Eastern Sierra trip...a little wheelin and caching

[rightseatsis]

Over the weekend Boatwrench and I ran over the Tioga Pass to the Mono Lake/Mammoth Mtn area to do a little geocaching. We had a great time and our XJ's got a good workout. I did not realize how much wheeling potential this area has. Lots of caches placed out here too. Many of them requiring a jeep to get to. Took a tour through the ghost town of Bodie, some caches out there also.

Here are some pics:

Up on Lookout Mtn.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/P7290114.jpg

We then headed out to do the cache "A Claustrophobics Nightmare" at the north shore of Mono Lake.
Above "The Crack"
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/P7300116.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/P7300118.jpg
Boatwrench w/the cache and a White Jeep TB
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/P7300120.jpg

We then headed to the Ghost town of Bodie for a couple of more caches
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/P7300130.jpg
The Shell station in Bodie (no gas)
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/P7300127.jpg
The XJ's from the "Bodie Cache" site
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/P7300132.jpg

Then Sunday morning we went up "The San Joaquin Road" to get the "Hardcore Ezakimak" Cache. This one is high up above 12,000Ft. and what a view.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/minaret.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/P7300133.jpg
Our trusty XJ's made it to the top 12,000 Ft +
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/P7300140.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/P7300134.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/IMGA0062.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/7_31_200512_31PM_0001tomjeep.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/IMGA0060.jpg

Then home through Tuolumne Meadows
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/rightseatsis/P7290111.jpg

One of the good things about this area is the variety of things to do. There are resort areas and all levels of camping. We went everywhere we wanted to with a couple of stock XJ's, but I am sure there are more hardcore trails out there to do. Something for everyone. All in all a good trip.

Can't wait to get back.

Mary

 

[IH8RDS]

Thats cool. I bet Boatwrench was happy to find that cache. I would like to win one of those Commanders there giving away. Looks like you had agood time.

 

[karstic]

Cool pics Mary. We're leaving tonight. Is San Jaoquin Road the road off Minaret Summit?

 

[Jes]

Nice pics.
I'm hopefully going to get out that way in a few weeks.

 

[rightseatsis]

Is San Jaoquin Road the road off Minaret Summit?[/QUOTE]

Yes, turn right into the vista point area and the road starts just as you enter this road off to your right. There is a kiosk and a map of the road there. It is a dead end road to the top of the mountain.

Mary

 

[Handlebars]

Didya drive around Mono Lake?It's a nice, sandy road that keeps most of the tourists away.

There is also the Ancient Brstlecone Pine Forest, home to some of the oldest living things.

You can pretty high there too!

Don't miss the Long Valley Caldera. Many hot springs to choose from...

All of these places are doable in a stock Jeep.

 

[kubtastic]

12,000+!!
The Hardcore trail out of Minaret Summit ends at 10,200 feet. The highest point on the ridge is Mt San Joaquin itself at about 11,600 feet. I hiked the Two Teats almost a decade ago and the trail across Deadman's Pass is not even fit for hiking. It's a worn path of pumice a foot wide.

Check out a panorama I found through Google: http://www.vidivideo.com/mtn-quicktime/Hardcore.qtl

 

[Boatwrench]

Yeah, I read my GPS incorrectly, the max elevation for the day was 10,400 I believe I told Mary 12,000 vice 10,200. My error.

 

[xjranger]

if ya get to cachin up Reno/Carson area let me know, i'll point ya to some up here, and join ya if i can with my stock '01 XJ. the local cachers here also run an off-road desert caching rally every year.

Ranger

 

[rightseatsis]

I'll remember that. Boatwrench and I were just talking that doing these caches has spoiled us. Now we want to do mostly the ones that take us to these special places and if we do it in our XJ's so much the better.