Hi
I will be visiting Bishop, Lee vinning, and Lonepine during the July long week end. I would like to get some suggestions on good places to visit for good photo opps. And also do I need to worry about the crowd. Do I need to hike a lot for getting to good scenic places?. If so do I need to get the hike permits ahead?. Appreciate any info or suggestions. Let me know if anybody is also visiting during that time, I will be happy to meet fellow photographers.
thanks
-Avaneendra
Posted by Richard Wong on June 25, 2006 at 11:11 AM
I've never been there on a holiday weekend but it can get very busy in certain places like the Tioga Pass especially. Lee Vining can get a little busy too in summer but it's a small town and opens late for Mono Lake area travelers which is nice. I guess you'd see most of the people at Bodie, Mono Lake's South Tufa Reserve and Bishop Creek Canyon. I believe you only need permits if you're doing overnighters in the backcountry or summiting Mt. Whitney.
The east side looks great everywhere whether you hike or not. If you're car camping, stay away from the busy campgrounds as the drunk people usually have no respect for others.
Posted by Lars Jensen on June 25, 2006 at 10:28 PM
I plan to visit this area this summer and have been researching it a lot but I've been looking more for places to hike than to just take pictures. From what I have found so far, the most dramatic scenes are in the Ansel Adams Wilderness area outside Mammoth (like Banner Peak over Thousand Island Lake) and the Palisade Glacier area near Bishop. Unfortunately, these both require a hike of about 20 miles round trip. I found one website by a woman who has taken lots of pictures on backpacking trips in the area and actually maps out where she took each picture from. Here are her shots from the Ansel Adams Wilderness area:
http://doors.stanford.edu/~sr/ansel-adams-2003/index.html
And from the Palisade Glacier area:
http://doors.stanford.edu/~sr/big-pine-lakes/index.html
This guy also has a lot of amazing photos from the Sierras (most require lots of hiking):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckforester/
Having been through the area this last winter I can say that there is plenty of amazing scenery visible right off 395.
Posted by Richard Wong on June 25, 2006 at 11:21 PM
For easier access to the high country you might try entering through Little Lakes Valley in the John Muir Wilderness which is at the end of Rock Creek Canyon. If you're adjusted to the 10,000 ft. altitude then it should be an easy day hike. You have to check if it's open yet. The scenery is amazing.
All of the areas you mention will be very busy over the holiday weekend, especially the Mount Whitney region (Lone Pine) and Lee Vining (because of its proximity to Yosemite).
That said, there is till much to see without hiking great distances. One of my favorites is McGee Creek, which is just north of Crowley Lake. If you want to visit there, it will be best to camp in Rock Creek Canyon. There are several campgrounds there, so your likelyhood of finding a campsite is much improved. Rock Creek is beautiful in its own right. Richard is correct about Little Lakes Valley: It is amazing!
I will say that it will be very, very hot in the Lone Pine area, even up high. I usually avoid it in the summer because of this, and the crowds. So, my suggestion would be to forego Lone Pine for now, and concentrate your time in the areas between (say) Mono Lake and Rock Creek. Because these areas are at a higher elevation than Owens Valley, it will be significantly cooler and less crowded. When I am in the Mono Lake area, I usually camp in Lee Vining Canyon or up at Lundy Canyon.
I have just returned from three days in the Tuolumne Meadows region in the company of our very own Michael Gordon. We had a grand time burning film and generally loafing around in the high, wide and windy! Yosemite is very, very busy and will be zoo over the holiday. If you decide to got to Tuolumne Meadows go early in the day or late in the day. We camped in LeeVining Canyon where there are a few campgrounds. We were amazed at how quiet Aspen Campground was: It was quite peaceful, even though it was pretty full.
A great deal of the Sierra High Country is still under snow. Many of the trails are not visible and lakes above 9000 feet are still partially or wholly ice-choked. The streams are raging-very cold and very swift water. There are also some very large, and dangerous snow cornices on ridges which could collapse. Not only for you, but for others on CANP: If you are not an experienced and well equipped mountain hiker, it will be safer to look for more moderate objectives, until the conditions allow for safer travel in the high country. If you decide to hit the trails, be prudent and maintain awareness of your situation.
There are so many places that come to mind that are easily accessed, you will not not find it difficult to obtain some nice images. Highway 395 is one of the most spectacular roads anywhere, and opportunities abound. Have fun, but be safe!
-PB
ps: Little Lakes Valley is one of my favorite places on the planet: it is simply magical!
pps: The bugs are out in force! The mosquitos and deer flies are voracious! Be sure to take plenty of anti-bug juice.
Posted by Richard Wong on June 26, 2006 at 12:56 AM
Sounds like you a great trip. I've only been through Tuolumne Meadows once and would love to go back when there's less traffic there. Some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen was the Sonora Pass when it was covered in snow last year. It was a short stretch of it, but way beyond my expectations.
If you're planning on doing Little Lakes Valley I'd go there after you've spent several days on the east side as you'll probably feel very sick after just a few steps from the car if you're not acclimated.
Don't go near the Owens River w/o mosquito repellent, and even then it doesn't really help you... Wear long sleeves and beanie to keep out them out of your ears. Great photo ops, but at a risk to your health because you will get stung.
I came over Sonora Pass on my way home today. There is more snow than last year, but it going fast with the hot temperatures. So, you might want to head up soon for the best shots of snowy peaks. The streams up there going great! It's a wonderful time on Sonora Pass!
Michael and I noticed that the traffic in Tuolumne thins out substantially after about 5 PM: All the day-trippers are off to have dinner, leaving the mountains peaceful for a couple of mountain bums like us.
Lars and Preston,
Thanks for your wonderful suggestions. I wish one day I would go for a backpacking. I need first keep my body fit and then slowly improve upon.
Lars and Preston,
Thanks for your wonderful suggestions. I wish one day I would go for a backpacking. I need first keep my body fit and then slowly improve upon.
I would agree with the suggestions for Little Lakes Valley. It is a beautiful area and a very easy hike, if you are okay at high elevation. You can also backpack in to several lakes at the back end of the valley (you will need a wilderness permit for overnight stays). I spent several nights there last 4th of July weekend. The mosquitos were really, really bad. Bring plenty of bug juice. Crowds were not too bad. You will probably want to check with the forest service to make sure the area is open, with all the snow still up in the Sierra.
A friend and I are set to head out on a 5 day road trip for the Owens Valley this evening. We'll be up in the bristlecones at least a couple days and down in the Owens looking up at the Sierra the rest. Many of our destination are more obscure secrets but I'll give you a few common ideas for photographers. In the morning I'll suggest being at South Tufa at Mono Lake well before sunrise as dawn rises. That ought to keep any of us busy till any mid morning. Then there is Convict Lake that starts looking reasonable about an hour after sunrise for reflections. Lower McGee Creek canyon will have wildflowers. Generally there will be lots of people and photographers about their favorite higher summer mountain places, however most will be disappointed that they are yet rather early June like with too much snow and little green or wildflowers. Down in Bishop drive up to North Lake for an early morning reflection. ...David
Discussion
11 repliesI will be visiting Bishop, Lee vinning, and Lonepine during the July long week end. I would like to get some suggestions on good places to visit for good photo opps. And also do I need to worry about the crowd. Do I need to hike a lot for getting to good scenic places?. If so do I need to get the hike permits ahead?. Appreciate any info or suggestions. Let me know if anybody is also visiting during that time, I will be happy to meet fellow photographers.
thanks
-Avaneendra
The east side looks great everywhere whether you hike or not. If you're car camping, stay away from the busy campgrounds as the drunk people usually have no respect for others.
Thanks for your suggestions and info,
-Avaneendra
http://doors.stanford.edu/~sr/ansel-adams-2003/index.html
And from the Palisade Glacier area:
http://doors.stanford.edu/~sr/big-pine-lakes/index.html
This guy also has a lot of amazing photos from the Sierras (most require lots of hiking):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckforester/
Having been through the area this last winter I can say that there is plenty of amazing scenery visible right off 395.
All of the areas you mention will be very busy over the holiday weekend, especially the Mount Whitney region (Lone Pine) and Lee Vining (because of its proximity to Yosemite).
That said, there is till much to see without hiking great distances. One of my favorites is McGee Creek, which is just north of Crowley Lake. If you want to visit there, it will be best to camp in Rock Creek Canyon. There are several campgrounds there, so your likelyhood of finding a campsite is much improved. Rock Creek is beautiful in its own right. Richard is correct about Little Lakes Valley: It is amazing!
I will say that it will be very, very hot in the Lone Pine area, even up high. I usually avoid it in the summer because of this, and the crowds. So, my suggestion would be to forego Lone Pine for now, and concentrate your time in the areas between (say) Mono Lake and Rock Creek. Because these areas are at a higher elevation than Owens Valley, it will be significantly cooler and less crowded. When I am in the Mono Lake area, I usually camp in Lee Vining Canyon or up at Lundy Canyon.
I have just returned from three days in the Tuolumne Meadows region in the company of our very own Michael Gordon. We had a grand time burning film and generally loafing around in the high, wide and windy! Yosemite is very, very busy and will be zoo over the holiday. If you decide to got to Tuolumne Meadows go early in the day or late in the day. We camped in LeeVining Canyon where there are a few campgrounds. We were amazed at how quiet Aspen Campground was: It was quite peaceful, even though it was pretty full.
A great deal of the Sierra High Country is still under snow. Many of the trails are not visible and lakes above 9000 feet are still partially or wholly ice-choked. The streams are raging-very cold and very swift water. There are also some very large, and dangerous snow cornices on ridges which could collapse. Not only for you, but for others on CANP: If you are not an experienced and well equipped mountain hiker, it will be safer to look for more moderate objectives, until the conditions allow for safer travel in the high country. If you decide to hit the trails, be prudent and maintain awareness of your situation.
There are so many places that come to mind that are easily accessed, you will not not find it difficult to obtain some nice images. Highway 395 is one of the most spectacular roads anywhere, and opportunities abound. Have fun, but be safe!
-PB
ps: Little Lakes Valley is one of my favorite places on the planet: it is simply magical!
pps: The bugs are out in force! The mosquitos and deer flies are voracious! Be sure to take plenty of anti-bug juice.
If you're planning on doing Little Lakes Valley I'd go there after you've spent several days on the east side as you'll probably feel very sick after just a few steps from the car if you're not acclimated.
Don't go near the Owens River w/o mosquito repellent, and even then it doesn't really help you... Wear long sleeves and beanie to keep out them out of your ears. Great photo ops, but at a risk to your health because you will get stung.
I came over Sonora Pass on my way home today. There is more snow than last year, but it going fast with the hot temperatures. So, you might want to head up soon for the best shots of snowy peaks. The streams up there going great! It's a wonderful time on Sonora Pass!
Michael and I noticed that the traffic in Tuolumne thins out substantially after about 5 PM: All the day-trippers are off to have dinner, leaving the mountains peaceful for a couple of mountain bums like us.
-PB
Thanks for your wonderful suggestions. I wish one day I would go for a backpacking. I need first keep my body fit and then slowly improve upon.
thanks once again
-Avaneendra
Thanks for your wonderful suggestions. I wish one day I would go for a backpacking. I need first keep my body fit and then slowly improve upon.
thanks once again
-Avaneendra