(GPS: N38° 01.330 W119° 15.700)
As we transition from the summer to the fall this weekend, I thought I would put up a fall hike I did a few years ago. Lundy Canyon is one of the better places to go for an easy trail hike during the fall. There is not very much uphill, and you can probably get in an out within two hours or so depending on what you want to do.
Within a few miles of HWY 395 near Mono Lake, one takes a road back into a canyon that passes Lundy Lake. Lundy was once a gold mining camp, but it is now a summer season resort area. Past the lake, there is a dirt road that gets kind of bumpy at some points, but most vehicles should have no problem getting there.
Along the way there are small streams and ponds like the following that have small beaver dams. This is something one encounters more of along the way. The main stream you will see is called Mill Stream. It is hard to believe now, but around 1880 this was known as the town of Wasson. There were stamp mills, cabins, other town buildings built around this meadow due to the gold in the mines up above. It only lasted a few years due to the avalanches destroying the buildings during the winter. The beavers have taken over since then and created ponds like this.
At some point, the dirt road ends and the hike begins.
The following gives you the big picture of how this hike is. Some fall color, lots of streams and ponds, lots of trees, and going far back into a canyon.
Trees in a pond:
Some fall color here. In the past few years of my fall experiences in the High Sierra, you have a very short time to see colors at certain areas. One week it could be yellow then the next week it could be a leafless tree. Last year I felt I got short changed on fall conditions so it is something I have been thinking about for this year. Just a month ago I noticed some colors were turning which is quite early. Last weekend I noticed some at the higher elevations were turning from yellow to red where I am at.
Eventually, the miner's cabin is encountered:
It tells you at the trailhead to leave this one alone. There are a few broken down cabins that one can see along the trails of the Eastern Sierra. Another one I have shown before was on the trail at Virginia Lakes.
Beautiful, yet spooky being out here all alone.
I'll continue this one in the next blog tomorrow.
This video was done with the old camcorder. So, take it for what it was and is:
The Fall in Lundy Canyon (Youtube Version)
The Fall in Lundy Canyon (Vimeo Version)
Music used from Incompetech.com was Awaiting Return and Trio for Piano, Cello, and Clarinet.
