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September CA Trip
A two part trip • 1st - Multi-State • 2nd - California only
Red Rock NV
Part 1 • Nevada/Utah/Arizona • 9/22 to 9/24
Dad and I driving north and east to see some glorious terrain
9/22/2017 • Red Rock Canyon, NV
• A one-way driving lane, with various turnouts for trailheads or vistas
This glorious canyon surrounded by multi-colored mountains runs north and south just west of Las Vegas, NV. It was hard for me to realize this pristine mountain area was so close to all the glamour and glitz of the Strip!
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Zion National Park
9/23/2017(am) • Zion National Park
• A 45 minute drive from the highway to get to the North Rim
Probably the busiest NP I've ever been to. Fortunately Dad and I got here early and took the shuttle up the Virgin River Gorge without a whole lot of waiting. BUT, when we were done and ready to move to the next location within the park, we got on the shuttle to go back to our car and there had to be at least 1,000 people waiting for the shuttle. When we got to the east side of the park, to the next location I wanted to go to, there was no parking for that spot within a mile in either direction. I'm thinking I like the reservation system.
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Grand Canyon North
9/23/2017(pm) • Grand Canyon National Park • North Rim
• A 45 minute drive from the highway to get to the North Rim
Not near as broad as compared to the South Rim, at least in terms of locations you can visit with your vehicle, this rim is 1,000ft higher than the South. A completely different view when you can see the canyon and the mountains above Flagstaff in the same view. The North Rim will actually close each winter, unlike the South Rim.
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9/24/2017 • Lake Powell
• A boat tour of the lake east to Rainbow Bridge
Opposite experience to Zion, this trip was fantastic. It ended up being about 2 hours longer than I thought it was supposed to be, but I'm OK with it as it was so good! Weather was perfect, and while the boat was full, it didn't feel crowded. We could move about the boat, inside and out. The hike to Rainbow Bridge was relatively short, but that was because of the lake being so high. That also provided the opportunity to navigate down another canyon that normally we couldn't.
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Lake Powell
Part 2 • Several sites in the Sierra Nevada • 9/26 to 9/30
Dad and I go back into the mountains in California
Trail of the 100
9/26/2017 • Trail of the 100 Giants
• A one day drive with Dad and Phil Toma to the 100 Giants
Phil Toma joined us on the drive past Lake Isabella and the Kern River on our way to the Giants. Once done there, we drove up over the hill toward Kennedy Meadows, stopping at Fish Creek Campground on the way.
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9/27/2017 • Arrowhead Lake
• Dad and I drive up to Mammoth Lakes for 4 days in the Sierras
Our 1st goal was to hike to Arrowhead Lake. This lake is south and uphill from Lake Mary in the Mammoth Lakes area. We drove through the biggest campground parking lot I've ever seen (I'd never want to camp there - I would get lost). Then we had to hike almost a mile to get there. It's not that far, but it's right around 9,000ft.
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Arrowhead Lake
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9/28/2017 • Many Lakes
• Dad and I drive to see a large quantity of lakes
We started our day at Minaret Vista on the north side of Mammoth Mountain, then we drove all the way south to Lake Sabrina west of Bishop, the Weir Lake and South Lake in the same general area. Then we went the opposite way to Mono Lake, then saw Grant Lake, Silver Lake, Gull Lake, and June Lake in the June Lake Loop. Then, heading back toward Mammoth, we stopped at the Inyo Craters, which aren't technically lakes, but they are bodies of water nonetheless, so I'm counting them. The funny thing about them is that they are side-by-side, about the same depth (from the rim to the surface of the water), yet one of them is deep blue, and the other one pastel green. Then we headed back to our hotel.
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Many Lakes
9/29/2017 • Little Lakes Valley
• A day with more lakes as we go fishing
We drove up above Rock Creek Lake to the Little Lakes Valley trailhead. At over 10,000ft in elevation, we walked 1.5 miles past Mack Lake, Marsh Lake, and then stopped at Heart Lake. Then we started fishing and worked our way back to the car. Is it still called "fishing" if you don't catch anything?
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Little Lakes Valley
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
9/30/2017 • Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
• Took a side trip on the way home to LA
We drove up above the Owens Valley east of Big Pine to see the old trees. The park is over 10,000ft in elevation. Just a short visit, because we could, and then we headed back down and toward Los Angeles.
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