New pictures

Time flies when you are having fun...

The 2016-17 winter was huge, and as I look back over the past 22 years of seasons in the Eastern Sierra I'm reminded of what we set out to do -- live it up! Work hard, but play harder. By keeping up with snow removal we did not miss a powder day, except for a couple times when the storm shut everything down.

Chair 14 was not operational on many such days, so more untracked lines for us.

Spring break, April 19, 2017.

Lunch-time laps from the top of Mt. Lincoln to chair 9 country. It is an art to be in the right place at the right time with no crowds.

Hiking out of bounds for one last powder run of the 2016/2017 season.

Minarets in the far distance, framed by Arbor and K2. The Eldorado is over 10 years old and was bought recently in mint condition from a Mammoth thrift store for $12 plus tax.

While we ride powder "elefante" trains hard with snowboard team.

Lone snowboarder's track.

Mini-pipe master with creative use of the environment. Meaningful? Meaningless?

Gazing upon more fresh lines, Chair 12 vicinity.

Solo hike to "thieves", basically a shortened play on "smugglers".

Hilton Creek backyard views.

And back to chair 14 for a slower pace.

Usually have a buried beer to end the day.

When the Town changed their logo to "smurf mountain" you could find these old signs in the dumpsters. A few of us saved them, I once actually got in trouble for not embracing the new branding -- written up.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any deeper at Hilton Creek, more snow fell. Once it reached 3 feet we shoveled the roofs.

January 1, 2017 spent at June Mountain with friends and family. The view from the chalet shows light snow, as I recall it started really turning on mid January. June Mountain was a little thin on the first.

Scouting out the Poleta Mine during Christmas break. 20 acres of views, made my eyes pop. Town of Bishop below.

Google photos took my frozen creek picture and added in some embellishments.

Selfie at the dump.

Portrait given to me by unknown Hispanic man during last night of adult softball. I was cooking up the usual storm. Below is the Shady Classic -- a veggie-burger topped with cheese, grilled jalapenos, a cheese burger, shack sauce, onions, etc.

We picked up an interest in the 113 acre Santa Rosa Mine in the Inyo Mountains and on the way to Saline Valley. Underground workings are substantial, and seen on youtube by doing a search for "Saint Rose Mine".

What goes up...

Must come down.

Guardian of the Fern Forest. One of our neighbors, Fro, told me, "that fern forest is tight".

Fall walks.

One of our Sunday hikes, lunch break at a noisy cascade along the JMT not far above Shadow Lake. I remember crackers, avocado, hard cheese, and salami.

Shadowy Shadow Lake, minutes before down-pour.

Another lake in our Sunday program. Upper Deer Lake, as seen from the traverse from top of Duck Pass. Very easy getting here, almost brutal hiking out to Lake George and back up to Duck Pass Trail head. (sounded easy)

Mother/son backpack weekend up to Hilton Lakes, our domestic water. All the lakes were visited and all were out of sight, pictured below is Hilton Lake #6.

Worn out snowboards tacked onto the wood-shed as art. Children can wear snowboard bases away in a single season of 100+ days. Years of drought only accelerate the destruction.

Wood shed detail, opium bottle in the foundation, along with special rocks from Death Valley and Cerro Gordo.

Wood shed riddle. (can't touch this)

Thelin Thompson Gnome Stove - have one at Hilton Creek and another near the June Lake Junction. Have had many cast iron wood burners, these are among the best.

Rock Creek hike and with break at the Rock Creek Lodge, grass area in front of store. Many people miss this hike, start at the East Fork Parking lot and follow the path up stream. Various loop opportunities with wild gooseberries, currants, and strawberries. Berries out of season? Ice cream and beer at the store.

Tram cable connected our property to the valley floor.

Crystal Lake with reported millions of dollars of gold tailings, waiting to be reprocessed.

One of the best photos from the hike, stone structures hug the mountainside.

Onieda Lake.