We had to do a Starbucks stop in Tulare. We both got black iced teas. Bakersfield was a mess being it was around 5:00 pm, but once we headed east on Highway 58 towards Tehachapi, it was smooth sailing.
We had to stop and make a "splash and dash" in the Hubcap Capital of the World...Pearsonville!
We stopped at one of the mini-marts just south of Lone Pine to stock up on last minute supplies. We had called in our dinner order at the Pizza Factory and had to make a stop there.
We arrive at our campsite and immediately set up camp in the dark. The lantern was our only source of light until Pam got the fire going.
We dined on lasagna, veggie spaghetti and antipasto salad and called it a night. Very calm. The flowing waters of Lone Pine Creek lulled us to sleep.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
We hit the trail at 8:51 am. The heat was pretty intense until we got passed the six switchbacks and headed for higher and shadier elevations. We spotted some mule deer (all bucks) about 3/4 of a mile into the hike. The only only wildlife we spotted was a Steller's Jay or two. Saw some bear scat on the trail but nothing else.
We reach Whitney Portal at 11:17 am. We stand on the rock where we exchanged wedding vows. We saunter over to the Portal Store to look around before ordering lunch. I ordered a Portal Burger and Fries while Pam ordered just the fries. Damn good!
We then headed back down the trail at 12:34 pm and reached the trailhead at Lone Pine Campground at 2:29. Again no encounters of any kind except for a few hikers here and there near the campgrounds. Pam and I never did encounter any hikers going up or coming down from Lone Pine Campground.
The hike according to my Garmin was about 8.08 miles and took us 4 hours and 21 minutes.
After cleaning up, we headed into town to get more supplies. Pam cooked up some organic vegetables and rice to go along with our salmon. Delicious. That night, the waxing gibbous moon was spectacular.
There were no bear sightings.
The WPNRT provides some of the best framing shots for both amateur and professional photographers.Sunday, September 14, 2008
We broke camp around 8:00 am and headed to town to have breakfast at the Mt. Whitney Restaurant.
We drove up to Bishop to get a cup of coffee at the Looney Bin. We did not stop at Schat's Bakkery.
We turned off onto Tioga Pass road and stopped at the bridger over the Tuolumne River to soak our feet. The river is considerably low this time of year.
We stopped off at Olmsted Point to take in some of the grand vistas of Half Dome, Clouds Rest and Tenaya Canyon.
Many of the erratics left by glaciers long ago.
Erratics.
Tenaya Lake way in the back.
Looking towards Tenaya Lake.
If Half Dome could only be THIS easy.
Half Dome and Quarter Dome. If one won't get you, the other one DEFINITELY will!
If you are planning a trip to Tuolumne Meadows, there is no gas service. The gas station is having its leaking underground storage tanks being replaced.
Wherever I may roam...
