With the exception of last year, Cindy and I have been heading up into the mountains every Memorial Day Weekend, to kick of a new summer of wheeling and for about as long as I can remember. For 2018, we knew we needed to get this tradition going again but instead of going somewhere in the Sierra Nevada's as we've done so many times in the past, we decided to change things up a bit and headed up into the Inyo's instead. Fortunately for us, a few of our good friends were able to join us and the following pics highlight all the fun we had. I hope you enjoy. 
It's always nice to meet up with Trail Bud for breakfast at one of our favorite eateries in town, The Red Hut, before hitting the highway.
Although this trip is a kick off to summer, I can't say there's ever been a year where it hasn't been one with a bit of rain coming down on us or worse.
As we started to work our way around Mono Lake, things did clear up for though and the clouds made the drive a beautiful one.
Being that we were making such great time, we decided to make a stop that we always like to make before pulling into town and to let Tessa run around.
Ahhh, home for the night in Lone Pine at the lovely Dow Villa historic hotel.
Of course, being that it was Memorial Day Weekend, JET Li wanted to take a moment to remember the brave men and women who served our great country and made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can be free.
With more of our friends in town, it was time to get this party started - CHEERS!
Chris and Jen pulled in a bit late but just in time for Cindy to take this epic shot of their CODE 3 JK-8.
The following morning, we met up with Moochie and Owen and made our way out to the trailhead.
Off the highway, we pulled over to air down and get ready to hit the dirt.
Oh it's always so good to be on dirt and climbing our way up into the mountains!
Getting closer to camp.
But first, we've gotta take some time to take in the breathtaking views of the Owens Valley below and the cloud shrouded Sierra Nevada Mountains beyond.
WooHoo!! At camp at last and well before dark!
A shot of our killer view from camp looking to the west.
And of course, our view looking to the east.
A few years back, I started scouring the area on Google Earth and noticed a series of large round satellite looking dishes or saucers like objects sitting out in the middle of nowhere. There were no roads leading to them or that I could see anyway and so I've been wanting to hike out to them for a while now. Needless to say, that's what Cindy, Steph and I set out to do and this is what we found.
As we would come to find, they may have been old school satellite dishes at one point and time but have since been re-purposed for the use of water collection.
After water is collected by the dishes, it gets plumbed into 2 large cisterns and then into watering troughs. Essentially, the whole thing is a large game guzzler.
Making our way back to camp, we came across an old prospect that had this concrete structure - possibly a cistern for a well that was once erected here.
Back at camp and enjoying a lovely fire.
To good times with good friends underneath the stars - CHEERS!!
After a fun night of parting around the campfire, we decided to head out and do some exploring.
Our first stop of the day was at a natural arch pierced through a granite rock outcrop.
Making the climb up to the arch.
Shot of the Jeeps from the arch.
Group shot of everyone in the hole.
On the move again, we wiggled our way through a narrow section of trail with sage brush dying to reach out and give us some lovin.
From the look of things, it'd been a while since anything other than a couple of bikes had been through here.
With rain starting to fall, we arrived at our next destination of the day, an old mining camp with a cabin still standing.
Time to check out the old ruins.
Of course, where there's a mining camp, there's a mine nearby and this one can still be explored.
Light at the end of the tunnel.
After our fun exploring the old mine, we got out of the rain and pressed on in the comfort of our Jeeps.
Just as we started to get close to camp again, the clouds started to break apart.
Back at camp and with the sun out again, Moochie decided it was time to pour up some Bee Stings.
Because it's always a good time to be drinking with good friends - CHEERS!
Epic sunset to end an epic day of fun.
To good times out on the trail, under the stars, around a campfire and of course, with all our good friends - CHEERS!
A BIG THANKS goes out to Tony and Steph, Chris and Jen, Adam and Tina, Owen and Katlin, Doug, Carl and Jason for helping us to kick of a summer of wheeling. We had an awesome time with all of you and hope to do it again soon.
It's always nice to meet up with Trail Bud for breakfast at one of our favorite eateries in town, The Red Hut, before hitting the highway.
Although this trip is a kick off to summer, I can't say there's ever been a year where it hasn't been one with a bit of rain coming down on us or worse.
As we started to work our way around Mono Lake, things did clear up for though and the clouds made the drive a beautiful one.
Being that we were making such great time, we decided to make a stop that we always like to make before pulling into town and to let Tessa run around.
Ahhh, home for the night in Lone Pine at the lovely Dow Villa historic hotel.
Of course, being that it was Memorial Day Weekend, JET Li wanted to take a moment to remember the brave men and women who served our great country and made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can be free.
With more of our friends in town, it was time to get this party started - CHEERS!
Chris and Jen pulled in a bit late but just in time for Cindy to take this epic shot of their CODE 3 JK-8.
The following morning, we met up with Moochie and Owen and made our way out to the trailhead.
Off the highway, we pulled over to air down and get ready to hit the dirt.
Oh it's always so good to be on dirt and climbing our way up into the mountains!
Getting closer to camp.
But first, we've gotta take some time to take in the breathtaking views of the Owens Valley below and the cloud shrouded Sierra Nevada Mountains beyond.
WooHoo!! At camp at last and well before dark!
A shot of our killer view from camp looking to the west.
And of course, our view looking to the east.
A few years back, I started scouring the area on Google Earth and noticed a series of large round satellite looking dishes or saucers like objects sitting out in the middle of nowhere. There were no roads leading to them or that I could see anyway and so I've been wanting to hike out to them for a while now. Needless to say, that's what Cindy, Steph and I set out to do and this is what we found.
As we would come to find, they may have been old school satellite dishes at one point and time but have since been re-purposed for the use of water collection.
After water is collected by the dishes, it gets plumbed into 2 large cisterns and then into watering troughs. Essentially, the whole thing is a large game guzzler.
Making our way back to camp, we came across an old prospect that had this concrete structure - possibly a cistern for a well that was once erected here.
Back at camp and enjoying a lovely fire.
To good times with good friends underneath the stars - CHEERS!!
After a fun night of parting around the campfire, we decided to head out and do some exploring.
Our first stop of the day was at a natural arch pierced through a granite rock outcrop.
Making the climb up to the arch.
Shot of the Jeeps from the arch.
Group shot of everyone in the hole.
On the move again, we wiggled our way through a narrow section of trail with sage brush dying to reach out and give us some lovin.
From the look of things, it'd been a while since anything other than a couple of bikes had been through here.
With rain starting to fall, we arrived at our next destination of the day, an old mining camp with a cabin still standing.
Time to check out the old ruins.
Of course, where there's a mining camp, there's a mine nearby and this one can still be explored.
Light at the end of the tunnel.
After our fun exploring the old mine, we got out of the rain and pressed on in the comfort of our Jeeps.
Just as we started to get close to camp again, the clouds started to break apart.
Back at camp and with the sun out again, Moochie decided it was time to pour up some Bee Stings.
Because it's always a good time to be drinking with good friends - CHEERS!
Epic sunset to end an epic day of fun.
To good times out on the trail, under the stars, around a campfire and of course, with all our good friends - CHEERS!
A BIG THANKS goes out to Tony and Steph, Chris and Jen, Adam and Tina, Owen and Katlin, Doug, Carl and Jason for helping us to kick of a summer of wheeling. We had an awesome time with all of you and hope to do it again soon.
hopefully we can go sometime