Bodie #2: Wheelbarrow, Outhouse

Wheelbarrow, Buildings - Bodie  2013

Outhouse - Bodie  2013

Outhouse wasn't operational.

Bodie #1: Buildings

Buildings - Bodie  2013

Wandering around the arrested-decay buildings in Bodie, under a high overcast cloud cover. Nice light for photos.

Road to Bodie 2013

Road to Bodie - Mono County  2013

Nice enough, but I like the conditions for the 2001 photo better. Snow in the Sierra is of course more dramatic.

On the other hand, though . . . those are nice clouds. And, no film grain. How pleasant it would be if there was a Time Machine Mail Box that I could use to send my 2001 self my current Olympus digital camera.

Monday Stellar Jay Blogging

Stellar Jay - Sierra Nevada  2013

Once he saw that he wasn't getting any handouts he quickly took off.

Mono Lake

Mono Lake - Sierra Nevada  2013

Mike decided that he had had enough of day hiking. Now, for some roaming around in the truck. On today's schedule: Mono Lake and Bodie. After his usual cinnamon roll from the June Lake junction cafe he drove through Lee Vining to the Mono Lake Vistor Center.

Although it was early, it wasn't as early as in Mike's 1994 photo. He was pleased to see clouds start to materialize over Mono Lake: too often the basin is cloudless and hazy. Not today.

Campers Next Door

Tent Outhouse - Sierra Nevada  2013

The setup at the next camping site was pretty elaborate, including what appeared to be a little tent outhouse.

Little Lakes Trail #5: Morgan Pass

Morgan Pass - Sierra Nevada  2013

Photographer - Sierra Nevada  2013

The trail became more road-like as it approached Morgan Pass: wide with long, elongated switchbacks. Lots of granite boulders at the top . . . a little bit unexciting.

However, the view to the rear was more spectacular. Also, a fellow photographer was there adding a little color to the scene.

Little Lakes Trail #4: Details

Plants, Granite Wall - Sierra Nevada  2013

Pine Tree, Granite - Sierra Nevada  2013

Mike has always been partial to these smaller-type shots seen while hiking.

Little Lakes Trail #3: Lakes

Lake, Ripples - Sierra Nevada  2013

Lake, Ripples, Grass - Sierra Nevada  2013

So in fact Mike did pass by a number of lakes on this hike. "Little lakes" maybe.  But each lake remains anonymous: although he had a map in his daypack he rarely got it out since there was never any question about the route. So that therefore these photos are titled simply, "Lake, Sierra Nevada."

And ripples: the wind was picking up during the day creating nice ripples on the lakes' surfaces.

Little Lakes Trail #2: Rock Creek

Rock Creek - Sierra Nevada  2013

Actually Mike only guesses that this is Rock Creek. It's the little creek that connects a number of lakes in the valley. Very nice, and a welcome sight given the dry nature of his previous hike.

Monday Bumblebee Blogging

Bumblebee - Marin County  2013

Mexican Sage - Marin County  2013

Bumblebee and Mexican Sage in our front yard.

Little Lakes Trail #1: Aspens

Aspens - Sierra Nevada  2013

Aspens, Little Lakes Trail - Sierra Nevada  2013

The trail starting at the Mosquito Flats trailhead follows an old mining road, with wide, level parts and narrow, Sierra-trail parts. The beginning of the trail went past some aspens turning colors.

As Scooter Libby once wrote: "Out west, where you vacation, the aspens will already be turning. They turn in clusters, because their roots connect them." OK.

The aspens were very nice! But not as spectacular as the aspens in Utah.

Fritos & Beer

Fritos & Beer - Sierra Nevada  2013

Mike drove to the Tom's Place turnoff and then took the road to the Mosquito Flats trailhead at the end. After passing Rock Creek Stables it turns into a one-lane road with turnouts. His goal was to hike the Little Lakes Valley, maybe making it to Morgan Pass.

But that's not what this post is about. This post is about Mike's traditional Fritos & Beer high country lunch. Mike has found that Fritos taste better the higher you are. Yes, "Extra Good in Altitude." (TM)

Also, in a first for a Fritos & Beer photo, this is a merge made up of two horizontal photos, needed to capture the grandeur of the scene.

Earliest Fritos & Beer photo was taken in 1994.

Convict Lake

Convict Lake - Sierra Nevada  2013

Early morning view of Convict Lake. Since it's a very short distance off of Highway 395 it's really necessary to at least go take a look when passing by.

Moonset, Minarets

Moon, Minarets - Sierra Nevada  2013

Moon, Minarets, Self Portrait - Sierra Nevada  2013

During the night the tent's interior was fully illuminated: it was obvious that there was a full moon in the night sky.

Since Mike had decided that his next day hike was going to be in the Little Lakes Valley, just south of Mammoth, he needed to get up early and drive the truck back to Highway 395. As he passed the Minaret Outlook on his way out he looked back to see the full moon directly over the peaks, which, seriously, he hadn't expected. There was no one in the parking lot at that time, of course. A pretty flat scene, so a little contrast has been added in a black and white version. Photos taken with an Olympus E-PL5 using a 14-150 zoom lens.

Here are two earlier shots from the same spot posted in 2009.

And, a moonset seen in Pismo Beach last year.

Back At Camp

IPA - Sierra Nevada  2013

Well, the Beck Lakes trail was nice enough, I guess. Quite a long slog back though.

When Mike got back to camp he realized it was beer o'clock.

Beck Lakes Trail #3

Viewpoint, Beck Lakes Trail - Sierra Nevada  2013

Tree, Unknown Mountain - Sierra Nevada  2013

Over 4 hours of hiking and not yet to the junction to the lakes! Yikes!

Mike opted to backtrack and regain some altitude, stopping at a nice viewpoint for lunch. Views in all directions, with a particularly impressive unknown peak to the south looming through the haze.

Monday Horse Blogging

Tuffy - Marin County  2013

Tuffy . . . coming to an abrupt stop and ruffling his mane.

Beck Lakes Trail #2

Pine Tree Backlit - Sierra Nevada  2013

Tree Trunk - Sierra Nevada  2013

OK, to be honest, Mike never actually reached the Beck Lakes during his hike. Just a little too far. The trail itself went through a heavily forested area with hardly any water features, so maybe not to be fully recommended.

Opportunities for tree pix though!

Beck Lakes Trail #1

San Joaquin River (A. M.) - Sierra Nevada  2013

Mike wanted to try a different trail out of the Devils Postpile trailhead this time, so he spent a day hiking the Beck Lakes trail. Other trails go to Minaret Lake and Lake Ediza.

So he drove to the trailhead parking lot early in the morning, parked the truck (only vehicle in the place) and wandered down to the San Joaquin River to get this before-sunrise shot.