Mammoth

For the past six years, my big summer party is centered in Tahoe around July 24 to celebrate Bailey. She is a close friend of mine not only because she is cool, active, adventurous, and generous but because her birthday falls right in the middle of summer. Awesome ;)  This year, we decided to head south on the 395 to Mammoth and explore other parts of the Sierras.

 The landscape left me so inspired that I kicked myself for forgetting my watercolors.  The intense heat of the valley and the dense, dry brush make a striking juxtaposition against the lavender Sierra mountains and pale, blue sky. Aaahhhh...

Found some critters in this Wild West...

 

And the birthday girl!

After a float down the Owens River and multiple hot tub sessions, we packed up camp and drove to June Lake for a dip off the rope swing.

The 21,000 ft mansion pictured above was built by the 99 cent store owners. Damn!

The feathery clouds floating over Lake Topaz on the drive home was the icing on the cake :)