Woke up to four inches of snow which rather curtailed our plans for going out. Cleared the car and then a neighbour told us that he had gone out in his car and turned back. If the locals aren't going out in it, I'm not risking it! The snow ploughs worked all day, constantly clearing the snow, only to have the clouds dump another couple of inches, so they returned to try again. There was a brief respite this afternoon, so went out for a walk. It was hard going, ...

Mammoth Lakes is a hidden gem, tucked into the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Mainly a winter sports centre, downhill, cross country skiing and snowboarding. It is apparently the place that put snowboarding on the map. In other seasons there are endless hiking trails, mountain biking and road cycling. And, of course, fishing! The joy of it is at this time of the year it is so quiet. Empty roads and deserted hiking trails, and this year, brilliant sunshine! The ...

Decided on staying more local today after yesterday's marathon of more than 200 miles. Just drove up to the nearest few lakes. Stopped off at Horseshoe Lake first, was surprised how little water there was in it, only about two thirds the size it was when we last visited. Many dead trees surrounded the lake. These had apparently be killed by an excess of CO2 gas, as the result of an earthquake in 1987. It opened a fissure that is still releasing the gas into the ...

Decisions, decisions! There are so many wonderful places to go, it's hard to choose! After much deliberation, decided to do a hike along the Little Lakes Valley Trail. After driving up to 10,300ft, we set off. At that altitude, you get out of breath very quickly. A gentle slope or a few steps and you are struggling. But it was well worth the effort! You walk past several beautiful lakes in the same valley, with spectacular views of rugged mountains in the dista...

Another wonderful day! Yosemite is an amazing place. It's difficult to find the words to describe it. The scenery is spectacular, like nothing you've seen before. Real wilderness country. It never ceases to amaze how the area has been opened up for all to see, yet still preserving its natural beauty. There are so many moments of awe and wonder! Drove in over the Tioga Pass, which reaches a height of 9900ft. Sheer drops of hundreds of feet, inches from the edge o...