (Possibly no longer in print?) and very hard to find. It may still be in stock at above link.
This large 3 map set shows the entire Sierra south of Mammoth Lakes. Three very large maps not really suitable for use in the field, but the ultimate reference for planning off trail trips. We used this mapset to lay out the initial line of the SoSHR. Published by the Forest Service and difficult to find online. Available in outdoor shops and ranger stations in Mammoth Lakes, Bishop and Lone Pine.
If you get the chance, it's certianly worth tagging on a trip to Death Valley to either end of this trip. After climbing Mt. Whitney the highest point in the lower 48 at 14,505 feet you can go to Badwater, the lowest point in North America, −282 feet (−86 m). If you are traveling from Las Vegas, you will literally drive through Death Valley on your way to and from the Trip.
Badwater, the lowest point in North America, −282 feet (−86 m).
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October 25, 2016 /by Alan Dixon
Tags: Trip Guide Southern Sierra
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text:
Publish Date April 10, 2017
36% of not-for-profit senior living providers manage other communities
Lois A. Bowers
Follow @lois_bowers
Approximately 36% of not-for-profit senior living providers manage other communities through a separate subsidiary or division, according to specialty investment bank Ziegler.
Offering third-party management, consulting services or assistance with technology is a growth strategy with which many providers have found success, wrote Lisa McCracken, Ziegler's director of senior living research and development, in an article in the latest issue of the company's "Senior Living Z-News" newsletter.
"Unlike the for-profit owners and operators, many not-for-profit providers offer third-party management as a step toward potential affiliation at some point in the future," she said.
Such arrangements can take advantage of companies' expertise and capacity and can generate "significant" revenue, McCracken said. To be successful, however, organizations must ensure that expansion dovetails with the company mission and that the organizational structure mitigates risk to the parent company, she said. Also, McCracken added, the parent organization may need to dedicate staff members to the function.
Follow @lois_bowers	Email
Lois has spent almost her entire career covering healthcare, the business of healthcare and related topics via journalism or public relations. She holds a master's degree in journalism and mass communication from Kent State University and is the recipient of the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award as well as other honors.
The least engaged workers in senior living — and how to engage them
Close more info about 36% of not-for-profit senior living providers manage other communities


Continuing on another path, Ellen provides music for meditation on an auto harp. This gently-amplified music creates a relaxed atmosphere for those wanting a peaceful moment.
Ellen performs with other musicians, including the Bell'Aria Flute Ensemble. This group provides a unique listening experience in the form of duets, trios, quartets, and flute choir and is available for performances around the San Francisco Bay.
Looking for a group of three? Ellen is also a member of the Trianon Trio, an ensemble of flute, cello, and piano (or sometimes harp), and the Silverwood Trio, a group of two flutes and cello.
Considering adding live music to your upcoming event? These groups provide quality music for weddings, anniversaries, corporate and civic events, and other special occasions in the San Francisco Bay Area. For information, contact Ellen by email at edecarlo@riverwithin.net or by phone at (510)833-7071.
Keep scrolling to experience discover audio and video clips of music shared at different occasions.
* Ellen DeCarlo and Bell'Aria Flute Ensemble perform for private gatherings in public places only.


text:
Q: How to perform unit tests of asynchronous functions? I'm using Bleak to discover & connect to the nearest Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device, and I'm currently writing unit tests (using pytest).
I am new to Python tests and I don't know what to do with these patch/mock to make it work on async functions.
I do not know if I should use the actual function, or apply patches to the default functions to make the test executable without the BLE dongle.
Here is a sample of code (improvement of discover.py) :
def list(op_sys: str) -> list:
    """list BLE devices

    Returns:
        list: status & list or error message
    """
    import asyncio, platform
    from bleak import discover

    async def run() -> list:
        """discover BLE devices

        Returns:
            list: status & list or error message
        """
        BLElist = []
        try:
            devices = await discover()
            for d in devices:
                print("'%s'" % d.name) # list devices
                BLElist.append(d.name)
            return 'success', BLElist
        except:
            return 'error', 'You don\'t have any BLE dongle.'

    # linux = 3.6, windows = 3.7, need a new loop to work
    if op_sys == "Windows":
        asyncio.set_event_loop(asyncio.new_event_loop())

    loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
    return loop.run_until_complete(run())

I'm wondering if I should rewrite the function to move the run() part outside, and mock it.

A: The outer function list(op_sys) -> list is not async because it does a call to loop.run_until_complete.
So that one can be unit tested like any synchronous python function.
If you want to unit test async functions like the inner function run() -> list, take a look over here: https://pypi.org/project/asynctest/.

A: So with the help of Freek, I knew that I wanted to mock bleak.discover, and here is how I did it:
I found a solution using this anwser of Ivan.
Here is my test:
import os, asyncio
from unittest.mock import Mock
from app.functions.ble import ble

class BLE:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

# code of Ivan, thank you Ivan!
def async_return(result):
    f = asyncio.Future()
    f.set_result(result)
    return f

def test_list(monkeypatch):

    mock_discover = Mock(return_value=async_return([BLE("T-000001"), BLE("T-000002"), BLE("T-000003")]))
    monkeypatch.setattr('bleak.discover', mock_discover)
    list_BLE = ble.list("Linux")

    mock_discover.assert_called_once()
    assert list_BLE[0] == 'success'
    assert list_BLE[1][0] == "T-000001"

And here is the test result:
tests/test_ble.py::test_list 'T-000001'
'T-000002'
'T-000003'
PASSED

=== 1 passed in 0.09 seconds ===

Edit: suggestion for elegant code:
from unittest import TestCase
from unittest.mock import patch
import os, asyncio

from app.functions.ble import ble

class DeviceDiscoveryTest(TestCase):

    @staticmethod
    def __async_return(result):
        f = asyncio.Future()
        f.set_result(result)
        return f

   @classmethod
   def mocked_discover(cls):
        return cls.__async_return([BLE("T-000001"), BLE("T-000002"), BLE("T-000003")])

    @patch('bleak.discocver', new=DeviceDiscoveryTest.mocked_discover)
    def test_discover_devices(self):
        list_BLE = ble.list("Linux")
        self.assertEquals('success', list_BLE[0])
        ....

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Kodiveeran is the Indian Tamil Action family drama which is directed by M. Muthaiya. And it features M. Sasikumar and Mahima Nambiar in the lead role. Kodiveeran movie marks the second time when the actor and director are joining the hand after the Kutti Puli. It is being produced under the banner of M. Sasikumar's production. The director M. Muthaiya has decided to come up with his fourth family action drama that surely blows up the mind of audiences. Along with M. Sasikumar and Mahima Nambiar, Poorna has also played an important role in the movie.
The plot of the movie based on the brother-sister relationship. And it is touted be a village entertainer like previous movies of the M. Muthaiya. Its songs will swing the minds of the audience with some melodious music and lyrics. Although the plot doesn't endorse with much entertainment and drama. However, the second half will hold the attention of audiences.
Kodiveeran's screenplay and cinematography have some amazing scenes. The cinematography was encrypted amazingly by S. R. Kathir. And the music that holds everyone heart and mind with its lovely melodious music was composed by N. R. Raghunanthan. Overall, it is entertaining for a while and good for the one-time watch. And it is a good movie to watch on this weekend to spent time with family for the festive season.


text:
Pakistanis say their government has 'weaponized' its blasphemy law
The lynching of a 23-year-old university student accused of blasphemy in Pakistan drew international condemnation in April. But pro-democracy and human rights activists say Mashal Khan's killing is part of a much bigger problem.
A Pakistani journalism student was lynched for alleged blasphemy
Mashal Khan was a young journalism student with his whole future ahead of him. On April 13, fellow classmates apparently attacked him to death.


text:
SALSA12:58 pmJuly 6th, 2022
Laura Mentore
Mary Washington University
Laura Mentore received her Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge. Her primary areas of specialization include environmental anthropology, critical theories of development, indigenous cosmologies and social movements. Her research is based in Lowland South America (Amazonia) and the Caribbean. Other interests include economic anthropology and the anthropology of race and gender.
Laura Mentore's Institutional webpage: https://cas.umw.edu/sociologyanthropology/laura-mentore/
PERSISTENCE OF GOOD LIVING by J.R. Welch (2023)
Carolina Rodriguez Alzza -Whitten Research Fund 2022
Meredith Cristina Castro Rios Whitten Research Fund 2022
Tags:Laura Mentore, member-at-large
Laura Bathurst: Secretary-Treasurer 2011-2012
Michael Cepek: Secretary-Treasurer 2008-2011
Simone Athayde: Co-Editor Tipití 2013-2016
LA GENTE DEL CENTRO DEL MUNDO, by J.A. Echeverri (2022)