#inyoforest

One of the amazing views approaching the Mt.Whitney summit 😀#mtwhitneysummit #hiking #instamood #adventure #instamountain #california #lonepine #inyoforest #onefootinfrontoftheother (at Mount Whitney)

Lone Pine day 2: Meysan Lake (almost). We started a hike near Mt. Whitney following a poorly drawn map for Meysan lake around noon (after brunch, of course). Another couple on their return complained of the same map discrepancies and informed us of the conditions ahead: "We made it to the second of the three lakes, but there was too much snow and incline to make it up to Meysan." We continued up and after a few more miles realized we would likely run out of daylight before reaching the third lake and so our mantra became 'Just one lake.' We were not disappointed when we arrived, after 5 miles and 2800' feet gain, to enjoy the first lake to its fullest.

"The Lord's Post Pile" - Unfortunately, you'd have to google "The devil's Post Pile" to locate where we were on a map (Mammoth CA, Inyo National Forest). People have an annoying habit of naming natural wonders "the devil's this" or "the devil's that". The devil didn't do anything to create these marvels; the Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, did. So we've taken to renaming these spots "the Lord's this" and "the Lord's that". At Post Pile, God created some perfectly tessellating hexagonal pillars. It's super cool.

The BIG Move! Day 11: Bishop, CA to Tahoe, a.k.a. “Who’s Afraid of John Muir?” a play in three acts. The Devil’s Postpile, Obsidian Dome, and Mono Lake (a most salty conclusion). Erin begins catcalling California again (because it’s just so pritty-pritty). Geologicitis is setting in and our eyes widen as we gawp at Earth’s protected majesty. We lift our taster glasses to good ol’ TR, man. Bully, bully. 

The BIG Move! Day 10: Vegas, a.k.a “Flee the desert service economy! Flee!” Crossing into California, we see the earth’s oldest living organisms. “Mistakes? No, these are 4,000yrs of on purpose.” Bristlecone Pines can grow only where almost nothing else can, up 11,000ft of switchbacks, hairpin turns and no guardrails. Better than Vegas.