What to do in the Eastern Sierra?
Paddleboard on Owen’s River:
Along HWY 395, the possibilities of fun are just about endless. One of the great delights are the rivers. If you are a fisherman, go cast a line. If you are a paddler, go inflate that board and hit the river. Or, better yet, do both! Getting on the river with the paddle board was quite a joy, especially as the water was cool and moving at the right speed.
Swim in Lake Sabrina (even though it was FREEZING COLD):
DANG!! This was a cold one. Lake Sabrina is one of my favorite lakes to swim in during the summer, but I had not taken a dip in the winter… or late fall. When I say cold, I mean that I was shaking, my lips turned purple, and at some point, I ended up throwing up because I was so dang cold! Swimming in the Eastern Sierra during the winter was a fun challenge I am not sure I would take on for myself again. Once out of the water, I hunkered down in a sleeping bag, inside of my van, turned the heater on, and tried to warm up. Andrew was laughing at me the whole time!
Hike Out of the North Lake Trailhead to a Lake Jump above 12,000 feet:
Okay, okay, I know that I said in the paragraph above that swimming in a lake in the Eastern Sierra during the winter was not a very good idea, and one that I would not take on again, but I lied to myself. The next day, waking up at the North Lake trailhead, I crawled out of my van, only to find snow on the ground. As I put on my boots and layered up for the day’s hiking and photoshoot, I just couldn’t let this lake go without a dip. As the snow became impassable to access the upper Lamarck Lake, the lower was the only option.
Lower Lamarck Lake Location… CLICK HERE!
Soak in Wild WiLly’s Hot Spring:
If you are ever feeling a little bit sore after a long day of ski touring, rock climbing, or just got out of the backcountry from a week-long backpacking trip, these hot springs are a must. Why? Well, these hot springs are just one of many around the Mammoth area, just off HWY 395, so you can find a hidden gem without many people if you are willing to look. One key to looking is to watch for steam!
Location: https://www.outdoorproject.com/united-states/california/wild-willys-hot-springs
Boulder Around Bishop:
For those who are not climbers, the town of Bishop, CA—which highway 395 passes directly through—is a hub of climbing for much of the strong climbers. Bishop is home to every discipline of climbing; bouldering, alpine climbing, sport climbing, and good ole mountain scrambling. If you are a climber, Bishop is one of those places you’ll visit, just give it some time.
The two bouldering areas you will hear ALL OF THE TIME will be either the Buttermilks or the Tablelands (often referred to as the Happy’s or the Sad’s). These two areas have vastly different rock, which leads to a variety of styles and fun to be had. The buttermilks are crimpy, slippery, and hard granite. Meanwhile, the Happy’s or the Sad’s are more like gym climbing on volcanic rock; aka big moves on okay holds.
If you want to check this place out, here is the link to Mountain Project: https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105876411/buttermilk-country
Watch Breath-Taking Sunsets:
With everything said, some of the best times were the sunsets. The highway 395 corridor, which provides access to the Eastern Sierra, was referred to as the Range of Light by Ansel Adams. Ontop of that, Ansel Adams Wilderness is named after the iconic photographer. I mean, how prolific of a creative do you have to be to have the highest protected land designation named after you? That is quite an honor. I mean, just look at those sunset colors in the photo below… I’m drooling!
Conclusion
These last few days here in the eastern Sierra have a been a blast and the sunsets/sunrises have been out of this world. Much like the colors of the sky, the experiences have been a blast! From paddle boarding to hot springs to bouldering, I kinda feel like we have been getting our fair share of fun! As @andrew__muse and I head different directions for a couple weeks, I am grateful and stoked for what is to come.
Now, it’s time to put my head down and start grinding away on some editing! Lots and lots of editing. Good news is, I should be close the ocean, so surfing is back on the docket 😊
