Fall Color Trip - East Side Sierra Nevada - October 2018

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Searching For Color & Meeting Friends

We left home Friday afternoon and enjoyed the drive over Monitor Pass to intersect with highway 395. We stopped for an early dinner at Walker Burger, our last before it closed for the coming winter season. We drove up the Little Walker River and searched out a spot to spend the night. Rifle deer hunting season was still open so there were scattered camps about. We found a comfortable spot. We walked as evening came and were surprised, probably shouldn't have been, that grown men still "road hunt" - slowly cruising a dirt road in trucks with rifles in hand looking for bucks.

"Seen any deer?" they asked.

Oh, we can be so bad with the stories we can make up on the spot. I expect the two in the old International Scout are still driving around looking for the 5x4 albino mule deer buck we excitedly told them about.

It rained and snowed overnight. It was wet in the morning but blue sky. The aspen in this area were not quite at their peak, but still so much fun to see.

We headed further south on 395 to Bridgeport where we turned up to Twin Lakes. Robinson Canyon in the Hoover Wilderness is above the Mono Village private campground.

Hiking up Robinson Canyon is one of our favorite fall hikes. The granite walls and peaks are classic and spectacular.

The trail is varied as it moves through open meadows, timber, groves of aspen, and granite benches.

Fall colors were subdued with groves stripped of leaves, others with green leaves not yet changing, and small groves with prime color.

We found a granite perch away from the trail and relaxed. The sun moved across the sky. A breeze sent the aspen quaking.

Spectacular Slide Canyon drops into Robinson Canyon from the south.

Even with the varied conditions, the fall colors were delightful.

Clouds quickly built above and we made the decision to return to the trailhead.

Rain hit just as we reached the truck.

The Lady suggested checking out the public showers at Twin Lakes Resort, as they were still open. Good inexpensive showers - make a note. After washing up, we tossed the towels in a dryer next door - good spot to do laundry also - make a note. A truck with a pop up camper drove in and parked next to us. A wonderful couple and experienced travelers - John & Barbara from South Carolina - stopped and introduced themselves. They are frequent readers of this blog. It was a highpoint meeting these two.

The sky was dark as we pulled into a favorite overnighting spot above Mono Lake. The cold bit into us with the wind, but that did not deter our ritual long evening walk.

The sky was wondrous.

We slept well, even with occasional gusts of wind rocking the camper. The storm was breaking in the morning and the growing light showed a dusting of snow on the mountains just above our elevation.

We heard that our friends, Lighthawk & SR were in the Lee Vining area so we made plans to meet them early Sunday morning in Lundy Canyon.

"Let's meet at the pond at eight," the text message read.

SR and the Lady were quickly into spirited conversation, catching up on everything since we had last seen each other. It was indeed wonderful to spend time with SR and Lighthawk again!

Lighthawk is a very talented photographer. He put our two models to work.

I really enjoyed the aspens here with the bright morning sun.

Although we have seen the fall colors more spectacular up Lundy Canyon, this was still a grand morning.

We parked in the trailhead, donned our packs, and headed up the trail.

The Lady wanted to scout out a route - maybe find a use trail - up a steep drainage that leads to Burro Lake, perched in a cirque high above. Lighthawk and SR were game to try so off we went. I immediately got lost in a tight thicket of small aspen. The others had expertly found an easy way through. I was stuck. I heard their calls for me from above. I hollered I was okay. They must have had a great time watching the brush move and shake as I tried one way and then another to get through. I was pleased I could provide entertainment.

After returning to the main trail, SR suggested we continue up the canyon a bit further. It was an excellent suggestion as we walked through two nice aspen groves.

What a great morning we spent with SR and Lighthawk! We both needed to make tracks toward our respective homes. We reluctantly turned down canyon, back to our vehicles.

We said our goodbyes with hugs all around. Our trip north on 395 was uneventful and pleasant. Hope Valley was crowded with visitors stopping to take in the Fall colors. It is good to see so many enjoying the beauty of the season in the Sierra Nevada.

It had been a quick trip, but a very fulfilling adventure. If there is a secret to searching for Fall colors, it is to thoroughly enjoy whatever you find.