Mammoth and its Lakes
I honestly do not know where to begin. Mammoth Lakes was everything we dream it could be in regard to the crystalline lakes and hot springs. What took our breath away, beyond the reality of it, was the geological gems that we encountered along the way.
Mammoth Mountain is surrounded lakes, accessible by trails through the Ansel Adams Wilderness and the Mammoth Ski town. We trekked through snow to access Crystal Lake, its location sitting in the peaks of Mammoth. Meredith and Jamie were brave enough to put their toes into the water, and we took in its remote quietness. For lunch we drove to Convict Lake, a lake named after a few convicts were discovered who had fled from prison in Reno. Jamie and I made lunch that day, and I had such a brilliant idea that now makes me feel like the God of Lunches: sandwich kebabs! Tyler immediately took to the concept of kebab sandwiches, and we now see a food truck in our future.
Convict lake was stunning, and its trail was an easy couple miles around the lake. Half way through Jamie and I decided it was worthy of a dip. Entering the lake was as piercingly cold as the Pacific waters, and we splashed around for what our endurance would allow. Before ending our day at Mammoth Brewing Company, we stopped for a short hike to see the Inyo Craters and the fault line. This particular stop turned out to be humming with an energy that I imagine the Hellmouth would possess. The trees were dead, singed, chopped down, and had the potential for a Blair Witch sequel. Afterwards, we were rewarded with burgers and beer, and naturally, a game of Euchre.
The next morning our first stop was Wild Willy’s hot springs. It is incredible to find these natural pools just in the midst of open meadows and mountains. It was rejuvenating, and we left still finding mud and dirt beneath the fabric of our suites. Afterwards we hiked along Hot Creek Geological Site, where the bright blue springs of scolding water bubble and spray from the underlying magma, being located on two earthquake faults. Along the river that runs along these springs, you can see mini geysers in the stream bed. Small bits of steam hover over the water’s surface before disappearing with the current.
Our last two lakes were in the June Lake region. Jamie and I took another dip in Parker Lake, and we ended the day discovering the awe of Mono Lake. Mono Lake was at one point the water source for L.A. and has thus been depleted by a large volume. The water of Mono Lake is rich with sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, and is 2.5 times saltier than the ocean and 100 times more alkaline. Which gives it a whole new level of buoyancy, making it difficult to submerge objects. Luckily, the water that remains is full of brine shrimp - a food source for the millions of birds that come here. Brine shrimp are the most primitive form of crustaceans, having evolved hundreds of millions of years. It is the Tufa formations, though, that make Mono Lake look like a washed-ashore underwater kingdom. These calcium carbonate structures formed underwater, and since Mono Lake was used as a water source, are now exposed limestone pillars for us to walk through. Seriously cool.
Our drive back to San Francisco was also an adventure day. We stopped at Tavertine hot springs, which was so remote that Jamie went full on nude. Our second stop was Bodie Ghost Town - a place that has been on my list for YEARS! It is a preserved ghost town that holds true to its original 1880s appearance. During 1877-1881 it was a booming town of 30 mines and 9 stamp mills, 60 saloons, and its very own chinatown. Walking the streets was walking through what felt like a wrinkle in time, with its decay and its fortitude.
