Mammoth Lakes

While waiting for the house to close we loaded up our skis and headed south for a few days. It was a good decision.

Mt Laurel via The Northeast Gully

Our seven year anniversary happened this month. It happened on a Monday and kind of slid by without much notice; hardly a high-five. We couldn't let a Monday ruin our party, so we decided that a celebration anytime during the anniversary month would count. And so we celebrated with a trip to Mammoth area, to do a fun route on Mount Laurel that I've been wanting to climb all summer.

The route was interesting, with a quick approach then continuous steep scrambling for the next 3500ft.  Luckily it didn't take too long and we were back to the parking lot changing into swimsuits in just under four hours. We jumped in the lake to cool off and clean off, and then drove a little ways down the road to see if we could find some hot springs.  Some local folks we had met at the top had tipped us off to the location of this tub, and we were stoked 'cause we've been poking around mammoth for a couple of years without finding a good soaking spot.  Turned out that it was one of the best natural tubs we've ever been in, piping hot with beautiful views. Can't wait to return there after a long ski day. I can already imagine how good that's going to feel!

Mt Laurel in all her glory. Love this view!

skunked

Sometimes things don't go quite as planned
Sometimes you get skunked
Sometimes even the best laid plans are impervious to the reign of a flu bug

Despite my bad attitude, I am thankful for a beautiful morning in Mammoth Lakes, thankful for Dani & Adam sharing their treasured, and carefully doled, Hawaiian coffee and thankful for an evening spent around the campfire.

We're waiting around, hoping that tomorrow will bring renewed health and we'll be able to do the climb that just didn't work out this morning.  I'm thinking that maybe next weekend is a better bet.