Parklife

Mammoth Lakes

I arrived in a familiar town just as the sunlight diminished and managed to get a pretty well priced room that came with brekkie and jacuzi.

I figured I should go see what nightlife I could find; actually, last year we made modifications to our snowboards in the Mammoth brewery carpark. It wasn't open back then, but tonight it was! So I picked up my cheapest and best beer in the US so far, met some Dutch guys and played free pool before showing off the Mustang to 'em.


A good nights sleep, shower - and even the luxury of a hairdryer - I was ready to explore Ansell Adams Wildnerness. I tookthe Ford around some of the winding country roads first. By the time I made it past the Mammoth landmark, I'd woken up properly and was really glad of the drive down to visit the Devils Postpile National Monument. Tight twists & turns coupled with unparalleled mountain views.

Finally on foot, I took a small trek around the area. The two main sites were the Rainbow falls; which took the longest to get to but was a great walk in amongst the chipmonks and deer. By that point I was walking with a few Californians that did their best to show me the sights.

On the way back to the car, I got the best view of the Devils Postpile. I don't know how it was formed, other than something to do with a volcanic eruption, but the hexagonal rocks were similar in appearance to the devils causeway in Ireland.

The afternoon drive back to town was a true highlight as I drove the Mustangs socks off back up the mountain pass and back past the deserted dry ski-slopes.

Time to move on again, I took the loop around June lake & mountain and ended up in Lee Vining - a small town set at the bottom of the Tioga Pass into Yosemite Park and right next to Mono Lake.