I had never appreciated the value of a long weekend during my grad school days. But now I do. So a Memorial Day weekend meant doing something different. Sudarshan, Brendan and I were up for a camping trip. We had a 'Google hangout' session to narrow down a location and book a campsite. Considering we started looking for a campsite so close to a very popular camping weekend, our options were limited. So I was surprised to find campsites available in Mammoth Lakes, one of my favorite places to visit, with its pretty views, hidden lakes, and tons of hiking trails. Only when I checked the weather forecast did I realize why that was the case. It was going to be in the 40s during the night with some snow still sticking to the ground. While it might not be as bad as pitching a tent in snow, it was definitely going to be cold. So only the brave were willing to camp in these conditions and of course we were brave.
Day 0: Friday, 24 May 2013
Day 2: Sunday, 26 May 2013
Day 2: Monday, 27 May 2013
Day 0: Friday, 24 May 2013
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| Sunset at Lake Diaz on the 395. Remi, Xing, Brendan and I waited for Sudarshan and Chrissy to catch up |
Day 1: Saturday, 25 May 2013
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| It was cold in the morning when we woke up! |
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The tall trees of the Sierras make you feel small
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| Duck pass trail: The trail head was at our campsite. We were to hit Skelton Lake and Barney Lake before getting to Duck Lake. |
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| There was a lot of snow on the ground even though it was the end of May. |
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| Our first lake/pond. It was pretty. But then after seeing Lake Skelton we realized this was just stagnating snow melt |
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| Skelton lake - It was gorgeous; a hidden gem isolated from tourists visiting Mammoth |
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| Our motley crew |
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| Most long hikes, we get to the destination, spend a few minutes there and head back. But this time was different. We spent a couple of hours or so basking in the sun, relaxing which was really nice. |
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| Another view of the lake from a higher point. We had to turn back after this point because the trail was snowed in. |
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| We went to the Mammoth visitor center to find out about the hot spring near the church but were instead redirected to this Hot Creek geological site. It was colorful but we could only see it from a distance. The very windy and cold conditions convinced us that soaking inside a hot spring was a better idea than viewing one from a distance . |
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| A closeup of the Hot Creek geological site. |
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| The secret hot spring : Make a left from the 395 just before the church (after the airport, while driving south) and turn right immediately after the third cattle crossing. |
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| The location is just perfect. A vast expanse of a meadow surrounded by the Sierras all around. |
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| Salad and pasta for dinner! |
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| Some hiking, a dip in the hot springs, hot food and a campfire - a perfect day |
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| What comes after a pile ? The Devil's post-pile |
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| The hexagonal shaped columns is a demonstration of mathematics in nature |
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| Rainbow falls: This time we could actually see the rainbow that gives this falls its name! |
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| The first of the three Inyo craters. There is water in crater one and two. |
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| Mammoth mountain in the distance. A couple of months ago, we were skiing down those very slopes. |
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| The second crater and the forest that surrounds it. |
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| Deer mountain: Brendan and I wanted closure. How could we turn back after seeing two of the three Inyo craters? So we decided to trek to the top of deer mountain. We did manage to see a family of deer while up there. |
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| Lake Mary in the morning |
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| Convict lake |
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| Ending the trip with lunch at Erick Schat's bakery in Bishop: A bakery paradise |
