Mammoth Mountain Snowboarding/Agnew Meadows backpack

[gnwatts]

Over the July 4th weekend in 2006 I drove from Carbondale to pick up my 15 year old son Kyle @ the Woodward skate camp in Tehachapi, Ca. Then we drove up to Mammoth mountain for a day of boarding and then 3 days of backpacking up the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River.

Along I-15 leaving Arizona into Nevada



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I got a few funny looks with my board on the roof in July.


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At Hot Creek, before you reach Mammoth Lakes along the Owens River. A must stop.
Mammoth Mountain in the background.

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I had spent most of my summers from 12-17 in Mammoth, and winters too when possible. I wanted to show Kyle what I had been telling him all of these years. He did not really believe me until he actually saw it.
On the upper gondola the next day. 70 degrees, good corn in the morning. They had groomed Cornice Bowl, and removed the cornice, which was a drag. We spent the day exploring all of the open areas preferring the un-groomed stuff. What a great day.

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A little grommet.



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The next morning we left our room at the Mammoth Mountain Inn across from the main lodge and took the shuttle down to Agnew Meadows, along the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, which was raging. We took the river trail, which is beautifully constructed, in a very primitive way. It is an incredible hike, down in the canyon along the mad river. We headed up the trail about 5 miles and found a place to camp.


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The next day we Day hiked up the river to the only lake we could get to, Thousand Island Lake. The river was so high that we could not cross. We spent the day relaxing in the sun, wishing we had brought our boards. Sort of.
With Banner Peak:



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We took the lonely way back, across Nevada through Tonopah, i think we ended up near Cedar City on I-15. It was a good time.

A few shots from the drive home:


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[CarpeyBiggs]

great trip. thousand island lake is such an amazing place. wish i could get back there this summer. :2thumbs:

[gnwatts]

Thanks Dan
I had not been there since I was my son's age, it was an amazing day.

[Dr. Nebz]

Yeah, Mammoth had an epic snow season too. Crazy this year everywhere. Nice report! :2thumbs:

[gnwatts]

Thanks Dr.
The first time I skied there in 1969 they had 27' ON THE GROUND. We had to enter our condo through the upper floor deck. You could ski off the top of the old Main Lodge. I thought it was normal to ride a lift under the level of the snow.

[Jammer]

Very cool -- headed that way this August.

- Jamal

[uintahiker]

Looks sweet. If you went to Tehachapi, there's a route pretty close to there that looks amazing called the Seven Teacups.

[gnwatts]

Thanks.
Jamal
Make sure you go to Hot Creek on your way out. You might not ever leave.
Uintahiker
My only other visits to Tehachapi was with an old roommate at the time who was into gliding, so that was what we were there for. I have never hiked there. Looks like a lot of possibilities.

[accadacca]

AWESOME report! :hail2thechief: :cool2:

[gnwatts]

Thanks!