Talk about a "sea of green"! It really wasn't necessary to get a salad along with the quiche and the egg salad sandwich. This place is actually quite good for healthy, mindfully-made food.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
commemorative plaque
It verges on hilarious that we stayed at Tamarack Lodge before and after its 100th anniversary. We didn't plan it that way; it just happened that way. Anyway I took note of this commemorative plaque that was placed after our last visit in 2023.
Dragon's Tail
This wall of rock hovering over Lower Twin Lake is impressive. I was curious what people call it. According to Google it's referred to as the Lava Tube or the Hole in the Wall. According to the front desk clerk in Tamarack Lodge it's the Dragon's Tail. I prefer this last name because 1) I heard it from a human and not AI and 2) it makes sense because the Dragon's Back Trail, which I sampled in 2023, runs alongs the top of this formation.
Monday, March 30, 2026
Shelter Distilling revisited
We famously had lunch here in 2022 and I've been receiving emails from them ever since. I was pleasantly surprised with everything: tasty shrimp tacos, salad and pretzel, plus an ambiance - which I feared at dinner time would be dark, crowded, loud and drunken - that was actually quite civilized. Good work Shelter Distilling.
Black Velvet Coffee
This trip to the "Village" didn't start well when parking proved to be an ordeal. Then this coffee house shocked me by not having decaf. The service wasn't great either. Things took a humorous turn for the better when various factors drove us outdoors and Mrs. and I finally found seats we could tolerate. Mine was mostly in the shade, while hers was across the way and mostly in the sun. In some strange way it worked.
Sunday, March 29, 2026
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.
Saturday, March 28, 2026
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?
Friday, March 27, 2026
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.
our famous breakfast table
After a brief intermission, we got our famous breakfast table back. This allowed us to alternate brief morning walks while the other stayed put and sipped coffee, tea or Wordle. It was a different routine from home, but it worked.
The Eatery revisited
This first time we came here I was a bit underwhelmed by the food. This time it was much better. Which goes to show - it's a good to give a place a second chance. You never know when something or someone will shine.
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Lake Mary 2026
My second circumnavigation of Lake Mary on cross country skis. The famous crag hovering over the lake is still known as Crystal Crag. Crystal Crag Lodge was still half buried.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
X-country skiing 2026
Conditions alternated between powdery in the sun (good) and icy in the shade (bad). I only occasionally lost control. From the point of view of cardio exercise however it was great.
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