Lake Hopping the Eastern Sierra (Coyote Flat, Laurel Lakes) (Oct 2022)

I don't know if they are less well known, harder to get to, or I was just oblivious, but while I've driven past the majestic peaks numerous times - on my way to and from Death Valley - I've never really taken the time to explore the mountain range that boasts the tallest peak (Mt. Whitney, at 14,505 feet) in the contiguous United States.

But, over the last few years - as I've ventured into the Volcanic Tablelands, and here and there within the Owens Valley - I've reveled in the rocky faces and snowy peaks. Now, finally, we'd get a chance to explore - climbing to elevations of more than 12,000 feet - as we lake hop in the Eastern Sierra....

Keep reading the rest here
Coyote Flat via Big Pine Route | Eastern Sierra #1​

​

​

​

​

​

Keep reading the rest here
Coyote Flat via Big Pine Route | Eastern Sierra #1​

 

...We had one more spot to explore - prior to heading down toward Bishop - and that meant backtracking a bit towards the main route in Coyote Flat. Along the way, we noted how similar the road and terrain felt to Railroad Ridge - the highest road in Idaho - and noted that we were significantly higher here, at 11,367-feet above sea level. Not the highest publicly-accessible road in California, but close....

Keep reading the rest here
Coyote Flat via Bishop Route | Eastern Sierra #2​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Keep reading the rest here
Coyote Flat via Bishop Route | Eastern Sierra #2​

 

......Lunch was a leisurely affair - perhaps more-so than it should have been - as it was still early in the day, but by 10:45am, and after another couple trail-jogged into the mining camp, we were once again on our way. The going would be tougher now - the trail steeper and the air thinner. Still, we certainly had it easier than Milovich, who was crazy enough to build this road to the sky....

Keep reading the rest here
They Built a Road to the Sky | Eastern Sierra #3

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Keep reading the rest here
They Built a Road to the Sky | Eastern Sierra #3​

 

...We arrived at the Laurel Lakes trailhead just after 9:15am on a Sunday morning. Aware that this was a reasonably well-known destination, we were a little worried that the trail - and the lakes themselves - would be crowded. On the flip side, I knew that portions of it were considered rough, and the trail had been - at least temporarily - closed for a washout several months earlier, so we could always hope......

Keep reading the rest here
A Quick Jaunt to Laurel Lakes | Eastern Sierra #4​

​

​

​

​

Keep reading the rest here
A Quick Jaunt to Laurel Lakes | Eastern Sierra #4​

 

Eastern Sierra is so spectacular and (thankfully) under explored