the snowman of Mrs.

Lake Mary date

Mrs. hadn't had a proper stroll on Lake Mary Road so after lunch we made a point of it. I think she was happy to get out there and connect with the snow.

lodge lunch

This was new for us. Lunch was served in the lodge lobby. It was dang good tomato soup (bisque?) served with a nice, gooey grilled cheese panini. Impossible to argue with this ideal comfort food for a snowy lodge.

heading back...

More nice views on the return - Twin Lakes, Lake Mamie, Crystal Crag, etc. The sign below is about the early days of tourism in the area. Apparently fishing came before skiing.

 

Timber Sale Area?

Two notes about this area. First, this stretch of trail came very close to being downhill skiing. Second, one wonders what the logging here is all about. This is near the CO2 Hazard Area with its many dead trees, so maybe they were harvested as a result?

Horseshoe Lake, part 2

Some other trails in the Horseshoe Lake area.

Horseshoe Lake

Day two of skiing and this was the highlight. Previously I had been frightened by its designation as a "CO2 Hazard Area", but was assured that it's now safe. The naturally occurring CO2 killed some of trees along the lake, as can be seen in the photos below. At 8,950 feet this was probably my highest elevation of the trip. At 7,881 feet Mammoth Lakes is generally considered the highest town in California.