2009 Mammoth Lakes ride #2
07-22-09, 08:29 PM
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Dolce far niente
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2009 Mammoth Lakes ride #2
Today, I decided to ride up to June Lake, and ride around the June Lake Loop. I was up around 7:30 or so, but the thermometer read 67 degrees so I decided to wait for it to warm up just a touch. So, I snoozed a bit more, and ended up rolling out at around 10:30. What a slug.
An hour later, I ground my way to the top of Deadman Summit in 85 degree weather without a single cloud to give me cover. I was sweating pretty good, but the short descent down to the beginning of the loop cooled me of very nicely. A quick stop at the gas/mini-mart for Gatorade and a Payday, and I was good to go.
As I crested Oh! ridge and looked over June Lake Basin, I noticed two things - 1) the wind was picking up, and 2) there were dark clouds concentrating over the Sierra Crest in front of me. Very dark and very concentrated, but it seemed like a small, localized patch and looked to be hung up on the peaks. so, I continued on past Silver and then Grant Lakes, and kept an eye on the weather in front and to the west of me. I could see the lines formed from the clouds to the ground as the clouds were torn open on the jagged rocks, disgorging their cargo of water. Great. could be worse, though - there could be lightning.
The girls overhauled me as I crested the last ridge and began the shallow descent toward Mono Lake. I sent them on ahead to wait for me at the 395 junction, and enjoyed my last roll-out for the day. With 35 miles and about 2000' of climbing, I decided to call it a day - the wind was building, and there were other little bands of very dark clouds starting to form up and down the valley.
Calling it quits turned out to be a very good move - I wasn't in the truck more that 15 minutes when we saw a spectacular bolt of lightning flash into the ground a mile or so away. The light from its' energy had yet to completely fade when we heard the crack and boom of the thunder. As we drove back to the condo, we alternated between blue skies and torrential sheets of rain. Looking at the thermometer, I discovered that the temperature, 85 degrees 20 minutes ago, had dropped to 58. By the time we got 20 miles up the road, it was up to 92 again. Pretty wild.
Anyhow - a few pics from today's adventure:
Deadman Summit:
June Lake, as seen from Oh! Ridge:
Passing Silver Lake, looking at 12,962' Koip Peak:
After climbing up and away from Silver Lake - the first sign that there might be weather ahead:
Squiggly road that hugs Grant Lake. I shoot this pice every year, but I never get tired of it:
Looking arcoss Grant Lake, towards Mono Lake. Hardly a cloud in the sky:
Starting the last descent to ward Mono:
Here it comes:
I finish:
It's here:
An hour later, I ground my way to the top of Deadman Summit in 85 degree weather without a single cloud to give me cover. I was sweating pretty good, but the short descent down to the beginning of the loop cooled me of very nicely. A quick stop at the gas/mini-mart for Gatorade and a Payday, and I was good to go.
As I crested Oh! ridge and looked over June Lake Basin, I noticed two things - 1) the wind was picking up, and 2) there were dark clouds concentrating over the Sierra Crest in front of me. Very dark and very concentrated, but it seemed like a small, localized patch and looked to be hung up on the peaks. so, I continued on past Silver and then Grant Lakes, and kept an eye on the weather in front and to the west of me. I could see the lines formed from the clouds to the ground as the clouds were torn open on the jagged rocks, disgorging their cargo of water. Great. could be worse, though - there could be lightning.
The girls overhauled me as I crested the last ridge and began the shallow descent toward Mono Lake. I sent them on ahead to wait for me at the 395 junction, and enjoyed my last roll-out for the day. With 35 miles and about 2000' of climbing, I decided to call it a day - the wind was building, and there were other little bands of very dark clouds starting to form up and down the valley.
Calling it quits turned out to be a very good move - I wasn't in the truck more that 15 minutes when we saw a spectacular bolt of lightning flash into the ground a mile or so away. The light from its' energy had yet to completely fade when we heard the crack and boom of the thunder. As we drove back to the condo, we alternated between blue skies and torrential sheets of rain. Looking at the thermometer, I discovered that the temperature, 85 degrees 20 minutes ago, had dropped to 58. By the time we got 20 miles up the road, it was up to 92 again. Pretty wild.
Anyhow - a few pics from today's adventure:
Deadman Summit:
June Lake, as seen from Oh! Ridge:
Passing Silver Lake, looking at 12,962' Koip Peak:
After climbing up and away from Silver Lake - the first sign that there might be weather ahead:
Squiggly road that hugs Grant Lake. I shoot this pice every year, but I never get tired of it:
Looking arcoss Grant Lake, towards Mono Lake. Hardly a cloud in the sky:
Starting the last descent to ward Mono:
Here it comes:
I finish:
It's here:
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"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
07-22-09, 10:47 PM
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moth -----> flame
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Really appreciate the photos BBM. I've got to get to the Sierra's on my bike sometime - it looks spectacular.
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BF, in a nutshell
BF, in a nutshell
07-23-09, 01:47 PM
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I'm heading out to Mammoth next weekend... was thinking about riding around the June Lake area but ended up heading south to Onion Valley and Whitney Portal. Maybe I'll hit it up this year, do you have a map and/or data of your ride?
07-23-09, 07:04 PM
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Dolce far niente
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Mammoth Lakes to June Lake Loop:
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/9441677
Mammoth Lakes to Old Sherwin Grade:
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/9357302
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/9441677
Mammoth Lakes to Old Sherwin Grade:
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/9357302
__________________
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
07-23-09, 09:44 PM
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Thanks for the linkes, I may go by June Lake on my way to Yosemite on Sunday.
