XplorMor: Kayaking Mono Lake, Inyo National Forest, California

A Hiker's Promised Land

Big Pine Creek North Fork Trail in Inyo National Forest, California has it all: from spectacular views of 14+ lakes, 14,000 ft. mountain peaks, and access to the southernmost glacier in the United States and the largest in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Palisade Glacier.  There are flowing rivers and waterfalls, rocky switchbacks, Golden Trout, Jeffrey and Lodgepole pines, Aspens, a gorgeous rock cabin built by Lon Chaney Sr. and glacier-fed lakes.  This trail is truly a nature lover's paradise.

Big Pine Creek North Fork Trail

John Muir once said, “The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness."  Big Pine Creek North Fork Trail gives life to these words.  From the moment your car leaves the 395 at Big Pine, California and heads into Big Pine Canyon, it's clear another world awaits; the further into the canyon, the clearer the vision.  The road ends at the parking area for Inyo National Forest, and the trailhead for accessing Big Pine Creek North and South Fork trails.

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Second Lake

Shutout but not Shutdown

The planned XplorMor photo-expedition to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks was thwarted by the U.S. government shutdown.  We had to think quickly as we were already enroute to the parks.  Thanks to Starbucks and WiFi, we soon discovered another option: Mono Lake and other California State and Local Parks.

South Tufa Trail, Mono Lake, California

We re-routed our journey, and set course a little disoriented, yet optimistic.  Apparently we were not alone, encountering locals and travelers from Californians to Englishmen to Eastern Europeans to a Japanese couple who were also adrift and uncertain how to reorient themselves.  As the days unfold, Good Fortune seems to have followed along for the duration with one lovely adventure leading into the next.  Even the weather has behaved beautifully. And instead of another trip to Sequoia, though beautiful and worthy of numerous visits, the new destinations are exactly that: new.  Finding places and trails and scenic views not previously experienced adds to the excitement.

Lundy Canyon Trail

There has been exceptional photo opportunities and memory-making moments to share.  So with life's lemons, we made tasty lemonade and despite the shutout, we were not shutdown.

View slideshows and read more about Inyo National Forest.