July 5, 2011

Mammoth Lakes

We spent the last three full days of the trip at Mammoth Lakes. If you ever get the chance to go there, do it! There is a reason so many elite athletes live and train there. It is a mecca for running, biking, and skiing. The area also got plastered with some gigantic snowstorms this year, so coverage was superb, even in July!

July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd sort of blurred together into a multi-sport extravaganza! We rode bikes at the upper lakes below the crest (which are gorgeous), and did a great mountain bike ride at Inyo Craters. We skied everyday, including a handful of fun, steep chutes. And as the pictures below show - the running was spectacular as well (in addition to lung-burning, since we were staying at the Mammoth Mountain Inn, which is located at 8900 feet of elevation! The views into the Ansel Adams Wilderness (one of our favorite stretches of the JMT that we hiked last year) were mind-blowing.

On July 4th, I ran the local road race (Freedom Mile) before the parade, and then we drove back to Salt Lake City.

I think I can speak for both of us when I say... MAMMOTH LAKES IS THE BEST!!!


June Lake, just north of Mammoth. Running the rolling hills around this lake was a good reminder that 7500 feet feels a lot different than 6000 feet!


Horseshoe Lake


















The upper lakes and Mammoth Crest


The town of Mammoth Lakes down below








Inyo Crater Lake


Andrea biking with Mammoth Mountain behind her





Now for some running shots... this place is heaven for runners (at least in the summer!)...
















The Minarets and the Ritter Range


Skiing a chute called "Avalanche Chute"




Big jump turns






We love national forests!




Not a bad view from the pool. Tons of snow on Mammoth Mountain, as you can tell.


Refueling

A lot more photos on Picasa - Mammoth Lakes

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