Absolutely amazing that there’s still enough snow left in July for people to come and ski here! The locals are saying that this is very rare. Due to all the extra driving we did yesterday we are on our way to Convict Lake relatively early this morning to get our exercise in before another long bus ride. We departed the lovely town of Mammoth Lakes nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains and famous for its ski resorts and walking trails, to head for Convict Lake.
Convict Lake is a lake located in Mono County, California, United States, situated in the Sherwin Range of the Sierra Nevada. It is known for its turquoise-blue water, the dramatic mountains that surround it, the trout fishing it affords, and its unusual history. The oblong-shaped lake is filled with water as clear as glass, encircled by a three-mile long access trail and boxed in by the steep backdrop of the Sierra Nevada, highlighted by the 12,241 feet Mount Morrison. Convict Lake was originally carved out by glaciers, and at up to 140 feet deep in some places, it’s one of the deepest lakes in the region.
Lake Convict is famous for how it got its name. In the fall of 1871, a posse trapped a group of escaped convicts from Carson City, Nevada, at the lake, then known as Monte Diablo. A shootout ensued and two locals, Robert Morrison and Mono Jim, were killed. Most of the inmates were eventually caught and put to frontier justice. The large peaks above the lake were renamed after the fallen posse members and the lake itself became known as Convict.
The hike around the lake was beautiful. Due to the warm weather and the snow on the mountains melting, we had various streams to navigate, so we were walking over and balancing on logs and eventually had to wade through the water to get back on the path. The water was stunning, such a clear blue and it was lovely to see people fishing and camping around the lake and just enjoying being in the moment. A very enjoyable hike with the team! Really nice too, that our group all keep together and support each other on the hikes. We have Ron, our tour leader, Issy from Ireland, Alyse and Hilary from Toronto, Canada, Will and Sophie from Wales and last but not least Ola from Virginia, USA and Angela from Texas USA. And of course the token Aussie!
After our big hike we headed over to Mono Lake. Mono Lake is a saline soda lake in Mono County, California formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in an endorheic basin. The lack of an outlet causes high levels of salt to accumulate in the lake which make its water alkaline.
Mono Lake is hauntingly beautiful, reflecting the snow-capped Sierra Nevada in its shimmering blue waters. An immense inland sea, the lake fills a natural basin, 695 square miles in size.
This desert lake has an unusually productive ecosystem based on brine shrimp, which thrive in its waters, and provides critical habitat for two million annual migratory birds that feed on the shrimp and alkali flies. Historically, the native Kutzadika’a people ate the alkali flies’ pupae, which live in the shallow waters around the edge of the lake.
When the city of Los Angeles diverted water from the freshwater streams flowing into the lake, it lowered the lake level, which imperilled the migratory birds. The Mono Lake Committee formed in response and won a legal battle that forced Los Angeles to partially replenish the lake level.
The most distinctive feature at Mono Lake is its eerie tufa towers-mineral structures created when fresh-water springs bubble up through the alkaline waters of the lake. The lake’s salty water makes you float like a cork, if you are game to go in! The immediate area resembles bush land and is very exposed to the elements. Very impressive and we enjoyed the short walk around the area.
Back on the bus and off to Lake Tahoe again, but a different part to where I was a week ago. This time we headed to south of the lake on the Nevada/Californian border. Time for a “nanna nap!!”. After a few minutes on the road we were all asleep, except for Ron of course. I am proud to say that I was well able to keep up with all of our tour group despite the age differences. Most be the challenging Nepal trek I completed last year.
