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Mammoth Lakes 2020


Previous
Tuesday August 25, 2020
El Granada to Coldwater Creek

Wednesday August 26, 2020
Gentian Meadow

Next
Thursday August 27, 2020
Lake Mary

I drove over to Lake Mary to investigate the possibility of getting a lakeside campsite.
The hosts told me they make the rounds at 745am daily, and the morning's first come first served campsites become available then.
I asked if they had lines of cars in the morning waiting for a spot, they said it does happen.
I decided to wake up early Thursday to drive over and park and wait for a spot.

Meanwhile, I decided to hike up the trail Coldwater Creek to see what I could find.
I'd seen plenty of vehicle traffic on the road, there had to be something worthwhile up this mountain.



2020/08/26 13:01

Eventually I wandered into Gentian Meadow.  I stayed a while and had lunch.

The trail continued another mile or so up the mountain to Sky Meadows, but I decided this one would do.



2020/08/26 13:33



2020/08/26 13:38

Gentian Meadow


13:52 California time
Kent: Nice Dusty!  Enjoy!  Nice to have those stores in mammoth!  No guarantees at public campgrounds, close to places like mammoth

13:52 California time
Ray: almost to Eugene
Ray: Heading to Diamond Lake campground, still 2 hrs to after Eugene
Ray: Explored salem's walmart & drug store

13:52 California time
Kent: Nice! My mom is worried for you and Annabelle being in riot central Oregon

14:05 California time
Dusty: Looked at lake mary campground, 2-3 first come first served lakefront spots open up tomorrow (they are maxed out at 14 days)
Dusty:  Crowded, but lakefront and pretty awesome
Dusty:  Talked with the host, they do rounds at 730am to see who is leaving, parking in line as early as 6 or 630 is a reasonable play.

Spending the afternoon at Gentian Meadow
Dusty:  I have lte here
Dusty: And beer!

14:16 California time
Dusty: Kinda pleasant here
Dusty:   Seriously considering staying until Labor Day

14:45 California time
Ray: unfortunately it is much hazier here than where you are, dusty
Ray: I am on something called the volcanic legacy scenic by way but so far it is not very scenic

14:46 California time
Dusty: Scenic is always relative unfortunately

14:52 California time
Kent: Bend Oregon is nice and has a lot of great microbreweries
Kent:  The town is a lot like flagstaff, but w water
Kent:  I like the coast too
I'm sure the Sierra is magic....

14:53 California time
Dusty: No cows or glaciers or alps, I've got a to settle for bears (not seen on this trip) and occasional snow and meadows..
Dusty: I'll take it...

15:09 California time
Ray: Just arrived at campground
Ray: It's a good spot, but the ranger said visibility will be shit tomorrow for the hike I want (mt thielsen) and he suggested hikes to waterfalls instead "unless you just want to challenge yourself." Duh.

15:10 California time
Dusty: I don't need to challenge myself right now
Dusty:  Finding a new mountain lake or viewpoint each day from my car is plenty without heroics of carrying a pack.

15:16 California time
Ray: Heh
Ray: I'm settling in for 2 wonderful days, 1,000 miles from all of my problems
Ray: Life is good
Ray: How'd we all get the same week off?





2020/08/26 15:45

Looking up the trail toward Gentian Meadow




2020/08/26 15:46

Looking down the trail toward Emerald Lake



2020/08/26 15:49

Emerald Lake



2020/08/26 15:51

Emerald Lake and Mammoth Mountain



2020/08/26 16:03

Emerald Lake



2020/08/26 16:09



2020/08/26 16:34

Back at my campsite



2020/08/26 17:59



2020/08/26 18:24



2020/08/26 19:19

After dinner a black bear wandered around the edge of my camp, right in back of my tent!
I got a few pictures and a little video before he wandered across Coldwater Creek.


Previous
Tuesday August 25, 2020
El Granada to Coldwater Creek

Wednesday August 26, 2020
Gentian Meadow

Next
Thursday August 27, 2020
Lake Mary