Where's Walla: Eastern Sierras

We took our first trip of the season up to the Eastern Sierras. It was quite cold, and at first we were at a bit of a loss as to what we were doing up there, but each day filled itself and we found ourselves to be quite busy and happy in that beautiful place. These pics are from the first day.

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine

(You can see Mt Whitney in the background)

Jon fishing in Owen's River at our campground

Eden learning how to fly fish

Day 2

Snowshoeing/Hiking & Sledding

We did the hike in two parts because as Eden became tired she became less and less of a fan of the sled. We had to turn around and feed her lunch, then we gave it another try, this time with Eden in the backpack on Jon's back. The hike was gradually up hill at 10,000 feet and the goal was to hike in and around the surrounding lakes in the area. We made it to Lake Mary and for some reason I wasn't prepared for it to still be frozen over, so that was a bit of a disappointment, but I was glad to have made it that far at that altitude (and so was Jon, considering his 25-30lb load).

Lake Mary in the background

Eden back at camp being a goofball

Day 3

Day 3 was a very special day for us. We started the day out fishing at Hot Creek where we have fished many times and never caught a fish - this time Jon caught two of the most beautiful trout either of us has ever caught up in the Sierras. The fishing was so good that I was inspired to buy a license so I could fish too, but by the time we went back in the late afternoon/evening the wind was blowing so hard that I could hardly cast my line and the sun glaring on the river so badly that I couldn't see my indicator fly, so I didn't catch any fish but I look forward to going back & trying again. Eden was enthralled with the fish - after Jon caught the first one she stopped playing in the grass and on the rocks & took up her position at the edge of the shore, watching and waiting for the next fish to come out of the water.

Eden in position, waiting for another fish.

Jon has another fish on the hook and Eden is frantically running over to see it.

View of Hot Creek from the top.

Next we went sledding. This was round two of sledding. On the previous day, sledding didn't go so well. This time she had a lot of fun and went down the hill in her sled with Jon and I several times each. She especially warmed up to the idea of sledding when she learned that "dolly" really wanted to go sledding too.

Next we went up to Convict Lake, which is one of the most spectacular places in all of the Sierras, and Jon hiked a little way up a mountain behind the lake and snowboarded down. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures. I tried to video, but none of it came out. We did take a picture of the mountain itself from the fishing area across the way. It is pictured later. Anyway, it was pretty cool that Jon got to snowboard and all went smoothly because it has been at least 6 years since he has been on a snowboard and I always had to drag him into it. I was pretty jealous but very happy for him at the same time.