Lake Mary Loop

Yesterday I parked at Twin Lakes above Mammoth and hiked back into the Lakes Basin.

An ice bound picnic table on the shore of Lake Mary with Crystal Crag off in the distance.

I like the contrasting and complimenting colors here.

Mammoth Mountain

I saw a couple cross country skiers and a few snowmobilers but no other hikers.

I recently got an iPhone 8 and I've been testing out the camera. It actually has nice dynamic range. It could be a little crisper but hey, for the sensor size it's doing good. I like it.

Some nice red tint.

I hiked 7.8 miles and there wasn't too much elevation gain at all. It was a nice workout because it was all snow.

The wind was 15-25 mph with gusts to 40 mph. It put a chill in the air.

There were some nice clouds forming and disappearing over the crest and they were providing some interesting light.

I'm ready for less snow.

Crystal Crag

Twin Falls above Twin Lakes.

The Sierra Nevada contain exquisite beauty.

Mammoth Mountain still produces toxic gases that kill trees and also killed three ski patrollers in 2006.

The thing about snow hiking is that it doesn't matter if it's two feet deep or twenty, you're still walking on top of it.

So many great compositions out here.

I see a heart in the ice.

This was a really nice, enjoyable hike. 

Heading back down to the trailhead.

The Mammoth Crest in back with Crystal Crag, Twin Falls and Twin Lakes.

I went back out there today and it started snowing on me. The wind was atrocious.

I very much recommend hiking back in the Lakes Basin if you ever find yourself in the Mammoth Lakes area. The path I took is really only accessible after the cross country ski season closes and before the roads open for the season, but don't let that deter you. There are tons of trails to hike in the area.

Mammoth Rock Hike

I started my hike from Snow Creek Golf Course and took the Mammoth Loop Trail to Sherwin Creek Road so the first mile and a half were downhill or level. Once the trail starts climbing it does so rather quickly. The entire trail only gains about 850 feet and most of it is within a mile of the trailhead parking area.

This is the trail. The snow was in great condition. It wasn't consolidated but firm in the shade and a little splashy in the sun. I only post-holed three times. I was able to hold my footing very well on the steep side slopes. I carried micro spikes but never felt the need to use them.

The first unobstructed view of Mammoth Rock.

Here you can see the snow covered trail traversing below Mammoth Rock.

Hiking in snow, even good snow, is a great way to build core strength.

No other tracks but mine. I guess maybe it's early season for this trail, haha. The snow covered mountains on the far horizon are the White Mountains.

In this photo you can see the White Mountains in the distance and the Glass Mountains in front of them. The Glass Mountains mark the distant rim of the Long Valley Caldera and the scrub covered hill in the photo is the Resurgent Dome. The Long Valley super-volcano erupted here 760,000 years ago and deposited ash as far east as Nebraska.

Splashy snow but I wasn't slipping. 

Looking east from near Mammoth Rock.

Very fresh bear tracks.

Last I heard, the Mammoth Lakes bear population was 34 in town. They employ a bear specialist, much like a dog catcher. He has a show on Animal Planet called The Bear Whisperer.

The Mammoth motto.

Cool story. I hope she knows.

Altogether I hiked 6.7 miles, about 2 of it in snow and total elevation gain was only 850 feet.