Gaylor Lakes and Great Sierra Mine

Our Sunday trip to Yosemite started out with something I never expected! A tornado just southeast of Mono Lake near Hwy 120E. We pulled-over on 395NB after Laura spotted the funnel and debris ball. Our path to Gaylor Lakes started with an informational sign describing how money is being spent to restore the alpine meadows around the lakes. Rutting in the trail had become a huge problem. Helmut, Maja, Lena and Ellen pause to catch their breath. The trail begins at 9900', which can really take one's breath away. 30% less air makes it hard to breath! IMG 2631
We stopped along the way to admire the smokey view. This is a shot to use in comparison with the much less smokey afternoon shots. RJH8814 Laura, Ellen and Maja about to crest the saddle and drop down to the lake.
Maja flexes her muscle? An invisible orange? Not quite sure. Another shot to use for smoke comparison with returning late afternoon photos. We have a cute kid! Our first view (hazy) of Lower Gaylor Lake.
RJH8838 Helmut was always waiting on the women :-) Looking over the infinity pool of Lower Gaylor Lake into the Cathedral Range of Yosemite. Helmut & Laura wind their way across the meadow.
Gaylor Creek meadow. Note all the granitic erratics strewn across the meadow. Half-way between lower and upper Gaylor lakes is evidence of trail remediation. It's easy to see what parts of the trail need some TLC. Ellen gets Helmut in action.
Jill & Julie kept getting side-tracked by all the flowers. Laura poses with the wildflowers. Upper Gaylor lake. Upper Gaylor Lake.
Dwarf Elephant Head wildflowers. The hike up to the Great Sierra Mine. Family Outing. The trail can be a little steep at times.
F-ing military planes. The National Parks Overflight Act states aircraft must remain 2000' higher than the surface of the park within 2000' of their flight path. Don't think this qualifies. Helmut thinks about moving in, while Laura just smiles. Mt Dana and Gaylor peak in the background. Remnants of the Great Sierra Mine. Not a drop of silver was ever produced, yet men toiled up here year-round. Now that's a hole in the ground!
Helmut and the shaft. RJH8918 The glaciated view from the top. I think this was a powder storage building.
RJH8927 Maja makes herself at home. Laura would have made a good miner. RJH8938
Fake plastic flowers and snow. Laura enjoys the view and wants lunch. IMG 2632 IMG 2633
IMG 2634 Zephyr had to help dad put away his fishing pole. This is a great view dad! Notice how the smokey air has cleared?
What a view! The Cathedral Range looking spiffy. Marmot! RJH8960
Can't get tired looking at this scene. Cloud building over Gaylor Peak. Helmut & Laura. Mt Dana was looking quite spectacular in the late afternoon sun.
RJH8971 RJH8975 Dana Meadows. Dana Meadows has great examples of kettle lakes - depressions caused by the melting of burried chunks of glacier and later filled with water.
Chipmunk