The 395 and Owens Valley-Eastern Sierra Region

Of the few times I've gone, a big snow drift like this one was the only time we couldn't make it to the lakes. If there's no snow on the trail I wouldn't even call it a 4x4 trail. Only sketchy part really being that tight switchback going down to the lakes if you're in a bigger truck.

did you guys end up doing Whitney? I didn't do any acclimation prior to our summit (other than camping at Trail Camp the night before), but we took Diamox which supposedly helped. Started feeling kinda woozy at the summit but otherwise OK.

That was 4 years ago and I think the reason my hips still hurt today is because of that hike lol.

 

That drift is there even in low snow years. Usually doesn't completely clear till July or the very end of June. Trying to cross it definitely is sketchy. I've backed out of it more than a few times.

 

They did a recovery out of there a few months ago, a Range Rover I think. Slid off the trail, but luckily stayed upright through the recovery and made it out without serious damage.

 

I remember hearing about that briefly. Lucky. Like the guy who rolled in Coyote Flat a few months back. 3rd gen Taco that went off one of the switchbacks while heading out the Bishop exit. He was fine and his buddies managed to drag him down to a lower switchback. The Taco was an obvious total but it still started and drove to the Rite-Aid complex. I just happened to be getting my mail so I went and talked to him and his buddies.

 

We made the trip to Laurel Lakes today. What a beautiful drive! The trail was completely clear. I used 4x low once we started up the mountain just keep the truck from working as much throughout the climb but never used any "fun switches" or anything of the sort. Been having a lot of issues with the tranny temps getting HOT, specifically during climbs. Need to add a larger cooler. Lots of nuance rocks along the way so I'm glad we aired down. Easy to identify where the snow drift would be before heading down to the lake.

One thing that was VERY disappointing and in line with the previous conversations in this thread was the amount of trash we found near the lake. Specifically toilet paper from previous campers accompanied with human waste near the lake. From what we could tell, these people didn't even attempt to minimize their impact, burring waste, etc. They literally shit on the rocks next to the water and left. It's astounding to me that people can visit these sensitive areas and give zero care about their impact. Going back to the cons of social media, these careless individuals have open visibility of these unique places and decide to visit, ruining them in the process.

Yes, we completed Whitney and made the summit. We took our time and planned for 3 days. First day was up to Consultation Lake for camp, second day we left our heavy gear and did the summit with day packs, heading back to Consolation Lake for the night. The third day we made the trip back to the portal. I really feel like the two days at 10-11k' prior to the hike helped us. We obviously struggled with output from the thin air but didn't get sick or woozy. I personally got a headache at 13-14k' that worsened as my heart rate elevated but that's about it.

I really didn't hurt that much either. Giving ourselves 3 days to complete the hike allowed adequate time to rest and replenish before hitting the trail again. A couple blisters but they didn't even impede us much with a little use of moleskin and rehydration packs. Felt surprisingly good throughout the trip.

 

Nice shot

 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/30...&sp_cid=bdcf7d0d376fbf61c68bc483948c650f&nd=1

 

Wonderful views this evening

 

I was up north visiting family in Grass Valley, CA for Labor Day weekend, we spent Sunday at the Yuba River along with hundreds of others with the same idea. Saw a family across the river in a raft and their toddler, maybe 3 or 4 years old, tossed an empty can of coke into the river. At that age he definitely learned it from his parents.

I remember that day you, me and Darthpow ran Heartbreak Ridge up into Big Bear a few years ago where it was still snowy at the top of the mountain. That family in a van drove away leaving full bags of trash blowing in the wind off the side of the highway in Big Bear near where we were airing up, we stuffed as much of it as we could in our Trasharoos. People suck by and large.

 

Ugh such assholes. Every time I visit a river or lake, I try to pack out as much as I find.

 

Tioga pass west bound from 395 on a rainy Monday (9-12-22)

 

PORTRAITS OF THE PEOPLE OF PAYAHUUNADÜ EXHIBIT PREMIERES AT MANZANAR VISITOR CENTER OCTOBER 15

At 11:00 a.m., October 15, the public is invited to the opening of artist Steve Cavallo’s watercolor exhibit, Portraits of the People of Payahuunadü in the Manzanar Visitor Center. Elders will provide a welcome and comments, the Stone Family of Big Pine will offer a traditional song, and the artist will share brief reflections on creating the show. After the program, Manzanar’s non-profit partner Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association will provide light refreshments.

Portraits of the People of Payahuunadü honors indigenous peoples whose connections to this valley stretch back to time immemorial. The large watercolor portraits highlight people ranging in age from mid-20s to mid-90s, including Kathy Jefferson Bancroft, Irene & Gene Button, Kathleen Delgado, Barbara Hanson, Joanne Howard, Beverly Mestas Newell, Julia & Lucy Parker, Talicia Rico, Sage & Shannon Romero, Cheyenne Stone, Jolie Varela, and Harry & Noah Williams.

Tribal Elder Beverly Mestas Newell watches people speed by her home on the Lone Pine reservation. “They think it’s an empty desert, but this is home to individuals, families, and communities,” she explains. “It’s good that this exhibit shows who we are.”

Manzanar Superintendent Brenda Ling said, "We are delighted to host another Cavallo exhibit in 2022. His portraits bring forth the rich stories of People of the Payahuunadü and inspire reflection about the long history of this valley.”

Manzanar National Historic Site first collaborated with artist Steve Cavallo in 2016 to create Looking Back, Seeing Ahead, a show of similar portraits of Japanese Americans who had been incarcerated at Manzanar and other camps. Cavallo paints in dramatic realism, focusing on the human figure as the defining element of his work, reflecting peoples’ stories with pathos and joy. Cavallo reflected, “As an adolescent, my interests in art and music have always evolved around human rights issues.” In recent years, he has also painted Holocaust survivors, Korean “comfort” women, and undocumented immigrants.

Manzanar National Historic Site is located at 5001 Highway 395, six miles south of Independence. The visitor center is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Visit our website at https://www.nps.gov/manz, and social media on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

 

sub'ed

 

Came across this guy this morning that didn't want to get out of the way..

 

Double flats near the Patriarch Grove .. one tire fixed with tire plugs


Edit: also lost a rear license plate somewhere beyond Mazourka Peak..

 

Great to see you getting out there but not so great getting two flats.

 

That’s the best way to enjoy the hikers route. Take your time and enjoy the views. Also, leaving at 4:30am for the switchbacks and avoiding the beating sun on the ascent is updownupdownleftrightleftrightababselectstart.

 

Woke up to this view at the pit on my way back from Tahoe last weekend.

 

I thought the trail up to Laurel Lakes was already washed out and closed? Maybe I missed the memo on it reopening? If it's open I think I'll have to give it a go when I'm up there at the end of Oct. I attempted it a couple years back (one of the first trails I'd ever taken) and my truck overheated partway up so we turned around and headed home. I'd really like to get some redemption!

 

I'd been planning on heading up to Laurel Lakes in early November. Let me know how it looks if you end up going,
@clenkeit?