400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

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kurtuleas
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400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

As a kid, I not only went across the country three times in my father's 1977 Wagoneer, he also took me on many other shorter camping trips. I am one of the lucky few to have been raised in Yosemite Valley. My father worked in the valley, so we actually lived there in employee housing.. During the summer he would load me up in the wagoneeer and cruise around exploring..

My buddy Kris and I planned to take our Wagons and our kids over the Rubicon this summer, (We both have 3 boys) but with Kris's waggy is kind of down for the count right now, so he suggested the eastern sierra with lighter wheeling where he could take his Ford... I jumped on it becuase I had not seen that part of the country since I lived in Yosemite Valley 30+ years ago..

PLUS: Kris and I will be competing in RALLY VENTURE in a couple of weeks.... (more info here: http://www.rallyventure.com ) so we wanted to do a little pre-running beforehand.

The BAD part is that my wagon is a wagon....and is plagued with issues. As a Rubicon regular, i have lot of friends in THAT area that can help me out or trailer me out if I have issues....but in the Eastern Sierra...many miles from home..... I don't know anyone. This was going to be a REAL adventure. The COOL part is that my boys would be able to experience the exact same thing I did in a wagoneer, so I loaded up and drove from DiscoBay thru Yosemite to meet Kris in Mammoth.

Took 108, then kinda by Stuka's place, i turned onto 120 towards the park. I was stressed becuase I left later than I wanted to and it was going to be hot when i went up Priest grade.....which is steep. Normally I take a bypass called Old Priest grade....but in the wagon i took the longer route. Cruised up it in 2nd no problem.... :D and drove thru Groveland.

Here is Groveland when i am passing the oldest bar in California

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Last edited by kurtuleas on Tue Jun 23, 2015 10:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

Gassed up in Yosemite....skipped the valley (Which hurt because that is home for me) and headed thru the high country.

The backside of half dome:

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

Tenaya Lake. I spent a LOT of time as a kid in this lake....now my boys got to too. Took a quick dip....then kept going.

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Past the lake and before the meadows..

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

Got out of the park and started the long, steeeeeeeeeeep climb down the eastern side. I was NOT looking forward to driving back up on the way home.

Dunno the name of this lake....it's outside the park.

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Here is the climb I was NOT looking forward to taking on the way home

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

Finally got to Mono lake, then took 395 south to Mammoth. With the altitude, the wagon felt like I had the e-brake on all the time. NO power and it just dragged. Had to be in 2nd nearly all the time.

Normally I am against normal campground....I like to be away from people....but i met Kris and his kids in mammoth and we pulled into a nearly empty campground right outside of town and set up camp.

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Kris doing a little driveshaft surgery for me..

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The boys passed out in the tent in the AM

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The next morning, we all loaded up to go exploring!

Me and the boys heading out:

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Last edited by kurtuleas on Sun Jun 21, 2015 6:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

First we went out into the desert and checked out a few hotsprings

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

A few poser shots in the high desert

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

Despite the lack of power....I race KOH....and these are open desert dirt roads....had to open the throttle a little. :mrgreen:


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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

Kris used to live in Mammoth and knows all sorts of secret little spots...like this natural spring up in a canyon. Since the entire place is volcanic, there is obsidian (actually snowflake obsidian....google it) ALL over the place. the kids had fun picking it off the ground. We ate lunch at the spring..

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Logan checking out the view

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

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On the way back, we stopped at Convict lake. The same lake my dad took me too in the early 80's and did a little fishing...

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

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The next morning, we packed up camp to head north to Lundy canyon....which Kris told me is the most beautiful canyon in the eastern Sierras....as you will see....he was right.

Before we left though....had to make a customary stop. :P

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Got to the campground in Lundy.... I am SO GLAD I have boys! Do work kids! I will drink! :D :D

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

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We explored Lundy canyon. It is BEAUTIFUL.

Also took a 2 mile hike to some waterfalls at the top of the canyon. My 4 year old hiked like a champ.

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Kris and his kids

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Me and mine

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

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Poser wagon shots

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

Part 2 will come later! It includes our trip to a few ghost towns!
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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by jsinajeep »

Look like a real good time with your boys and good friends. Thanks for posting this.
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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by Tatsadasayago »

Excellent posts!
Thanks for sharing.
Pix never do the trip justice but you did a good job of taking us along for the ride.
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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by Stuka »

Great shots! Have not been to that canyon before, will have to google it. Was on the eastern side this weekend, but only passing through on my way to Tahoe and back.


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kurtuleas
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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

Thanks guys..

Here's another shot of the boys in Lundy with a beaver dam. I can't describe the beauty of this canyon.

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Kris then took us to the site of Jordan. It's at the bottom of the canyon.

Here is the plaque that is there. I am a member of the ancient and honorable order of E Clampus Vitus, the group that put the plaque here...

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Here is some of what is left of the power plant

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

Shots from the graveyard. The Clampers keep it in good shape.

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Parked in front of the graveyard. the town was behind my rig in that valley, and the slide came down from the hill basically above and behind my rig.

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Re: 400+ mile trip to the Eastern Sierra in a Wagon

Post by kurtuleas »

We then headed back up to camp. My boy Logan wanted to fish again....so I took him up to the lake in Lundy while everyone else went back to the campsite.

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Having a beer and sportin my HAM radio...

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Found this in the Aspens by the lake.

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