Terra's Adventures

I'd rather be lost in the woods than found in the city.

[terrawhitmeyer]

One of my favorite local hikes is a 4 mile “trainer” (8 total) up the PCT from Vincent Gap to Mount Baden-Powell (9406) – a solid climb, but not too long; into elevation, but not too high. Vincent Gulch below is a giant pile of rocks coming down the east bowl of Baden-Powell and filling the canyon where the San Gabriel River and Prairie Fork meet. The waters are low so you cannot really make them out, but you can definitely see the rocks bit: looks like a river of rocks – and that’s what it basically is. Anyhow, the view looking east to south is the Palmdale area beyond, Blue Ridge winding before it (Mt. High ski area is on the other side), then Pine Mountain (middle), Mt San Antonio (aka Baldy, right of center), the ridge around Icehouse Canyon (Ontario Peak) to the right fading down to the Riverside basin, and in the distance is Saddleback (Santiago Peak). 7/3/2020 #landscape #sangabrielmountains #california #whyihike #trailtreasures #thegreatoutdoors #mountains #themountainsarecalling #viewsfordays #hiking #getoutside #exploremore #mountbadenpowell https://www.instagram.com/p/CN-eJe_AMHU/?igshid=1i10i0p2vneo3

[terrawhitmeyer]

The sun is just hitting Mount Langley as seen from across a still Muir Lake for a mirror-like reflection. It's first light where the previous post was last light. This was my last photo of this backpacking trip: I get pretty lazy when I hurt. I manage to be all smiles by the time I get back to the car, though! 6/21/2020 @ 5:44am #optoutside #whyihike #trailtreasures #thegreatoutdoors #mountains #landscape #themountainsarecalling #inyonationalforest #publiclands #itsallyours #nationalforest #easternsierra #sierranevada #california #muirlake #mountlangley #reflection #nature https://www.instagram.com/p/CN53olJAPuS/?igshid=jplvxt94mmpt

[terrawhitmeyer]

I added 2.8 miles, now carrying my full pack, and ended up at Muir Lake and, I tell you, it felt like 7 miles. After 11 miles from Long Lake to Mount Langley and back during a day of not eating well (I have since started drinking calories to combat ongoing elevation + exercise leading to zero appetite), every step was torture. I had a very difficult time finding a suitable hammock spot despite a lot of pine trees and the new mosquitos were swarming (though very few bites) so I was pretty grumpy by the time I tucked in to sleep. This is the last of the sun behind Mount Langley on June 20, 2020, at 8:26pm. #optoutside #whyihike #thegreatoutdoors #trailtreasures #sunset #landscape #nature #muirlake #easternsierra #sierranevada #california #inyonationalforest #publiclands #itsallyours #nationalforest #backpacking https://www.instagram.com/p/CN4-PWhgTO_/?igshid=a50kt3qfjm04

[terrawhitmeyer]

Cottonwood Lake Number One at the junction where this time I headed north. Earlier in the day, I was atop Mount Langley: the sloped mountain on the right with some snow. (2nd image is just a tighter crop) 6/20/2020 @ 4:56pm #whyihike #trailtreasures #thegreatoutdoors #mountains #themountainsarecalling #easternsierra #sierranevada #california #mountlangley #cottonwoodlakes #hikingtrail #landscape #backpacking https://www.instagram.com/p/CN3YOKZg8ZI/?igshid=1wg3b4yg66czi

[terrawhitmeyer]

I did something maybe a bit odd, but typical of me absolutely trashing my body while hiking: After the Langley Summit (11 miles, 3800’ gain, 8 hours incl breaks),  I tried to eat at my campsite by Long Lake then just decided to pack up and stay the night somewhere else (ug, why?!). Anyhow, here is a view of one of South Fork Lakes very close to the Long Lake drainage from the trail on my way back east. 6/20/2020 @ 4:39pm #optoutside #whyihike #trailtreasures #thegreatoutdoors #mountains #themountainsarecalling #inyonationalforest #publiclands #itsallyours #nationalforest #easternsierra #landscape #nature https://www.instagram.com/p/CN2ktQcgyAp/?igshid=1nzr023q8cc0c

[terrawhitmeyer]

Diminutive alpine flowers I did my best to capture on a wide-angle lens (haha - severe crop) while taking a break at the top of “Old” Army Pass after a Mount Langley summit. 6/20/2020 @ 12:23pm #whyihike #trailtreasures #flowers #wildflowers #nature #easternsierra #sierranevada #california #hiking #flowersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CN02zrQgAOz/?igshid=qz3wde1nz7ji

[terrawhitmeyer]

It’s probably a testament to both how tired I was combined with trying to be in the moment and I took so few photos. Or, maybe, it was because the camera was in my summit pack and I’m too lazy to take it off for every crazy view. Anyhow, I took a long break at the top of “Old” Army Pass. I sat atop a rock and stretched and ate snacks and looked down on Cottonwood Lakes Five and Four and admired the tiny flowers at my feet and the marmot running around and just “was” for a bit. 6/20/2020 @ 12:13pm #optoutside #whyihike #trailtreasures #thegreatoutdoors #landscape #cottonwoodlakes #sierranevada #california #hiking #hikingtrail #viewsfordays #getoutside #exploremore https://www.instagram.com/p/CNtBEy9gmnD/?igshid=1gbsh5z64gb9a

[terrawhitmeyer]

For quite a while, after a couple of guys left, I had the Mount Langley summit all to myself. Just me and immense views in all directions. It certainly felt like I was atop the world, and I hope to recall that feeling for the rest of my life – even recreate it, as time permits. I am incredibly grateful for an able, healthy body that leaves me to hike at will. This is looking basically west, the row of peaks is the great western divide and the Kern is running below them. 6/20/2020 @ 10:42am #mountlangley #summit #easternsierra #sierranevada #california #inyonationalforest #publiclands #itsallyours #nationalforest #viewsfordays #mountains #nature #optoutside https://www.instagram.com/p/CNsZs8Hg1Bd/?igshid=rv53v9htmnpo

[terrawhitmeyer]

The view looking north and a tad west from Mount Langley (14,032 ft) shows Iridescent and Sky Blue lakes just over the side of the nearest ridge, other lakes still frozen nestled below Crabtree Pass, and a stunning number of peaks including the tallest, Mount Whitney (just right of top center, a bit of white on its western slopes). The drop north and east is head-spinningly sheer and I was really scared to peak over the edge, but it was impossible to not stand there where the Sierra Nevada seems to stretch on forever: so very many places to get lost and find myself. 6/20/2020 @ 10:40am #optoutside #whyihike #trailtreasures #thegreatoutdoors #mountains #landscape #themountainsarecalling #inyonationalforest #publiclands #itsallyours #nationalforest #sierranevada #california #mountlangley #hiking #viewsfordays #easternsierra #summit #getoutside #exploremore #nature https://www.instagram.com/p/CNoWp8-gDP_/?igshid=1dqupbnk7e7pt

[terrawhitmeyer]

Once you get over one of the passes, the views of the western slopes leading to Mount Langley appear moon-like rocky and barren, but ground plants survive and flower up there. If you leave the trail in alpine areas you tramp all over this very delicate environment. If there is a trail, please stay on it! 6/20/2020 @ 7:31am #whyihike #trailtreasures #thegreatoutdoors #nature #flowers #flowersofinstagram #flowerstagram #wildflowers #yellow #alpine #closeup #naturelovers https://www.instagram.com/p/CNnwqIMArI3/?igshid=1eootqwj6uhkd

[terrawhitmeyer]

This is the view that greets you coming down from New Army Pass just after cresting… gotta make it all the way over there to Mt. Langley. 🤣😭 Looking pretty barren and other-worldly and inhospitable and vast above 12k feet in the southern Sierra.  6/20/2020 @ 7:18am #optoutside #whyihike #thegreatoutdoors #landscape #mtlangley #hikingtrail #mountains #themountainsarecalling #mountlangley #easternsierra #sierranevada #california #inyonationalforest https://www.instagram.com/p/CNgQjoyg18v/?igshid=19kac2je8v7ix

[terrawhitmeyer]

Sunrise starts over Long Lake near camp. 6/20/2020 @ 5:07am #optoutside #whyihike #trailtreasures #thegreatoutdoors #nature #sunrise #landscape #mountains #easternsierra #sierranevada #inyonationalforest #publiclands #itsallyours #nationalforest #california https://www.instagram.com/p/CNfqXM3AajZ/?igshid=1a5msxduqjytx

[terrawhitmeyer]

Camp at Long Lake was full of interesting trees – more so, maybe, because the surrounding bunch were young and typical looking pines. 6/19/2020 @ 3:57pm #trailtreasures #hiking #backpacking #nature #tree #getoutside #exploremore #thegreatoutdoors #sierranevada #california https://www.instagram.com/p/CNdoZMTAV2p/?igshid=vl8l3m82sch7

[terrawhitmeyer]

A campsite by Long Lake looking northwest – atop the first ridge is High Lake and the second is New Army Pass. The tree to the far right is actually two trees and my hammock is strung between them. A few white patches of ice were still around between the trail and camp and everything had so much texture and character. Excellent place! 6/19/2020 @ 3:56pm #optoutside #whyihike #thegreatoutdoors #landscape #mountains #themountainsarecalling #inyonationalforest #publiclands #itsallyours #nationalforest #backpacking #campsite #forest #trees #nature https://www.instagram.com/p/CNdFkZaAhld/?igshid=xbbxi12ivy6q

[terrawhitmeyer]

Hey, High Lake! (2 images, swipe for second, stitched from 3 photos) I camped here ages ago (6 3/4 years, Sept 2013) and I couldn't quite remember why I didn’t summit that trip because there was no snow then, so I looked it up: I hated that old Osprey pack (painful), my old tent (coffin, I think REI) was having moisture damage problems (sticky) and I wasn’t comfortable sleeping at all (I hammock now), plus it got very windy so I just bombed out the next day. I like to think I’m made of sterner stuff nowadays, or (maybe) I have my gear honed in, or (probably) I’m just used to being in constant pain now. In any case, I enjoyed the revisit but I probably camped at Long Lake this time because I knew my last experience was uncomfortable (plus, I need trees, it’s like the surface of the moon at High Lake). 6/19/2020 @ 12:14pm #highlake #whyihike #trailtreasures #thegreatoutdoors #landscape #vista #views #easternsierra #sierranevada #california #inyonationalforest #publiclands #itsallyours #nationalforest #optoutside https://www.instagram.com/p/CNXgJd-AIRA/?igshid=e81w2eeto7s1

[terrawhitmeyer]

Less than an hour after arriving, I had set up camp at Long Lake and started looking about and considering a scout of the trail to High Lake – I might be slow above 11k feet, but it’s still surprising low mileage around the Cottonwood area to get to good stuff. The area was both unforgiving and incredibly sweet at the same time. It was a very warm day, the drainage water was cold, butterflies floated about, time slowed down, I sat down and soaked it all in. 6/19/2020 @ 11:30am #optoutside #whyihike #trailtreasures #thegreatoutdoors #mountains #themountainsarecalling #inyonationalforest #publiclands #itsallyours #nationalforest #sierranevada #california #landscape #nature https://www.instagram.com/p/CNVhpm5gFvx/?igshid=bzyt7pwg7jwt

[terrawhitmeyer]

Looking north and a bit east from the southern shores of Long Lake. 6/19/2020 @ 10:39am #whyihike #thegreatoutdoors #landscape #mountains #backpacking #hiking #nature #inyonationalforest #publiclands #itsallyours #nationalforest #sierranevada #california https://www.instagram.com/p/CNU8fXSgx40/?igshid=1lwllpxeeuczn