Thirteenth trip to Lake Ediza

We ended the summer with our 13th annual backpacking trip to Ediza’s namesake, Lake Ediza. It was one of the prettiest times we’ve been there — everything was green and lush with clear skies and not that many mosquitoes.

We spent four nights camping — two nights at our “base camp” and the other two up above the lake. Yes, backpacking with kids (more specifically, a recently-turned 4-year-old and nearly 13-year-old) is a lot of work. But not only can it be done, it can actually be fun and rewarding. 

After leaving the trail, we continued our adventure on the gondola to the top of Mammoth Mountain. We walked around the mountain’s 11,053-foot summit, visited its interpretive center (where Gus got to pet different animal furs) and we ate our first non-dehydrated meal at its cafe. It was good to end the summer on a literal high note.

Unusual meats and cool caves

Our summer adventures have taken us from cities to the mountains. On a trip to Mammoth, we passed through Yosemite and had to wait an hour in the car at the entrance station. That reminds me:

Want to avoid Yosemite-size crowds? Sample other national parks in California

Ediza and Gus enjoying a hike in Mammoth.

Some other travel pieces from this summer include:

If yak and other unusual meats elicit a ‘yum’ from you, check out these restaurants

Exploring Calaveras County caves keeps you cool, puts your imagination in high gear

We recently passed by Moaning Caverns on our way to Utica Reservoir. What made this camping trip different was we took kayaks out to camp on an island! Here’s a photo of us hauling our gear back to the boat launch. 

More travel topics

Here's some more L.A. Times travel articles I wrote just in time for summer:

How to safely share the highway with semis 

Heading to Yosemite? Consider a weekend escape to historic Groveland

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is hidden in Yosemite National Park's northwest corner.  

Wapama Falls

Eat your way up and down California 

These luxe places take the ‘ugh’ out of camping 

Take the plunge in these California swimming holes to keep your cool

Travel topics

Well, it has been awhile. Here are links to several new travel pieces covering some pretty diverse topics:

Admire baseball legends, soak up baseball history at museums across the U.S.

Forest bathing, or how you can experience nature without getting wet (Below is Ediza forest bathing as a toddler in the Ansel Adams Wilderness of the Inyo National Forest. What a trendsetter.)

May Day may mean maypoles, beer or leis. But it's still about spring (Below is present-day Ediza and her class during this year's May Day Festival at Sierra Waldorf School.) 

In Depoe Bay, Ore., a family weekend getaway means relaxing walks, pizza and play structures 

Where to commemorate D-day, in the U.S. and overseas

Where to chase rainbows? Here are six stunning places to see them

Full Speed Ahead

We made our annual trip to Lake Ediza this summer. The journey started with smoky skies (from a nearby lightning strike) along with being attacked by killer mosquitoes. However, we persisted and it paid off with a fun adventure. 

Gus cooking falafel and mashed potatoes 

Ediza at "her" lake

Shortly after backpacking in the Mammoth Lakes area, Amber and I headed to the Lake Tahoe area for a Ragnar Trail Relay. Our group of eight ran continuously for about 30 hours, including with headlamps in the middle of the night.  

And just recently Gus celebrated his third birthday aboard Sierra No. 3, a historic steam locomotive at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown. Here is Gus blowing out his mini red velvet cupcake from our friend's catering company Lila & Sage in Murphys. 

Summer blues

Here are some photos from over the summer....starting with Ediza getting blue hair extensions at the Mammoth Reggae Festival.

Returning to the blue waters of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

 Gus celebrating his birthday with some blue icing. 

And blue skies at Lake Ediza on our 11th annual backpacking trip to Ediza's namesake. Each year is a new adventure and this year the footbridge just before the lake washed out so we had to cross through the water. Can't wait to get back there next year.

Anniversary

We celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary back at the beach (notice the ring pop).

For Father's Day weekend we headed into the mountains and back to Mammoth. Below are some photos from a stop up near Tioga Pass. President Obama was in Yosemite Valley at that time so we didn't end up running into him (unlike when we came across Bush eight years earlier in Paris).

Summer fun

Granite Dome

Here are some photos from a trail run/hiking adventure through the Emigrant Wilderness over Fourth of July weekend. 

And here are links to recent Weekend Escapes for L.A. Times travel:

What's shaking in San Andreas? Plenty of California history

Unwind naturally at Yosemite National Park

Snow in July!