Summer Kick-Off - Memorial Day Weekend 2013

wayoflife

wayoflife

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Memorial Day weekend has always marked the beginning of summer for us and once again, this year was celebrated with a camping trip up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. However, unlike the previous 3 years which were more of a winter finale than anything, the weather was absolutely perfect this time around and we spent our time relaxing, exploring, partying and enjoying the company of good friends. Here are a few pics from our trip, I hope you enjoy.

When you're spending a 3 day weekend up in the mountains, you really have to pack it in...
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Heading up over the Cajon Pass, we started to wonder what the weather was going to be like for us up north...
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Making a stop at Bravo Burger to meet up with Diane, Brian and Moochie...
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Just before we got to Kramer Junction, Moochie developed a knock in his motor and was having some trouble...
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Using his Superchips, we found that he had a P0303 code or, a Cylinder #3 Misfire...
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Fortunately, he had a spare plug so we got to work...
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Unfortunately, this is what we found...
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Clearly, the problem was more severe than just a misfire and with a sad face, Old Smokey had to go home...
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After saying our goodbyes, LBKRAWLER and Rubicat continued their trek up north...
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Although our plan was to stay in Mammoth Lakes for the night, we decided to head all the way up to our destination and secure a campsite, just in case...
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Looking out across Mono Lake and the moon as we made our way back to town...
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Meeting up with more of our crew for breakfast, including Moochie who was a real trooper for driving all night to still come in his brother's overland built Lexus...
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Apparently, Ken and Susan picked up a hitchhiker along the way last night...
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On the road and ready to do some camping!
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Off pavement and almost to our destination...
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Home for the weekend!
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I think it just might be time for some HONEY!!
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To summer - CHEERS!!
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Good times with good friends around a warm campfire...
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More pics below...
 
Good morning from the Sierra's!!
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With more of our crew present, we got ready to do some exploring...
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Heading on out...
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Even though it was a terrible winter as far as snow pack goes, we still managed to find some to play in...
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Unbelievable! Even though we had way less snow over the winter, a large snow drift still stopped us further back than even the year before...
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But, we decided that wouldn't stop us from reaching our destination - time to start hoofing it...
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Although it was almost empty, we finally made it up to the unnamed lake...
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The hike back to our Jeeps was at least all downhill...
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On the move again...
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Taking the road less traveled...
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Making a stop for a picnic lunch...
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Time to do a bit more exploring...
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View looking out across Twin Lakes - can you spot the local resident checking me out...
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Further along on the trail, we stopped for a photo op among a field of flowers...
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Back at camp with even more of our friends, it was time for some HONEY!!!
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CHEERS!!
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A view of camp as the sun went down...
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Mysteriously beautiful clouds provided an awesome sunset...
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Time to warm up by the fire...
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More pics below...
 
Yet another beautiful morning...
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All is quite around camp...
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With the sun coming up, Tessa wastes no time getting back in the freezing creek...
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Getting ready to do some more exploring...
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On the move...
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Our first stop was over at the old Dunderburg Mill Site...
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Unfortunately, there really isn't a whole lot left here other than some timbers and dissolving old bricks...
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Further along, we came across this downed tree blocking the trail...
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Fortunately for use, we had our master ax-man Moochie along to help clear the trail...
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With the tree on the ground, we use Rubicat to help speed up the process of clearing the trail...
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Employing the help of a few more hands...
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And just like that, the trail is clear...
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Working our way higher up the mountain...
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Making our 2nd stop over at an old mining camp...
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Checking out some of the ruins...
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Pretty cool to still see tool marks left behind in the logs...
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Further down the road, we took some time to check out an old stamp mill that was for the most part, still very complete...
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Climbing out of the canyon to get a better look at Mono Lake...
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Before heading back to camp, we decided to stop over at The Barn, our favorite eatery in Bridgeport for some burgers and a blueberry shake...
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And, once back at camp, we decided to change things up a bit...
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Gotta give a BIG THANKS to Discount Tire for telling us about these awesome cups...
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To great friends, good times and a wonderful summer ahead - CHEERS!!
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More pics below...
 
The previous night was somewhat of a blur so, this is where we'll continue our story - the following morning...
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After packing up, we did a final run through camp to make sure it would be left cleaner than when we found it and got ready to haul out our trash...
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On our way home, we decided to do a little sightseeing along the way. Our first stop was in Lee Vining to check out the Upsidedown House...
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There is no need to adjust the image - you are seeing this correctly...
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Our next stop was over at the Reward mine were we would descend into the depths of the earth...
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Gotta check it out on foot before going in...
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Ready or not, here we go...
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So glad to have our Truck-Lites to help light the way...
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At the bottom...
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Time to get everyone turned around...
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Heading back out...
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Having a little fun on the airstrip...
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Posing for a final shot before parting ways...
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I'd like to give a BIG THANKS to everyone who joined us on this awesome trip and helped us to celebrate the coming of Summer!! Cindy and I had a wonderful time with all of you and hope we get to do this again in the near future. :yup:
 
what an awesome trip! these were some good shots!

its sad to see all the graffiti in the mine tho. :grayno:
 
That looks like a great trip with cool people wish I could have made it. Thank you all for sharing you pict. and your adventure.:thumb:
 
Ill have to wait to view this on the computer. Picture overload on my phone! :cheesy:

But it looks like I missed a great time from the ones I looked at quick.
 
What MTG said. ^^^^^ Someday, I hope I have the chance to make the entire trip with you guys. Timing was off a bit.
 
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