Convict Lake
All of our friends were incredulous when we sold my brother’s condo in 2015 and announced we were done with Mammoth and done with skiing. We tried living there, but only made it sixteen months from July 2013- October 2014. I was the one who couldn’t do it. Honestly it scarred me. Vacationing and daily living are two different things. We gave it a shot, but too many things worked against us. At least we scratched that itch.
I had been visiting Mammoth since 1977 and Amelia since 1987. I can’t even guess how many times I’ve been up and down the 395. It’s for sure more than 400 times. I’ve been yearning to see the Eastern Sierra fall colors, so after eleven years it felt like it might be time to visit the area again.
We knew there have been a lot of changes because all our friends that still go to Mammoth have told us. Driving through town it was stunning to see all the new development, especially the high rise buildings. We then drove up to the ski resort and to the Minaret Summit. Then back through town to Nic n Willie’s where we split a hot yardbird sandwich. From there we walked over to and through my brother’s old condo complex, Krystal Villa East. Then we drove by Dave House’s old condo, then Needle’s old house. To say it was a lot emotionally is an understatement. It was a flood of great memories but also drudged up some bad ones. Both of us shed a few tears.
The Eastern Sierra is a stunningly beautiful place. Truth be told I don’t think we’ll ever go back there again. 😢
The Astro Burger is no longer in business. A victim of Covid or perhaps changing times. This was a landmark at Four Corners, aka Kramer Jct. It opened in 1972. I first visited it in 1977. I have no idea why the sign is still there. It would be pretty cool if they never took it down. The building has been scraped and in it’s place is a new Shell gas station and mini mart, soon to be open. Once upon a time it was called Karen’s Astro Burger. I have no idea what happened to Karen. Being the stupid teenagers we were, we used to call the place Karen’s Asshole Burger.
As you come up on the Owens Dry Lake Bed and the old Pittsburg Plate Glass silos, tune into 89.9 fm to hear some crazy X-Files type shit. According to the dreaded AI that’s probably going to kill all of us, the Metabolic Studio (led by artist Lauren Bon) transformed one of these towering concrete structures into the Sonic Division’s Aeolian Harp. By stringing massive steel cables across the 80-foot vertical space, the silo acts as a giant resonant chamber that amplifies the powerful winds sweeping through the Owens Valley into cascading musical harmonics and tones.
We spent our first three nights at Brown’s Owens River Campground. That’s Amelia strolling along the river heading back to Opal.
Our first night we were treated to a magnificent sunset.
In the morning we had dramatic clouds. The next morning was clear and 21 degrees outside and 37 in the Airstream. The coldest weather Opal has been in.
The start of the Convict Lake hike.
Black Cottonwood leaves changing, at least I’m pretty sure that’s what they are!
The glow
An easy beautiful hike to see fall colors.
The famous Convict Lake Boardwalk.
Minaret Summit, boy oh boy the stories this pipe could tell.
My brother’s old condo complex. We had to laugh because there was a pile of dog shit by the sign.
The bottom balcony Amelia is walking towards was our unit. Now there’s a big sidewalk that has eliminated a lot of parking.
Unit 102
I kid you not, when we sold the place Amelia left this tchotchke behind, eleven years later it’s still there! That says a lot about something, what, I don’t know.
Another beautiful Upper Owens Valley sunset.
We only got in one ride, but it’s a great ride.
This is the first leg of Lower Rock Creek.
Here’s the third and final leg.
The Owens River Campground closed on September 30th. So we moved to a boondock spot eight miles north of Mammoth Lakes. Nice spot but we struggled with our solar.
Lee Vining…
Another classic fall hike is Lundy Canyon.
Classic late season aspen leaf spot lesions.
Tight section
My favorite picture.
Our last evening in town we had dinner with Jimmy and Joani. Jimmy was with my brother when he died.
