Two Weekends in the Eastern Sierras

Two back-to-back weekends in the Eastern Sierras, with base camp at Mammoth Lakes.

The purpose of the first weekend was to attend the 2014 Kamikaze Mountain Bike Games, which were fast and fun and furious. The second weekend included riding Lower Rock Creek, Rock Creek Lake, Tom’s Place, and Saddlebag Lake; in Yosemite we hiked Mays Lake and Tuolumne Meadows on the east side of the Park.

Men's Pro Downhill at a <a title="Google Maps" href="http://goo.gl/maps/L91Lq" target="_blank">nasty rock garden</a> just below the top of Chair 16. As always, the photos don't do justice to the speed or steepness of the trail, or the skill of the rider. The guy with the megaphone on the left was very, very "enthusiastic," if you catch our drift.
Men’s Pro Downhill at a nasty rock garden just below the top of Chair 16. As always, the photos don’t do justice to the speed or steepness of the trail, or the skill of the rider. The guy with the megaphone on the left was very, very “enthusiastic,” if you catch our drift. And while we’re at it, more cow bell!
The Village in Mammoth Lakes was a ghost town after the mountain bikers left, and before the snow and skiers arrive. Many workers in town take advantage of the down-time to flee the town.
The Village in Mammoth Lakes was a ghost town after the mountain bikers left, and before the snow and skiers arrive. Many workers in town take advantage of the down-time to flee town.
Autumn aspen colors at Rock Creek Lake.
Autumn aspen colors at Rock Creek Lake.
Rock Creek Lake from above; Wheeler Ridge in the background.
Rock Creek Lake from above; Wheeler Ridge in the background.
Changing aspens along Warren Fork on the Tioga Pass Road, on the eastern side of Yosemite. This day was "get into National Parks for FREE!" day, where The Man lets us stick it to him.
Changing aspens along Warren Fork on the Tioga Pass Road, on the eastern side of Yosemite (the Park, not the OS). This day was “get into National Parks for FREE!” day, where The Man lets us stick it to him.
Lembert Dome in Tuolumne Meadows.
Lembert Dome in Tuolumne Meadows.
Nine thousand foot elevation May Lake in Yosemite.
May Lake in Yosemite, around 9,200′ elevation.
While we were hiking around May Lake, a 2' thick layer of fog formed over one end of the lake, reminiscent of The Crawling Eye.
While we were hiking around May Lake, a 2′ thick layer of fog formed over one end of the lake, reminiscent of The Crawling Eye.
Snow arrives in the high country, delighting and amazing people from SoCal who never see the stuff.
Snow arrives in the high country, delighting and amazing people from SoCal who never see the stuff.
Dave McCoy's hard work gets dusted.
Dave McCoy’s hard work gets dusted.
The parking lot at Red's Lake.
The parking lot at Red’s Lake.
A very low water level at Horseshoe Lake - normally, the water would be just behind Carol.
A very low water level at Horseshoe Lake – normally, the water would be just behind Carol.
I'm here to report that the CO2 tree-kill area along the north shore of Horseshoe Lake is still dead. Soil gas in the tree-kill areas is composed of 20 to 90 percent CO2; there is less than 1 percent CO2 in soils outside tree-kill areas.
I’m here to report that the CO2 tree-kill area along the north shore of Horseshoe Lake is still dead. Soil gas in the tree-kill areas is composed of 20 to 90 percent CO2; there is less than 1 percent CO2 in soils outside tree-kill areas.
 11,561' Mt. Aggie right of center.
11,561′ Mt. Aggie right of center.

4 thoughts on “Two Weekends in the Eastern Sierras

  • October 18, 2014 at 1:56 pm
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    Living the dream, Jim and Carol. Love it!

    Reply
  • October 17, 2014 at 5:05 pm
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    Er … why does your truck have a pemex custom license plate? Isn’t that the oil company owned by the Mexican government? How Un-murikan … here it’s the other way around 🙂

    Reply
    • October 19, 2014 at 2:08 pm
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      We only burn the top-shelf gas.

      Reply
  • October 17, 2014 at 7:29 am
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    Quality stuff Mr Dorken

    Reply

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