Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Different Places to Stretch Your Legs, 26-27 June

Having had a bit of excitement and lots of work the past few (few??) weekends, I looked forward to cruising into some new areas. What started as a leg-stretch hike turned into a flower-power tour, and I was completely flabbergasted by the complete meadows and green that stretched before me.

Saturday, I headed up McGee Creek, just a few miles north of Rock Creek and outside of Crowley Lake. I made it to the Steelhead Lake cutoff, about 5 miles in, and turned only since I had promised to meet friends in Lee Vining for dinner...













After a fantastic dinner at the MoMart (mmm... fish tacos...), I camped out with my friend John and his wife Leslie in Lower Lundy canyon. (BTW: if you haven't checked out John's book Walk The Sky yet, please do so!), where he was really talking up his shoot in the Bodie Hills from the past two days. My plans for peak bagging and snow were immediately thrown out the window, and Sunday I drove into the Bodie area, through the town, and up to the NV border to catch an amazing display of flowers, the green smell of sage, and the contrast with the red pumice of the hills. You don't get to see this sort of bloom often here, nor do the herds of pronghorn make themselves visible!







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Long story short, if you're looking to do some acclimating, take the time to drive away a bit. Explore beyond the norm. Get out there to see one fantastic bloom in both the craggy heights of the Sierra and the surrounding hills!
McGee Creek photos.
Bodie Hills photos.

From the luckiest girl in the world: Climb Hard, Be Safe.

-L

Beautiful photos. You're a lucky girl.

Hey, Moose!

I will show wife-pooh and my ILs these fantastic pics of McGee!

Hope it will still be green around July 16-18 and July 25-31.

Yes, sometimes you have to get out of your "comfort zone" and "stretch those legs."

Have fun.

Wow! Laura those pictures were awesome. I've took my wife there once in May but the flowers were not blooming yet. I just put McGee canyon on a list of places I can't wait to take little Whitney....Take care....

yeti..

Terrific pictures, looks like a great trip. Which peaks are visible in this photo from McGee Creek: P1090843

You know, I left the map in the TOF but I think that's headed towards Red and White Peak. SO much to explore up there!!

Hey Laura,
Breathtaking pics! Perhaps McGee Creek is an idea for our backpacking trip?
Kandy

Thanks, gang. Yeti-dude, Lil Whit definitely needs to go romp amongst all the flowers!

Kandy, I think McGee would be a wonderful place to head out. It's a long way to the pass, but the trail is very gradual, plenty of places to stop along the way. You might also consider going over Duck Pass out of Mammoth. A bit more lush than the places in which I've been playing lately! I might have more info about the area after this weekend...

omg

those pics rock, girl!

great to see you last weekend.

Thanks, Carole! And thanks for the scotch, dindin, and fun company last Thursday night!

I'm just staring at those photos...mouth agape.
I thought the pronghorn were impalas on Kurt's safari.
Just bloody awesome, great places to go. Not just acclimating...great places to just hang out!
Flower power...steelhead...grilled not fried...beverages. Ahhh.

James, you picked up my point precisely.

Thanks, my friend.

Hi Laura,
You know I always make a list of the Sierra flowers I can identify each summer. I feel like I just got a major jump on this season. I now have my flower books out and I'm looking through them while at the computer. Your pictures are gorgeous, the next best thing to being there. Can't wait to get there in person and to start my list!! We will being heading to the Portals on July 7. Looking forward to seeing you.
Blessings from Betsy

My dear Bets!

I'll be down at the Store July 8, can't wait to see you and Jack! Thought of you lots while out romping in the meadows this past weekend. I've got all my books out as well, trying to label all the different varieties!

Lots of love,
L

Great photos--amazing to see all those pronghorn in the Bodies.

As for McGee, flowers sure are going off now, but it's a spectacular canyon all summer. Friends of the Inyo is leading a weekend-long volunteer vacation trip to do work on the trail to Steelhead August 19-22. We'll camp at the pack station Thursday, walk in and work Friday-Saturday-Sunday morning, be back at the trailhead Sunday afternoon. Great people (small group), great food (all meals included!), great chance to earn some Sierra sweat equity while exploring this canyon. There are still a few spots--would love to have some folks from this board join us! Details here.

And we're leading a hike into the Bodies on July 10, with a former Bodie State Park ranger as your guide. Flowers should still be pretty amazing.