Down & Out & Northward bound up the 395
The next morning we headed back to Horseshoe Meadow under sunny skies.
From time to time, clouds would blow through and make some interesting stops along the way.
Back at the trailhead, we look forward to shedding our packs and hitting the road after a group photo-op.
After being backcountry, we looked forward to a motel in Mammoth Lakes, up 395 towards the Tioga Pass. We got there and settled in for an easy night, yet it felt like being next to a campfire as the air was hazy with smoke from the Rim Fire a long way up north.
As well, there were several bears in town (as a result of early wakeup from hibernation), and we had a visit from one in the corner of the motel parking lot that night.
Mammoth Lakes is a great base for lots of outdoor activities. Just look at these trucks!
It's a windy road in places, and gets loaded with snow, as you can see from the guideposts (with top extensions). These aren't for winter plowing because the pass is closed, but to help during clearing after the spring thaw.
It turns out that the Tioga Pass over to Yosemite is closed because of blazes and preparation for firefighting along the road at the other end. That meant going over the next more northerly pass, Sonoran.
Helicopter training (rapelling) anyone?
The beautiful door to our lunchtime restaurant in Strawberry on the western downslope toward Sonora.
