Chocolate Lakes, John Muir Wilderness 11/4

Yowza, what a hike!

7 miles, topping out at 11,323 feet elevation, starting at 9808. we hiked into the magical John Muir wilderness on the Chocolate lakes loop.

I was fascinated by the diverse group of people on this high elevation hike.

We met a "mountain man" from Montana at the trailhead, and he's hiked the Eastern Sierra a lot, it's his favorite place to hike. Then we leapfrogged the "Instagram couple", who were dressed to go to the mall, posing and smiling at the first lakeside viewpoint. Young serious hiker, woman with her dog, and a trail runner with very little compared to us, the retirees carrying enough for a few days in the back country.

The frozen lakes and streams were particularly beautiful, and a great reason to pause hiking for a minute.

For some reason, throwing rocks onto the frozen lake to see if it will go thru the ice or stay on top is enticing. And the sounds that the ice makes when struck by a rock is super interesting.

Route finding grew more challenging, particularly in the rock scrambles, the real trails become overgrown, and the social trails more prominent.

I think I need to edit this post for clarity…

Long Lake

Chocolate Lakes frozen (phone image)

Ice patterns, Chocolate Lakes

Chocolate Lakes Ice patterns

Lake Sabrina Hike 11/3

The Juniper trees, reflect the sun from the slopes they occupy. The textures and twisted shapes tell stories of hardship and endurance- if these old trees could talk!

The trail around Lake Sabrina seem to have different zones for things to grow. It starts as a sagebrush then come the mountain mahogany, some aspen along the drainage, then on the sunny slope as group of Juniper trees. They have a weathered twisted stout trunk, and stocky limbs. I love the textures and the light as it reflects off each tree to another.

Juniper, Lake Sabrina

red bark of the ancient Juniper

Crowley Lake columns, 11/2

The columns of Crowley lake are mysterious and interesting. The white soil is a lot like pumice rock, but the erosion patterns look like columns from a lost civilization. The road to get there was intensely rough. At first I thought that I could navigate it, but after the first stretch and a new dent in the running board, I decided that the effort wasn't worth it, I'd rather take the longer hike to the columns. Ginger had fun running off leash on the beach for a little bit. It's great to see her so excited and happy.

The wild camping area off Owens Gorge road is fantastic! There is a maze of dirt trails/ roads around rock formations and large pine trees. The snowcapped Sierras are visible to the west.  We found a nice "cubby hole" where we had space to camp, and returned for three nights of camping.

Crowley Lake

Ginger enjoying the water

Hide and Seek in the Crowley Lake columns

You found me!

Crowley Lake columns

Sunset in camp after exploring Crowley Lake

McGee Creek, Inyo National Forest 11/1

McGee Creek, John Muir Wilderness.

This has been one of my favorite hikes so far. I love the textures of the aspen who have largely lost their leaves for the coming winter. The trail follows the drainage, and that makes a wide sweeping curve as it climbs up into the mountains, views and foliage seem to change every minute, and the mountains beckon.

Bitterbrush and McGee Creek Inyo National Forest

Aspen Trees, McGee Creek

Aspen grove with rock background, McGee Creek, Inyo National Forest

McGee Creek, Inyo National Forest

Sherwin Lakes trail, Mammoth 10/31

Super windy at the top! Like blow the trees over windy. Ginger loved it!

The hike up to Sherwin Lake was a great climb, into a lake basin. it was cold, but the exertion climbing to the lake was great- and the sun felt good. the Wind on the other hand…. made me nervous walking under some of the trees!

Awesome Ponderosas and other huge trees.

Only phone pics- I forgot my camera! I guess it’s easier to get those images to Facebook, but getting them here….. less so!

Awesome huge Ponderosa

It was soo windy, but Ginger loves the wind :)