Chairlift June Lake. Simon said "I'm not sure I'd want this to be last run of the day, to carpark"

Arnold's bon voyage gift. Two stickers for the separate car hirings KEEP RIGHT

Zoom in, the trees manage to grow in rock crevices

More feckin snow as we drove away from the effect of Sierra Nevadas

I thought the Californian poppies were a lovely welcome as we returned rental

Mammoth Lakes to San Francisco 28.5.26

May 28 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C

Today was a big drive from Mammoth Lakes to San Francisco, via US-395 and US-50 (highest altitude 8100' (2470m}, at Lee Vining).
As a comparison, Ruapehu is 2797m.
Still spectacular scenery, but not the route that was planned.

(Plan was to take Tioga Pass, altitude 9,950' (3,031m). We were keeping an eye on it, and the Pass only opened up SINCE we've been in the US, so we were looking forward to being able to travel it). However, we've been foiled by the snowstorm that arrived with us in Mammoth Lakes on the evening of 26th. By morning of 27th Tioga Pass had seven inches of snow, with more expected. This route is amazing apparently and would have taken us via Yosemite but it was not to be. Ah well, the holiday gods were not with usRead more