The Sierra Mountain range which lies along the eastern border of central California is a range of amazing, rugged beauty. Many of its peaks rise above twelve and thirteen thousand feet – with Mount Whitney capping the range at over fourteen thousand feet. So Dave and Jan headed for the Sierras early in August where they enjoyed two weeks of camping and hiking at some fairly high elevations.  Their first camp ground, Cold Water Campground just west of the city of Mammoth Lakes, was around eight thousand feet in elevation. Though they didn’t take any lengthy hikes while there this time, their last stay at Cold Water saw them hike up the Duck Lake trail at the back of the campground where they enjoyed some impressive views of some of the peaks in that area.

Relocating on the third day of their vacation to Iris Meadows (along the Rock Creek road west of “Tom’s Place”), the campground was located beside the rushing Rock Creek with granite peaks towering overhead. But farther up the road, the hike into the “Little Lakes” area provided some very nice views of the high mountain peaks of the area.


A drive up into Tioga Pass brought some of the peaks a little closer – like the granite peaks surrounding beautiful Tenaya Lake not far from Tuoloume Meadows.

A week-end visit to the city of Bishop (to attend church at Calvary Baptist Church, where a good missionary friend, Linda Wisdom, attends) provided occasion to drive up to South Lake, high above the city, where mountains rose up precipitously above the lake.

One of the hiking highlights of this year’s visit to the Sierras was a hike from the Minaret Vista above Red Meadows up a trail/Jeep road which provided an even higher view of the wall of mountain peaks which includes the Minarets.

Moving the campsite next to the McGee Creek Campground, it wasn’t even necessary to leave the tent trailer to enjoy the view of some very impressive mountain peaks. They were visible from the table in the tent!

Of course, it was worthwhile to take to the trail to get up closer and enjoy some of the scenery which was not visible from the tent – like this beaver pond, and the mountain peaks behind it.

The last hike of any distance during the camping trip was a hike to Dorothy Lake, accessible from the June Lake Loop Road, where the lake was once again surrounded by impressive peaks.

But there was one more view of impressive peaks on the second week-end. Driving to Independence in order to be able to attend church at Sierra Baptist Church, where good friends Dave and Suzie Bancroft are serving in the ministry, the drive from Lone Pine up to Whitney Portal was recommended. It was a steep climb, but the views of surrounding peaks were definitely impressive.

And so was the view of the cascading falls just off the parking lot at Whitney Portal.

There is so much impressive beauty to see.  And, to think, we live on a sin-cursed planet!  Lord willing, Dave and Jan hope to return to the Sierras, because even a two-week camping trip only scratches the surface. Thankfully, there will be no time limitations exploring the new heavens and new earth which the Lord has in store for those who recognize Him as the Creator and trust Him as the Savior!