After a great hike up the Narrows in Zion (above), we have arrived in California! We reached Mammoth Lakes yesterday evening after a stop in Vegas (just for groceries and an REI visit, if you'll believe it) and a drive through Death Valley. We stopped at the DVNP visitor center, where the temperature was 120 and the elevation was -190! When Malcolm filled his bottle at the water fountain it felt like it had come out of a hot tub!
We decided NOT to camp there, but to press on to the mountains. As we were driving out of Death Valley I saw what I thought was a mirage, but turned out to be an actual human being running down the highway in the middle of the Death Valley heat!! Impressive.
We had a two hour drive right along the edge of the mountain range, and it was amazing to pass by all the peaks we'll be climbing in the next few weeks!
Mammoth Lakes is a cool little ski town and we happened upon a really nice hostel in town and decided to spend two nights here relaxing and organizing instead of trying to make a one-day trip to Yosemite. Yosemite has been there for thousands of years, it can wait a few more before we visit it! The bags are packed (or will be by tonight...) and the car is ready for a much deserved 3-week rest.
We'll be picking up a re-supply in about 9 days at the Muir Trail Ranch and will be able to pick up mail there, so if anyone gets the writing itch, sent it to:
Malcolm McPhee (our resupply is under M's name not mine)
c/o Muir Trail Ranch
PO Box 176
Lakeshore, CA 93634
High Sierras here we come!!
"The mountains are calling and I must go"
-John Muir
Great blog, Emily!
ReplyDeleteI second that! Your trip looks amazing! Miss you both!
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous! Have an amazing time in CA! The women at Muir Trail Ranch are amazing. We had the best time fueling up there and refilling our dry water bottles. The hike out is a pain but one of the women will tell you about a secret camping spot for the night if you decide to hit the hot springs.
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