A Lake a Day

We spent last week in the Eastern Sierras, based in Mammoth Lakes, hiking to at least one alpine lake each day.

Dog Lake

On the drive to Mammoth we stopped in Yosemite, just past Tuolumne and did a short hike to Dog Lake to stretch our legs. Even though it was less than 4 miles round trip, at 9200' elevation we were huffing and puffing up the slight incline to get there.

Dog Lake (August 17)

Gem Lake

For our first full day in the eastern Sierras, we decided to hike from Mosquito Flat at the end of Redwood Creek Road, to Gem lake at the end of Little Lakes Valley to reprise of a hike did during the early stages of the pandemic. The trailhead is above 10,000' so you spend the entire time in a lovely Sierra Alpine ecosystem, walking (and breathing heavily)  past a series of snowmelt filled alpine lakes: Heart Lake, Mack Lake, Long Lake, Chickenfoot Lake, and finally Gem Lake.

Gem Lake (August 18)

Four years ago, we walked around Gem lake, hopping over the rock scree to play in the patch of snow.  This year, the air was a bit too thin for our first day, so we admired the snow patch from afar.

Gem Lake (August 11, 2020)

Convict Lake

The next day we headed south for a visit to Manzanar, one of the "relocation" camps the US sent folks of Japanese heritage to during World War II.  It was a dark event in US history, but that is a post for another day.

On the way there, to set the mood, we walked around Convict Lake.

Convict Lake (August 19)

By the time we got to Manzanar, it was hot, windy, dusty and oppressive, which enhanced the experience.

Reconstructed Guard Tower

Parker Lake

The Parker Lake trailhead is at the end of a dirt road on the northern side of the June Lake loop road

Parker Lake Trailhead (August 20)

The trail to the back of the lake peters out in an Aspen grove, and a lovely lunch spot.

Parker Lake

Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake is a short hike starting from behind George Lake, near the end of Mary Lake road in Mammoth Lakes.  It sits next to Crystal Craig, a large granite "tooth" that is a popular rock climbing destination.

Crystal Lake (August 21)

The view looking back toward George and Mary Lakes on the way to Crystal lake.

Pica Lake

With a few days at high altitude behind us, we decided to hike over Duck Pass at 10,800', over the Sierra Crest past Duck lake to Pica Lake.  At 10.5 miles and 2400' of elevation gain, it was a hike.

Pika Lake (August 22)

Duck Lake

Luken Lake

Time to go home.  On the way back we stopped at Luken Lake, near White Wolf in Yosemite, walking through the burn area from a fire in 2019.

Luken Lake (August 23) Yosemite

Although all the burned trees were sad to look at, the mushrooms were hard at work recycling the old trees, and the wildflowers were signalling nature's recovery