The 395 and Owens Valley-Eastern Sierra Region

I know that spot and I might by there by Thursday late in the evening if I decide to even bother with the crowds this weekend.

 

That was a very cool hike. Highlight of my first trip to that area!

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I was wondering if it would be a little less crowded there than it is further down in the rocks. Definitely some nice places to set up that are tucked in along the route up.

 

You should have been there during Thanksgiving week, on Wednesday I drove up and then back down and was just hating everyone for being there. In all the past years I'll maybe and that's a big maybe come across one or two vehicles, that particular day it was more than I can count using both hands and a foot..

 

so I was reading about the Long Valley Caldera, and learned that the Mammoth Scenic Loop was originally called the "Mammoth Escape Route," because it was built as a literal escape route in case of volcanic activity, but a bunch of business didn't like that name, so it was changed to Mammoth Scenic Loop.

I thought that was really funny!

 

I’m thinking if Long Valley goes all pow, there’s no real escape. Unless it does an Iceland style. Then you just sell tickets.

 

true. depends on how it goes "pow" though, I guess. Mammoth Mountain was formed by Lava Doming, so if that happens there could be time to escape. but if it just goes full boom without much warning, yea, probably not much escaping to be done...

 

Anyone ever chase bass on the lower? After I get my 2nd 5G shot I was planning on walking down the river for a few miles and going on the hunt

 

The might be in there but I have a lot of time fishing mini-jigs on the lower O and I've hooked one bass in 10 years. If you want bass look at Klondike and Tinemaha. There's also lots of other small bodies of water that have some bass readily available.

 

What’s the trail conditions for the Laurel Lakes trail at the end of May/ early June? Or the area in general?

Thinking of a trip on Memorial Day weekend but have never been.

 

It depends. That neck of the woods should be OK by late May but it's hard to say for sure.

 

If there was heavy snow during winter there could still be snow on the ground, if not there's a good chance it'll be a parking lot up there. People like that Honda passport guy organize these 20+ vehicle caravans up there now. Check out youtube for videos. My last time up there was 2009 and I have no desire to go back because of this.

 

I've heard that it depends on how harsh the winter was and the snow accumulation. I guess we'll plan accordingly.

Can't stand that. I'm all for people getting out and exploring but there's no need for large caravans to remote locations. I'll have to take my chances as I've been wanting to go for awhile. Just hasn't worked out.

 

95% of the trail will be passable by late May. There's a large snow drift that blocks the road about 1/4 mile before Upper Laurel. That drift is usually around until the beginning of July. It's at a choke point and on a steep slope so NOBODY tries cutting it in. The consequences of sliding out there, which you will, would leave you about 500 feet down in the creek.

Shoot me a PM mid-May and I'll give you trail conditions. I'll have been up there a few times by then.

 

That would be much appreciated! Will do!

I've herd of the snow drift that blocks the trail but wasn't confident on how long it usually lasts.

 

It's been 12 or 13 years since I've seen it, but Bridgeport puts on a damn good 4th of July show.

 

The winter this season has been fairly late and short compared to seasons past, I'd be surprised if snow sticks around til the end of May. Always good to have local info though for sure!

 

A couple years ago over the Fourth weekend.

Hint: turning around is big fun.

 

Did not find this thread until now for some reason... Since my explorations are based out of Vegas these days I don't get over to Owens Valley often enough. It is a wonderful area and when I lived in Ridgecrest spent many a weekend driving up and down the valley to get to various eastern Sierra trailheads in the summer. My current truck got the most Owens Valley visits in when we were in socal for a year back in 2016. I suspect especially after the COVID camping crush the secret is permanently out about just how close to LA it is and how nice it is.
















Oh, and one more, a blast from the past on Fuji Velvia shot on a Yashica T4:

 

Those are wonderful photos!

Me and the gf are looking to move out here long term, and we got lucky with a short term rental allowing us to explore a lot of the area around Bishop. Hoping to do more up and down the 395.

 

Welcome to the neighborhood!