Because they were camped at the Convict Lake Campground Dave and Jan decided to take the Convict Lake Trail up to Mildred Lake and, perhaps, Dorothy Lake (though they didn’t make it that far this time around).  The trail led into some beautiful country, but it was complicated by its 2,500 ft. climb!  It began at the west end of Convict Lake where the Forest Service build a boardwalk because water flowing from the mountains would make crossing challenging without some elevation from the forest floor.

The upward climb began at the trail sign at the northwest corner of the lake.

The air was fairly clear of smoke coming over the mountain range from the fire in Yosemite National Park as the trail headed upward into the mountains.

Parts of the trail were obscured because of rock-slides from higher elevations.

As the valley ahead began taking shape the scenery became increasingly beautiful – at least for those who enjoy mountain scenery (as Dave and Jan do).

Dave and Jan are always fascinated by the geology of the mountains.  What, apart from the flood of Noah’s day, could account for the folded strata of metamorphic rock, some of it at a 90 degree angle from the valley floor below?

The air became clearer and the sky more appealing as the trail climbed.

Things became more challenging when the trail arrived at a bridge which was washed out years back and never rebuilt – whose cement abutments you can see if you look closely at the photo below.

Because a side-stream fed into the main stream just above the missing bridge, two stream crossing were required to continue the hike up the valley.

On the far side of the creek the trail started to look a little more like a mountain goat path than a hiking trail intended for humans.  A misstep on the valley side could have provided quite a tumble down the talus slopes.

The first view at Mildred Lake began with a small side-lake at the trail’s top.

Views of the terrain surrounding the lake made the hike very worthwhile.

The hike back down the trail was a challenge to the knees, but scenic nevertheless.  Asked what she wanted to do on her birthday, Jan said she wanted to take a hike – and she certainly did!

The day ended with a tasty steak birthday dinner at Tom’s Place – a very colorful, rustic resort town with a highway crossing named after it along California’s Highway 395.  Dave and Jan always enjoy their times of refreshing in the mountains which they see as evidence of the creative genius of the Lord – “Who establishes the mountains by His strength, being girded with might” (Psalm 65:6).

Dave and Jan enjoyed a camping trip in the “Smoky Mountains” of California the first two weeks of August – at a time when it seemed as if the entire state of California was on fire.  The plan was to camp near special ministry friends, Dr. David and Suzy Bancroft, who chose Silver Lake on the June Lake Loop (north of Mammoth) as a destination.  The Bancrofts arrived earlier and arranged for a camp site for Dave and Jan, but a rain storm and mud slide in the area of the campground closed that option the night before their arrival.  So Dave and Jan headed for Convict Lake – an area south of Mammoth Lakes which was a little less smoky.

Though camp sites at the lake are normally available for only one week, the camp host kindly extended their creek-side stay for all but one night of their two-week trip.

Dave and Jan made several trips to Silver Lake where the Bancrofts treated them to some special meals which Suzy prepared in their travel trailer.  The drives were sometimes very smoky, with miles of dark highways on their return trips, but the food and fellowship was very rewarding – along with some enjoyable games in the evenings.

Convict Lake is a beautiful area in the Sierras, and there were deer to enjoy every day in the campground – frequently in Dave and Jan’s campsite.  Jan also caught a glimpse of a racoon which got into their cooler one evening and ate two pieces of carrot cake.

The first hiking outing took place at Mosquito Flat which is located up the mountain to the west from “Tom’s Place” at an elevation of around 10,000 feet.  At that elevation the air was fairly clear of smoke.

The next day the Balsleys and Bancrofts took the shuttle down to Red Meadow for a hike to Rainbow Falls.  Here is a picture of David and Suzy on the trail.

During the visit to Rainbow Falls we did something to our camera which created a blue tint to the pictures taken there – but you get the idea.

Dr. Bancroft and Dave both had bikes along, so Dave rode up the Mammoth Bike Path to meet Dr. Bancroft (who took the uphill ride with his bike on the back of Dave and Jan’s car) so the two men could enjoy the five-mile ride down the paved bike trail back to Mammoth (where the ladies were shopping at a thrift store).  The bike path is very scenic, passing several lakes along the way – including Twin Lakes and Lake Mary.

On Sunday (August 5) Dave and Jan attended worship at Mammoth Community Church with the Bancrofts.  The next day they hiked around Rock Creek Lake (west of “Tom’s Place”) while the Bancrofts dealt with some electrical challenges with their camping trailer.

A bold little Golden-Mantled Squirrel insisted on sharing lunch with Dave and Jan at their picnic table at Rock Creek Lake.

The time with the Bancrofts ended on Tuesday (August 7) with a walk around Convict Lake – surrounded as it is with impressive peaks and very interesting folding and coloration in the rocks on the west side of the lake.

Dave and Jan continued in the area for another week (another blog) before heading back to Southern California, but they had a very enjoyable time with the Bancrofts in a region of amazing beauty and variety in the “Smoky Mountains” of California.  Camping trips are almost always a spiritual high for Dave and Jan in view of their relationship with the Creator!  As the song-writer expressed it, “Heaven above is softer blue, earth around is sweeter green.  Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen.”