Leaving Paso Robles and after another overnight stay
in Bakersfield we re-crossed Tehachapi Pass and headed back across the Mohave
Desert to Bishop. As we followed Highway
395 the Sierra Nevada Mountains were absolutely covered in snow. This was the view from our RV park in
Bishop.
and we certainly don’t get this view when we fill up
with fuel at the supermarket at home!
Our plan was to stay in Bishop for a week and, if it
was open, drive Tioga Pass Road into Yosemite National Park and maybe Sonora
Pass. But as there had been incredibly
heavy snowfalls earlier in the year the roads were still closed.
This was as far as we could go along Tioga Pass Road,
further up the pass the snowdrifts were over 20 ft. deep.
Last autumn we explored all the lakes at Mammoth, this
year because of the snow we could only reach Twin Lakes or the ski area as
everywhere else the road came to an abrupt halt at a wall of deep snow.
I inadvertently caused the ranger at Mammoth Visitor
Centre huge amusement by asking if the road to Minaret Overlook was open. The overlook above Devils Post Pile National
Monument looks across to Yosemite; I thought it would be a lovely view in the
snow. I had mistakenly thought that the
road is right by the ski area, but it’s actually 8 miles further on, no wonder
he gave me a look that said ‘are you mad woman?’
Back in Bishop we drove up to a couple of other
lakes, although the road to South Lake was still closed with snow, the road to
Lake Sabrina was open. It was a
gorgeous sunny day with clear blue skies and fabulous views of the surrounding
snow covered mountains. Although the
lake itself was frozen solid, it was starting to thaw and every so often there
was a thud as snow fell and the occasional loud report as the ice in the lake cracked. Someone told us the bears were out, although
we didn’t see any.
Despite all the snow in the mountains, the weather in
Bishop was gorgeous with temperatures in the mid to high 80’s and low 90’s,
just perfect.
Have fun, we are!
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