Eastern Sierras Camping 2013

[hotfishtacos]

We just got back from an event-filled no-hookups camping trip to the Eastern Sierras including camping at Diaz Lake near Lone Pine, Reverse Creek Campground near June Lake and the Twin Lakes Campground near Bridgeport CA. We caught really big trout at Diaz Lake, took in a lost Racing Homing Pigeon and nursed her back to health, saw Mt. Whitney, fished Silver and Grant lakes in the June Lake loop, canoed trolling the entire shoreline of Lower Twin Lake and also fished Upper Twin Lake and the river feeding out of the lakes. We also hiked, ate well and drank some really good red wine. What a wonderful week.

Here is the story about the lost, hungry, thirsty, scared little homing pigeon that we took in. While fishing at Diaz Lake I noticed that a pigeon was following me around, pecking at my shoe. We didn't make much about it until the weather changed and it got real windy. The little bird went and hid in one of the trailer wheels. We were worried that the bird might have a problem and would surely become a coyote dinner if we left her outside. We also noticed that she was banded. I fashioned a temporary shelter from a box and we brought her in for the night. The next morning I went on-line with the numbers from the bands and after a lot of hunting found the owner's phone number, called and told them we found their bird. They said they lived about 30 minutes from our home...now about 400 miles south. I volunteered to keep the bird for a week while we were camping and nurse it back to health and then give them back their bird when we got back. We purchased pop corn...a pigeon favorite and made a water dish that worked for the whole week. What a well, behaved, friendly bird! The bird was returned to the owner successfully when we got home. We learned that this was a national champion racing pigeon that has been featured in numerous publications and is valuable for breeding. We still miss that little bird after sharing our Escape with her for a week and I'm sure she is an 80s music lover by now!

Here are some trip pictures.

Getting ready to go...


Diaz Lake Camping


My little buddy following me around...


Large trout barbeque with mushrooms, onions and garlic...had to cut the tails off so they would fit in the pan...


Camping in the forest at June Lake


.....more to follow....

[Greggo]

Great trip. Eastern Sierra's are a favorite of mine too. Wonderful place to disappear to in the off season. Ever go to the Lone Pine Film Festival?

Greg

[hotfishtacos]

Had to get creative to level the trailer...


Moved on to Twin Lakes...very, very beautiful place..




Many deer visited the campground..


Fishing Lower Twin Lake...


Out canoeing...


A view of Mt. Whitney on the way home...


....another great Escape!

Steve & Margarita

[hotfishtacos]

Originally Posted by Greggo

Great trip. Eastern Sierra's are a favorite of mine too. Wonderful place to disappear to in the off season. Ever go to the Lone Pine Film Festival?

Greg

No Greg but it's on my list now!

[escape artist]

Hi: hotfishtacos... Well that's gonna be a hard escape story to top!!! You found an escaped homing pigeon and returned it home in your Escape. Sure was a great Escape. Alf...BTW love the pic's.
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[cpaharley2008]

Nice trip report and pictures.

[Dave Walter]

Great pictures hotfishtacos!

From your photos it appears that your canoe has quite a lot of overhang behind your tow vehicle. How much clearance do you have between the canoe and trailer when towing?

[Jim Bennett]

Good trip report with photos. The fishing looks good.

As we mostly boondock, we have had to get very creative at times levelling under the tires. Lots of blocks.

Dave, we sometimes carry our 17'-6" canoe on our Pilot, and keep it back so with the worst dip it would still clear with a bit of room to spare, and it still hangs over the hood a fair bit too. I hope to build a 15' cedar stripped that has good capacity as my next canoe, something that can handle two on day trips easily, or be used solo if needed.

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

...Dave, we sometimes carry our 17'-6" canoe on our Pilot, and keep it back so with the worst dip it would still clear with a bit of room to spare, and it still hangs over the hood a fair bit too. I hope to build a 15' cedar stripped that has good capacity as my next canoe, something that can handle two on day trips easily, or be used solo if needed.

The reason I asked about the clearance is that I had similar concerns carrying canoes on the roof of my truck while towing. With two canoes side by side, there is a bit more concern regarding clearance while turning than you may have for a single canoe fastened onto the centre of your rack.

My roof height is also quite high so there is little concern for me about bumps or dips in the road causing the back of the canoe to touch the top of the front box. However, on a vehicle with a lower roof height, that could be an issue that needs to be considered.

[hotfishtacos]

Originally Posted by ice-breaker

Great pictures hotfishtacos!

From your photos it appears that your canoe has quite a lot of overhang behind your tow vehicle. How much clearance do you have between the canoe and trailer when towing?

I have almost exactly one foot of clearance between the back of the canoe and the trailer. In fact, if I try to open the front window cover on the trailer it touches the canoe.

The canoe sits in the best place for my vehicle since the rack is set so far back....no problems.