I discovered Eastern Sierra at the peak of the COVID lockdown when I was on the brink of total meltdown, despairing for any possible mental escape. The trip to the Alabama Hills saved me.
The lakes in these high-altitude places have cast special spells on me. They are crystal clear, mellowed, flowy, and surrounded by rugged cliffs with snow-capped peaks near and far. It’s the perfect contrast of Ying and Yang. If there is heaven, it should be something like that.
Eastern Sierra has been my pilgrimage destination ever since.
I bought the folding kayak largely to check off one bucket list — paddling on Mono Lake, one of the most iconic scenic lakes of Eastern Sierra. After nearly half a year’s practice and preparation, I finally made it with two close friends. Hubby was initially reluctant to go due to his poor lower back issues, but in the end, he enjoyed it and played a good role as our chauffeur, photographer, and cheerleader. He even borrowed a two-seater rubber boat from our friends to bring the other gal to the lake with us.
We wasted some time finding the right boat launching spot. But when I finally got onto the water, the happy feeling was beyond words.
We have been to this lake more than five times, and every time I was very taken by the massiveness of the wildness shaped by the surrounding great mountains at the end of the horizon. And in the middle of it, there stands those oddly shaped tufas near you, hundreds of years if not tens of thousands old, to remind you how short our lives are in this universe.
Now I can watch them both, with some jello-like moving translucent waves beneath the tufa, and millions of transparent bring shrimps swimming by.
Love it!
It is such a privilege to live so close to places like this and I could visit them just on a normal weekend for two days.
This is the hidden allure of being a Californian.
