Autumn Interlude: The (Mostly) Annual June Lake Trip

Interlude: An intervening period of time.

The interludes, as they have infrequently appeared at the blog over the years, do not always exclude the bike. As likely as not, though, other activities, such as camping, hiking, fishing, and general site-seeing, figure just as prominently, if not more so than the two-wheeled variety.

This Autumn Interlude, as it seems to do most years, involved a trip to the area of June Lake, camping at Oh! Ridge, hiking the local Sierra, riding some very sandy roads and trails, quaffing some beer, relaxing, marveling in the beauty of my surroundings, and wondering how days can pass so quickly at times. A couple hikes filled the middle hours of the days, both new - Walker Lake via the more strenuous Sawmill Canyon Trailhead (as opposed to the more level Bloody Canyon route), and the Reversed Peaks Loop, a steep climb above June and Gull Lakes, through pine and aspen groves, to a cluster of high lakelets. It being October, the weather was perfect during the day, sunny and bright, but cold in the morning (11-degrees Thursday at sunrise).

While it is good to do things beside ride every so often, few trips would seem complete without at least a little ride time and, while I didn't really cover any new ground this interlude, I did discover those elusive tunnels under highway 395, so next year I shall be able to ride from the campground at June to the big area north and east of the highway - Pumice Valley, Mono Basin, Mono Craters, Aeolian Buttes, Devils Punchbowl - and those miles of looping, interconnected dirt roads and trails (including the Panorama Mountain Bike Trail). I am guessing a whole day could be spent riding that that big open space.

one of my smarter purchases of late - upsizing from the small backpacking tent to that nice big dome - ah, luxury

heading down slope to Walker Lake

on the shore of Walker Lake

reeds along the shore of Walker Lake

reward for a hike well done - a visit to June Lake Brewery followed each day's activity

a crimson trail across Gull Lake

 turbulence in the atmospheric river

while the sky was very hazy from a fire in Yosemite, a deer herd came down for an evening drink, June Lake

up high on the Reversed Peak Trail

Reversed Peak Trail

Autumn concerto

At one point, while hiking the Reversed Peak Loop, I stopped to wait for the mrs. to catch up. My stopping point was along the edge of a line of pines. The little forest may have extended back about fifty feet, beyond which was a line of aspens, equally wide. As I waited, a sound larger than the mountains came washing in towards me much like the sound of the ocean, crashing in waves upon a shoreline. This was the wind breaking against the forests' trees in successive waves, each break louder than the previous one as they drew nearer and then, finally, upon the large trees and small place where I stood in awe.

Standing, listening to the sound of the wind and realizing how similar it was to the sound of the ocean reminded me of another similar characteristic, for as the tides and the waves shape a shoreline, so too does the wind work to shape, grain by tiny-mica-flecked granite grain, the mountains and forests.

Upon arriving at June, I was bummed to discover that I had forgotten to replace the battery in my big camera following the races at Corriganville, as it left me with just my little jersey pocket camera. Fortunately the trusty little devil filled in just fine. If you want more photos, there is a full album of photos posted at FB.

June Lake - the silver lining