Eastern Sierra High~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS

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Today we hiked the Crystal Lake Trail in The Eastern Sierra,

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with a brave friend who led the way and cut in front on high altitude precipices!

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We climbed 1,000 vertical feet starting at a base of 8900 ft,

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passing many pristine alpine lakes,

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and making a few nice friends en-route!
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Tomorrow we go higher starting at a base of 9,900 ft and heading up into Tioga Pass, land of no wifi, so I will hopefully be back in touch the day after tomorrow.
Cheers to you from the high Sierras~

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239 thoughts on “Eastern Sierra High~”

  5. I was going to backpack from Kennedy Meadows to Mt. Whitney this summer, Cindy, but had to skip it. You are wandering around in my favorite part of the world. Jealous. 🙂 –Curt

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    1. We just hiked Whitney a few days ago and are still lusting at the cabins as we have been for years now. The leases are running down now. It is so stunningly gorgeous up there.

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      1. “We just hiked Whitney,’ she said casually. 🙂 That is one heck of a hike. I’ve usually come at it from the west after I’ve had a few weeks of backpacking under my belt. –Curt

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        1. Oh no, we didn’t summit! We’ve been doing a series of acclimating hikes, after Whitney, in Tioga Pass outside of Yosemite, and up in Mammoth Lakes. Going higher and longer each time. I am amazed to see how my stamina compares very favorably with when I was younger and the altitude bothers me less. Of course I am not doing 13 miles, mostly vertical in a day, like I did when I was young! But have you noticed this with yourself, that your stamina is good for long hauls with altitude? Tomorrow we are going to see The Ancient Bristle Cone Pine Forest, something I have never done. I want to hug 4,500 year old Methusula and get tips from her on healthy aging…….

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          1. I have always been amazed at how fast the body acclimates, Cindy. And it is definitely faster if you have a lot of high altitude living/hiking in your past. I think our red blood cells say, “Oh my, I recognize this,” and immediately begin to take in more oxygen. The last time I climbed Whitney I did so at the end of a 360 mile backpack trek. I won’t say it was ‘a piece of cake,’ but I was definitely ready for it. Some 20-something (40 years younger than I) trail runners were coming up from the east side and fell behind me on the ascent. 🙂 They were a bit surprised, but I wasn’t. My body had had a lot of time to acclimate.
            As for the Bristle Cones, I love them. As I recall, Methuselah wasn’t marked at the time. People would probably break off pieces. Please pass on what advice the old fellow has to give you. 🙂 –Curt

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  8. What a hike and what a great friend to have with you. Looks as though the lakes have boats on them–that would be nice as well. Enjoy the hike. Breathe well!

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  15. Thank you for these gorgeous photos Cindy…I’m right there with you…in spirit of course 🙂 When I lived in Arizona I was always struck by how high above sea level we were even when not in the mountains. Sierra Vista itself was apx. 4,600 feet and that was in the foot hills of the Huachucas…I <3 it 🙂

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      2. Yes, after awhile you get this exhilaration and energy boost and then really WANT to keep going. We have reserves of energy in us, the mysterious “second wind!”

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  20. What awesome views Cindy!! It looks like you were perched on top of the world! Stunning photos (like always!) What a wonderful hike (we are in Wisconsin, taking some much flatter hikes with our kids here!) xox

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      1. HI Cindy– yep we’ve been bobbing in, hiking around lots of lakes here– so beautiful and green!! I can imagine the photos you’d take here– There are bald eagles nesting in the trees around our lake.! xox

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    1. We are, thank you Maria, and it is still gorgeous despite the terrible visible toll of the ongoing drought. I saw a bear cub yesterday, all alone with no mama bear to protect it. Sad. 🐻

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  27. Cindy, the photographs in this post are astonishing; bringing tears to my eyes with their beauty. The one with your ‘best friend’ brings a wonderful sense of perspective. Such crystal clarity -I can just imagine how pure the air feels! What an amazing place.

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  31. High country lakes are one of my favorite places, Cindy. Aside from being so pristine and beautiful, they’re usually so far from the beaten path that you can actually find quiet…, and peacefulness. The scent of the spruce and pines is intoxicating too. 🙂

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  37. Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : Scarecrow fun in Kettlewell | restlessjo

  40. Those photos are amazing, Cindy. I love those deep blue lakes and congrats on all that climbing and walking. I’ve just come back from driving my daughter to school which is a 90 minute round trip and that exhausted me. I was driving behind a Police car which had signs of fatique written on it and yawning as I read “yawning”. Need a nap before I take the dogs for a walk to the beach.
    Your trip sounds amazing!
    xx Rowena

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  44. Cindy these photos are incredibly beautiful. I’m kind of a wimp when it comes to the cool or cold weather. I’m adapting after leaving Southwest Florida’s warmth. I have managed to get to western Nebraska where my first experience with temps below 45 degrees is currently taking place.Lol! 🙂

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  45. Looking out on that view would leave me breathless, of course the altitude would do it, too. 😉 Cindy, the dog and little chipmunk were so crisp and clear. The chipmunks scamper so fast I capture “blurs!” Thanks for sharing this gorgeous overlook on such pretty blue lake and evergreens, I can almost smell their needles and bark!

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