Eastern Sierras 2009

Spending a week east of the sierras has become an annual event for us with this being our fourth "Campo Velo" in four years just off Highway 395. A "Campo Velo" is Geno's term for a campout in a specific area for the sole purpose of biking and hiking. Despite Kay's retirement and an already busy summer of activities, I was able to join the guys for five days of biking and hiking based out of the New Shady Rest Campground in the Mammoth Lakes area. Over the week, about 15 people participated staying for either part or all of the action. More specifically, our activities are about biking (climbing) roads up the eastern-side of the Sierras Nevada Mountains and hiking high mountain passes and peaks. I missed the first ride, but I did participate on the bike ride up Rock Creek Road and another around the Mammoth Lakes. I also did three hikes: Devils Postpile to lower Rainbow Falls, Lake Mary to Duck Pass, and South Lake to the top of Mt. Goode "Enough". Mt. Goode "Enough" is the name we gave to the peak we ascended after we realized we had missed Mt. Goode and climbed an adjacent peak. It wasn't 13,085 feet, but darn close. Either way, it was a great challenge to be appreciated, but not nearly as difficult as last year's climb up Mt. Morgan. In hiking the John Muir Wilderness, I am reminded of the stark beauty of this desolate landscape hidden in the high Sierras. Nearly bare to bone, it is a fractured granite landscape in varying shades of gray with life at the fringes. More like a fictional moonscape than the familiar places closer to home. We broke camp a day early after the big hike. Just in time, since it started raining. The weather forecast when we departed was for two days of rain. What great timing! Hope you enjoy the pictures. Use the link below to see all the pictures.

Link to Photo Album: Eastern Sierra 2009