We planned a short vacation at Mono Hot Springs, a Sierra “resort” east of Fresno. The party was us (David and Marilynn), my sister Margaret, her partner Pamela, our son Peter and wife Martine, daughter Kate and her husband Nicko and two dogs, Ginger and Jerry. Mono (pronounced “Mōno”, dark vowel) is a private establishment with cabins, store, restaurant, spa. It is 16 miles along one of the worst roads in California - “El Camino Horrible”. You can find good videos on Youtube. The official name is Kaiser Pass Road. The Forest Service maintains it and allegedly spent $2 million last year.
The cabins were very simple, but ours had toilet, shower and a small kitchen.
Elevation there is 6,500 feet. The weather was perfect. We had a few mild storms that lasted only minutes. During one I lay on the bed in our cabin, warm and dry, and listened to the rain and thunder outside. Bliss.
I was fortunate as a child - my family frequently visited my father’s father at a cabin he had near Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park. That ambience: conifers, granite, sweet air and quiet, has remained with me for my life. I think of the lines from As You Like it,
“And this our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones and good in everything. I would not change it”.
The Perseid meteor shower peaked the second day we were there. The Moon was new, and there are few sources of light to contaminate the sky. The view was wonderful, but meteors were few. I did catch one in a We didn't see many.
Kate wanted to hike (she always does). We set out for nearby Doris Lake, but I wanted energy after a troublesome ascent through a very irregular path. I bailed out, but Peter and Martine passed us and went to the lake.
The next day Kate and I drove another 6 miles along the to Edison Lake. It was built by So. Cal. Edison for electric power. There is another “resort” there called , even more rustic than Mono Hot Spr. The far end of the lake is close to the John Muir Trail, at that point coincident with the Pacific Crest Trail. If you are a “through hiker” on either you can take a ferry to the resort to shower, camp, pick up supplies, etc. get a free beer.
Kate and I hiked along the north shore
The sky was wonderful, at one time and later this
This must have rooted during the drought when the lake level was lower. After last winter’s rains it has risen and the tree is now inundated. I wonder if it can survive.
Mono is in a valley, but the road to it rises to 9,100 feet and gives a good view into the
