Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

Once More Unto The Trail

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

During this long break, I went to visit the mountains for a few days.  I really wanted to finish a painting and show it today, but after coming back I wanted to add something to said painting.  So, it will have to wait for another day.  For today, I have a few photos from the Eastern Sierra Mountains along with the tale of a walk that I finally managed to finish after giving up on two previous occasions.

 

 

Tenaya Lake Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

During the afternoon of our first day there, we went to our favourite spot at Tenaya Lake.   I have photographed it many times before, like this photo taken the last time I was there.

 

 

Tenaya Lake Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park pen drawing by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

I simply grabbed my sketchbook.   Sitting there by the lake,  I finished this drawing  just as the sun dipped behind the mountains.   The air around us started to get really chilly without the warm jackets which we left in the car by mistake!

 

 

May Lake Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

Our first walk was to May Lake the next day.   The trailhead starts at 8,710ft and the lake is at 9,270ft, so you have to stay mindful of the thin air. 

 

 

May Lake Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

Other than that, it was an usual Sierra mountain trail going through forest, granite slabs and gorgeous views. 

 

 

May Lake Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

May lake with Mt. Hoffman looming over it on one side.   We had our lunch at the lake shore and read our storybooks for a long while.

 

At 8,000ft – 10,000ft  on Tioga Pass, the air is much cooler,  trails often windy, and my suffocating allergies non-existent.    With that, however, comes the harsh sun and thin air.   The thin air effects everyone differently.  I tend to get bad altitude sickness, which causes headache and nausea. 

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

Photo from last time.  I had to give up at this point.

 

After acclimating ourselves with the May Lake walk,  our destination next day was the Gaylor Lakes Basin.  The trail starts at 9,970ft and goes all the way up to 10,750ft.  The first part of the trail is relentlessly steep, gaining 500ft all at once, over a distance just shy of a mile over rocks and rubble.   Because of the high elevation, National Park Service rates it as moderately strenuous.  I had to give up twice before on this trail.  I got so sick with headache and nausea that it would have been risky to continue.

 

 

 

Over the last twelve months I have been building up my cardiovascular health by increasing my running speed and distance.  I had no idea if it would help or not; that was to be seen on the trail.  I was also aware of the back pain that I still have from a fall on a trail in July.  I took Acetaminophen that morning and used a topical pain reliever.

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

Once we finished our 500ft climb to the crest and started the 200ft steep descent toward Middle Gaylor Lake, I could not believe that I made it there this time!!  I didn’t have even an inkling of altitude sickness.  

We spent a good 30 minutes sitting by the lake shore enjoying lunch and reading our books. 

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

After lunch we made our way to Upper Gaylor Lake which is not too far away.

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

Once we got there, we took another upward trail off to the left, leading to Great Sierra Mine to see the few remaining stone structures.   The wind was fierce here, and we were glad to have our jackets.  I can’t even begin to imagine what would make anyone want to have a settlement on this windy, harsh, rocky, and desolate place.  It is beautiful, but not exactly habitable.

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

By this time, the day was winding down and I still wanted to take a few photos.  We slowly backtracked to Middle Gaylor Lake and I took photos along the way.  

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

After a bit of rest and snacks back at the lake,  it was time to say “see you later.”  The mountains always reply “we will be here.”   There is another set of lakes here that we didn’t have time to explore this time.   We both know we will be back here again.   

 

 

Gaylor Lake Basin Tioga Pass Yosemite National Park photo by Soma Acharya @ inktorrents.com

 

Eastern High Sierra is a very special place for me.  As soon we cross over one of the mountain passes to Hwy 395, my heart feels at home.  As you can see, I would go to any lengths to get a little closer to the mountains.  I hope you enjoyed this tale and the photos of our adventure.  Next time I will share the painting inspired by this magical place.

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

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Wandering Camera – Mono Lake Sunrise

 

Hello everyone!  Welcome to this month’s Wandering Camera.  Today I would like to share a few more photos from our last camping trip.  Mono Lake in the eastern Sierra is a very special place.  Its fascinating geology lends to its beauty.  I was a novice photographer when I was there the last time during sunrise many years ago and that left an impression on me.  Now, years later, it was time to revisit and refresh that memory.

 

 

High Sierra Tioga Pass Sunset | Whims And Fancies

 

Wandering Camera – Sunset Hour

 

Last month I shared photos of a spontaneous visit to one of the many glacial lakes in the High Sierras during the sunset hour.  It was a magical hour.  Not quite so spontaneous, we headed out next morning toward Mono Lake for the sunrise.

 

 

Wandering Camera - Mono Lake Sunrise | Whims And Fancies

 

 

In September, High Sierra mornings are already very cold.  Since we were going to be standing still by the lakeside for photography, we bundled up in layers of warm clothing and drove out in the darkness. 

The cold air, the gentle lapping of water on the shore, the peach and cream sky and the intensely blue lake interspersed by the Tufa all combined to make the place look very otherworldly.

 

 

Wandering Camera - Mono Lake Sunrise | Whims And Fancies

 

 

 

 

Wandering Camera - Mono Lake Sunrise | Whims And Fancies

 

 

 

 

Wandering Camera - Mono Lake Sunrise | Whims And Fancies

 

 

 

 

Wandering Camera - Mono Lake Sunrise | Whims And Fancies

 

 

 

 

Wandering Camera - Mono Lake Sunrise | Whims And Fancies

 

 

 

 

Wandering Camera - Mono Lake Sunrise | Whims And Fancies

 

 

 

 

Wandering Camera - Mono Lake Sunrise | Whims And Fancies

 

 

 

Unlike the sunset of the night before which unfolded over the course of an hour, the sunrise was a much briefer affair.   We left shortly thereafter with a dazed head from this ethereal early morning.

 

 

 

Fall Red Leaf Watercolour | Whims And Fancies

 

 

Next week is a holiday week here in the US, so I am posting this month’s Wandering Camera a week early. 

Thank you so much for sharing a little bit about where you live in the comments last month.  I not only loved reading them, I even made a few travel notes.  If you are in the US, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving next week.  If you are elsewhere, I wish you a wonderful week.

 

Will you be starting with early holiday shopping or do you have other plans for the Friday after Thanksgiving?  I will be visiting a redwood forest that I have not been to before.

 

This is also going to be the last Wandering Camera until January.  I will leave the linky party open throughout January in case you want to continue to link up.  I love visiting you and reading a bit about your world, where you have been visiting, and what you have been creating.

 

Wandering Camera - Photography Linky Party | Whims And Fancies

 

You can add any number of links to your posts, or write a new post to link up.

Please add the badge or a text link back to this site on each post that you link up. You can also add the badge to your blog. I am happy as long as you link back :-)

Wandering Camera is a monthly event that runs on the last Thursday of every month.  If you follow me via email, you will get a reminder.  All photography and creative-themed posts are welcome.

Have fun!!

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I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.  

 

 

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