GETTING
HIGH … AND THEN SOME!
August
14, 2014
Trip
Miles – 385
Elevation
– 7,854 feet above sea level
Location
– Mammoth Lakes, CA
One fine place, this is… a
YEAR-ROUND vacation destination with all kinds of wonderful stuff to do! Winter
is, of course, consumed with skiing. Summer is a busy season for dirt biking,
hiking, running and superb camping! Now, listen up, y’all! There are a few
important facts y’all have to know about this place if yer plannin' a visit …
·
Firstly,
the altitude … for coast-dwelling city slickers such as us, this is something
to be considered! We encountered light-headedness and headaches at first! Neither
pleasant nor conducive to immediate vigorous exercise!
·
Secondly,
y’all might want to consider buying gasoline in the southern lowlands before
arrival. We found that gas hereabouts costs $4.69 per gallon as compared with
$4.39 in Bishop and $3.89 in San Diego! Just something for y’all to thoughtfully
consider!
·
Thirdly,
the folks hereabouts are not couch potatoes! They are seriously fit from biking
or running…and skiing in the winter. Students and enthusiasts of the Gluteus Maximus (butt, bum, whatever)
will find this community an interesting place to visit!
With these considerations in our
consciousness, we had a most pleasurable time in Mammoth Lakes! It was a place
for tall pine trees, impossibly clear mountain lakes, and heart-arresting
mountain scenery. There was just one thing missing …
Our
gondola ride to the top of Mammoth Mountain was spectacular, to say the least!
Dirt bikers, charged with adrenalin for the descent from the summit, were
everywhere! Our scenic ascent took us from 8,800 feet at the base to 11,000
feet at the summit. At the top, we hiked for about a half-mile. Arresting
mountain views, a cutting wind and thin air were our companions. Otherwise we were
alone … except at the summit lodge, where a post-hike caffe latte and banana
never tasted so good!
Goldilocks is BASE jumping from the Mammoth Summit! What a THRILL!*
*Courtesy of Harmon Harris, Doctor of False Photography
Twin Lakes -- Elevation 8,800 Feet! Gorgeous Hiking Trails!
First Geocache Score of the Day!
Final Geocache Score of the Day!
After an afternoon of geo-scrambling at 9,000 foot, we were BLITZED...that is, altitude-sick and exhausted! Barbara was also nauseous! The food was great at Good Life Cafe but we had NO energy to do anything but SLEEP! Too bad -- we had to miss a classical music concert St. Joseph's Church and the Den of Piety! Whoa -- that is the official name per Edna's national MAP!
Later, Y'all!
Affectionately,
Captain Baldy
Barbara, here's a question for you. Just how much makeup do you think little Nell needs when tied to the railroad tracks? Hmm?
ReplyDeleteBaldy is a railroad fanatic, surely you two can work in one photo shoot for cryin' out load.