Eastern Sierra Odyssey

An iconic view of the American West & the Sierras.

Pardon the length of this post, but it truly was an odyssey... so hop along and enjoy the ride. :)

It was the end of week 9 of spring quarter, so of COURSE I would be spending the weekend in the library, studying the days away, getting all prepared for my finals, being the studious human I am.... Wrong. I did quite the opposite of this, actually, and it may have been one of the most spontaneous decisions I've ever made. Perhaps not the most responsible choice, but SO worth it.

This odyssey began on a Saturday morning at 6 am. Our two cars were packed to the max with 9 bright eyed adventurers, a wide array of snacks (homemade trail mix is a must here, folks), backpacking gear, some great music, and a zest to get out into the wild.

We drove up from Santa Clara to the Yosemite Valley and arrived around 11 in the am. As we drove through the valley I was in absolute awe of the monumental rock formations that surrounded us. When I looked up from my seat to these giants, it reminded me how small I am in comparison.

Approaching Yosemite falls.

Pro tip #1: Buy walkie talkies!! You WILL lose cell reception, and it is quite possible to lose the other car you were caravaning with. Yes, this happened to our group, and it took a while for us to find each other. So even if you are taking one car, heed my advice, and invest in some walkie talkies- they're a blast.

At about 2 pm clouds and thunder began to roll into the valley, so we weren't able to complete a long hike. (If you are able to though, I highly recommend upper or lower Yosemite trail.) We zoomed on out of the valley around 2ish, taking Tioga Pass, which offers you an unbelievable view of the valley. So if Tioga is open (weather dependent), take it!

On our drive up to Mono Lake, we drove through the depths of the Sierran wilderness, and experienced a crazy snowstorm (in the end of May!!!!) and had to pull over until the storm subsided. Fun fact: One of the boys in my car had never experienced snow in his life, so he jumped out of the car and played in the snow for about 15 mins. It was the cutest thing- he reverted to his 5 year old self and made some snow angels and snow balls. Lesson learned here is that snow can really create magic- even to a 20 year old college fella!

View from the car window during the snowstorm.

We arrived in the cute little town of Lee Vining around 5:30 after one of the most beautiful drives I'ver ever experienced and set up camp in the Bodie Mountain Wilderness area. We then proceeded to adventure to Travertine Hot Springs which were just 2 minutes from our campsite.

Hot springs. Also- this book is a MUST BUY.  It's called "How to be a Wildflower" by Katie Daisy.

We basked in the warmth of the natural geothermal hot springs and watched the sun set over the sierras. Truly a magical moment in time.

After watching the sunset we made pasta for dinner and snuggled into our sleeping bags to fall asleep under the stars. 

On day 2 we headed to Bodie Ghost town, which is a historic state park. Highly recommend checking this spot out, to add a little bit of history to your adventures.

Bodie

This reminded me of Grand Canyon or Bust :)

We next traveled to Virginia Lakes and completed the trailhead hike, a 5 mile hike, in the snow, mind you, which made it even more fun, actually. We slid down the hills, and we fell a LOT, but in the end, the view of the frozen lake sparkling in the sun made up for all scratches and bruises. 

Virginia Lakes

Take some time to sketch your surroundings on your hike- always bring a journal and some colored pens :)

After the Virginia Lakes hike, we headed to Wild Willy's Hot Springs in Mammoth Lakes, to experience another geothermal hot spring. This hot spring is a bit larger and has a 360 view of the Sierras.

Never miss a chance to watch a sunset.

Pro tip #2: Invest in a Crazy Creek! These little camp chairs are a wonderful purchase for your adventures and are very compact as well. No better way to watch a sunset than in a Crazy Creek.

Pro tip #3: Cover your Nalgene with stickers and quotes- it adds a little zest and color to your life.

We camped that night in the Buttermilks and witnessed stars that were unbelievable. Don't forget to spend some time star gazing before you climb in your cozy sleeping bag.

Lastly, if you are ever in Bishop, CA, stop at the famous Schadt's Bakery! You won't regret it. 

As my first blog post comes to an end, I want to urge to you readers the importance of being spontaneous and open to adventure in your life. This adventure came at a time that I needed it most. I made some invaluable friendships, experienced the depths of wilderness, and re-centered myself. Don't be afraid to get out and explore- even if you don't think you have time... there is always time for adventure. 

"The very basic core of a (wo)man's living spirit is his/her passion for adventure." Chris McCandless

With GCOB love, 

Sammi