Sunrise 6:25 am: John Hubbard and Earth Day

Today is John Hubbard's 95th birthday and the Dawn Joggers set off on their Saturday Big Dish run prepared to photograph the sparkling spring landscape in proper tribute to both the man and Earth Day. But a "system failure" message on the digital camera limited them to just one shot, the "police cows" grazing on the hillside (just a dot in the photo).

The female DJ always thought it perfect that Earth Day fell on her father's birthday. There were few people who loved and respected the earth more. John Hubbard was an outdoorsman from the time of his childhood spent in California's Gold Country and a conservationist before it became fashionable. As a young adult he hiked solo along the Pacific Crest trail from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite with just a knapsack. He climbed Half Dome and Mt. Whitney and completed his last 60-mile backpack trip at the age of 78 with the male DJ and grandson John. He was an avid fly fisherman and scratch golfer who shot his age at 89. Even now, in much diminished health following a stroke two years ago, he enjoys a short daily stroll. His birthday was celebrated quietly this year with cake and ice cream and a hearty singing of "Happy Birthday."