Ansel Adams Wilderness

Here's a couple of pictures of the last week of our 5 week trip:

We arrived in Mammoth Lakes as the jumping off point for this incredible 4 day trek.

In true California style, we had to catch a shuttle to get to the trailhead.

In more California style, the bears are everywhere. A huge, nearly 600 pound male bear came into our camp the last night. SH chased it down the valley, throwing rocks and yelling at it. No one else camped at Summit Lake was interested in assisting - they let my Davey Crockett do it. We could hear his yells echoing for miles in that canyon. Later we learned that this is a notorius bear and is becoming dangerous...they are now not recommending that you throw rocks at bears (seemed obvious to me) as they are being more known to turn on folks.

These were the hurking huge bear cannisters we each had to carry.

Our route started at Agnew Meadows. We hiked past Shadow Lake until we reached our first night's resting spot, pictured below - Ediza Lake, a beauty perched 9300 feet high and surrounded by 12,000 and 14,000 foot peaks.

Picture below is Ice Lake - the lake at 9700 feet where StudHusband and I both realized that I was going to do awesome this trip, the years of sickness were over, and where we changed our easier route, adding an extra 20 miles to include 3 more high mountain lakes.

Day 2 we headed to the most enchanting spot for me - Garnett Lake. We came over a 10,200 foot pass and as we dropped down into this high lake basin I was overwhelmed with the beauty. It was the largest lake I have ever seen out in the wilderness with massive granite peaks surrounding it and an adorable island in the middle of it. The sun was dancing on the water in the most peaceful and profoundly beautiful way. It was my favorite.

The next day we headed to Thousand Island Lake, ate a quick snack, pumped water and then went on to our 3rd night destination called Summit Lake - where Brudus the bear visited us. This lake felt like it was on the edge of the world, absolutely blew us away.

On the way back to Oregon, we took Tioga pass over and through Yosemite National Park. Here we stand and clearly I am feeling quite victorious in this picture - I had just completed a rocking trip of 35 high elevation miles in the most gorgeous wilderness I have ever experienced: The Ansel Adams Wilderness on the John Muir Trail and PCT trail.

Happy 12 years of marriage to my hiking partner for life. I can't wait to go back with you and do the entire John Muir trail - 200 miles of some of the most gorgeous land on earth.