2009 (Mar 29) Inyo Craters and Deer Mountain Snowshoe

SnowDude dropped me off at the start of the Inyo Crater plowed road. Then he went snowboarding.

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:20:37 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
SnowDude dropped me off at the start of the Inyo Crater plowed road. Then he went snowboarding.

A couple passed me moving at a good pace. I don't like using snowshoes on something I can walk on in boots, sooooo

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:21:40 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
A couple passed me moving at a good pace. I don't like using snowshoes on something I can walk on in boots, sooooo

I got off the road and made my own tracks thru untracked snow!

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:22:30 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
I got off the road and made my own tracks thru untracked snow!

The crunch of the snow felt good, and views were more open out here

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:23:25 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
The crunch of the snow felt good, and views were more open out here

I caught up with the other couple but kept going up, away from the road. I thought they were following.

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:24:22 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
I caught up with the other couple but kept going up, away from the road. I thought they were following.

Only my tracks behind. They probably thought I didn't know where I was going since I kept looking at my GPS

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:24:59 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Only my tracks behind. They probably thought I didn't know where I was going since I kept looking at my GPS

First view of Deer Mountain, which I didn't know I was climbing til I got there

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:25:55 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
First view of Deer Mountain, which I didn't know I was climbing til I got there

West side of the West Inyo Crater

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:26:41 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
West side of the West Inyo Crater

East side of the West Inyo Crater

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:27:36 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
East side of the West Inyo Crater

Can't get the whole West Inyo Crater

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:28:26 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Can't get the whole West Inyo Crater

Bottom of the West Inyo Crater

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:29:08 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Bottom of the West Inyo Crater

Mammoth Mtn in the clouds

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:29:45 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Mammoth Mtn in the clouds

Close-up

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:30:18 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Close-up

I was up here about 10 min, when the other couple showed up. I was heading for Deer Mountain

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:31:03 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
I was up here about 10 min, when the other couple showed up. I was heading for Deer Mountain

South side if the East Inyo Crater . . . I went up to Deer Mountain this way

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:32:01 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
South side if the East Inyo Crater . . . I went up to Deer Mountain this way

Looking towards the north side of the East Inyo Crater . . . I should have gone this way . . . I came down and it was a lot easier

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:32:54 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Looking towards the north side of the East Inyo Crater . . . I should have gone this way . . . I came down and it was a lot easier

View of Minaret Summit and East Inyo Crater

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:33:32 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
View of Minaret Summit and East Inyo Crater

Mammoth Mtn in the clouds, East Inyo Crater in front of me

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:34:06 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Mammoth Mtn in the clouds, East Inyo Crater in front of me

Looking east at the Glass Mountains

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:34:39 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Looking east at the Glass Mountains

Both East and West Inyo Craters, with Mammoth Mountain in the clouds

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:35:16 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Both East and West Inyo Craters, with Mammoth Mountain in the clouds

I took the snowshoes off and hiked up the rim of the east crater

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:36:16 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
I took the snowshoes off and hiked up the rim of the east crater

The slope was doable without slowshoes, so I carried them

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:36:54 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
The slope was doable without slowshoes, so I carried them

Dry Creek Knoll, where SnowDude dropped me off. I might try that next weekend

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:37:32 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Dry Creek Knoll, where SnowDude dropped me off. I might try that next weekend

Finally to the top . . . . of a ridge, and another crater to the left

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:38:33 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Finally to the top . . . . of a ridge, and another crater to the left

It looked doable

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:39:28 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
It looked doable

White Mountains in the distance

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:40:13 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
White Mountains in the distance

Dry Creek Knoll, Morgan, Morrison, Laurel, Baldwin, Bloody, Pyramid (done all but Morgan and Dry Creek Knoll)

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:40:54 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Dry Creek Knoll, Morgan, Morrison, Laurel, Baldwin, Bloody, Pyramid (done all but Morgan and Dry Creek Knoll)

Walking the crumbly ridge was not easy with the wind

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:41:54 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Walking the crumbly ridge was not easy with the wind

It was ok til I got here. That last steep section was a straddle and butt scoot up

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:42:56 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
It was ok til I got here. That last steep section was a straddle and butt scoot up

View down while straddling

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:44:01 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
View down while straddling

View south

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:44:49 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
View south

View of the ridge I just came up, from the snow on the right, up the crumbly ridge

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:45:43 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
View of the ridge I just came up, from the snow on the right, up the crumbly ridge

Loking into the crater on Deer Mountain, with the East and West craters to the left

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:46:48 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Loking into the crater on Deer Mountain, with the East and West craters to the left

The ridge is only gnarly when its windy. Would have been fine without wind

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:47:38 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
The ridge is only gnarly when its windy. Would have been fine without wind

Mammoth Mountain, and the West Inyo Crater to the left

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:48:15 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Mammoth Mountain, and the West Inyo Crater to the left

Dry Creek Knoll, Morgan, Morrison, Laurel, Baldwin, Bloody, Pyramid

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:48:39 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Dry Creek Knoll, Morgan, Morrison, Laurel, Baldwin, Bloody, Pyramid

Chicken Wing, Wilson Butte and Mono Craters

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:49:27 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Chicken Wing, Wilson Butte and Mono Craters

White Wing and Chicken Wing from Deer Mountain

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:50:16 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
White Wing and Chicken Wing from Deer Mountain

The north side of the Deer Mtn crater, where I'll go down

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:51:22 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
The north side of the Deer Mtn crater, where I'll go down

Not sure but I think that's Bald Mtn and Lookout Mtn

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:52:10 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Not sure but I think that's Bald Mtn and Lookout Mtn

Snow Nymph on Deer Mountain

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:52:48 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Snow Nymph on Deer Mountain

Windy

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:53:30 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Windy

My GPS said I was 457' that way from Deer Mountain, so I headed that wa

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:54:27 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
My GPS said I was 457' that way from Deer Mountain, so I headed that wa

But when I got part way there, it said Deer Mtn was behind me (the bare spot, where I just came from)

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:54:58 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
But when I got part way there, it said Deer Mtn was behind me (the bare spot, where I just came from)

It was 8' lower on this high point. White Wing, Chicken Wing and Obsidian Dome

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:55:52 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
It was 8' lower on this high point. White Wing, Chicken Wing and Obsidian Dome

Looking back at my tracks and Deer Mtn

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:56:17 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Looking back at my tracks and Deer Mtn

I will take this route back, all untracked

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:57:01 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
I will take this route back, all untracked

It was a beautiful day!

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:57:33 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
It was a beautiful day!

From this angle it was really steep. I started to the bottom right where the snow starts, and climbed, straddled and butt scooted up the ridge

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:58:16 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
From this angle it was really steep. I started to the bottom right where the snow starts, and climbed, straddled and butt scooted up the ridge

Bottom of the ridge

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:59:02 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Bottom of the ridge

The East Crater ridge, where I took the snowshoes off and headed up

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:59:49 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
The East Crater ridge, where I took the snowshoes off and headed up

Lake starting to melt in the east crater

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:36 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Lake starting to melt in the east crater

West rim of the East Inyo Crater. Next time I'll go up this way

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:01:25 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
West rim of the East Inyo Crater. Next time I'll go up this way

East rim of the West Inyo Crater (where I first came up) and Deer Mtn to the right

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:01:59 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
East rim of the West Inyo Crater (where I first came up) and Deer Mtn to the right

Followed my tracks back

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:02:32 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Followed my tracks back

Thru the aspen trees

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:03:36 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Thru the aspen trees

Pretty grey against blue

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:04:37 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Pretty grey against blue

With all the little off trail whoop-de-doos, I gained an extra 600' el gain

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:05:20 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
With all the little off trail whoop-de-doos, I gained an extra 600' el gain

Came out to the road just before the trailhead sign!

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:05:51 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Came out to the road just before the trailhead sign!

Someone built a snow kitty

nobody@smugmug.com (Snow Nymph (snownymph)) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:06:23 -0700

Snow Nymph (snownymph)
Someone built a snow kitty