Trail Report: Copper Mountain, Bodie, Wheeler Ridge

[FishPOET]

I left Norco at 11pm on Thursday 11-18. I made it as far as the Kennedy Meadows turn off Hwy 395 before I pulled over for the night. I was in Lee Vining at 8am on Friday. The rest of the group arrived at noon and we had lunch at the Whoa Nellie Deli.



We headed for Conway Summit and Virginia Lakes Road. Just a few hundred feet after the turn on Virginia Lakes Road we turned onto dirt and headed for Copper Mountain.

















We made camp at 9600'. We had burgers and dogs for dinner. Apple Crisp for desert. We only sat around the campfire for an hour or so as everyone was exhausted.

[FishPOET]

Saturday morning we broke camp, finished the loop, back to 395, North to 270. East on 270 to Bodie. We ate lunch at Bodie, we walked around the town, and took the 2pm Mill Stamp Tour and I highly recommend it.. I could have easily taken 1000 photos. Bodie is spectacular.

[FishPOET]

We left Bodie at 3pm via Cottonwood Canyon Road to 167 Pole Line Road to Hwy 395. We traveled approx 45 miles South to Tom's Place. We aired down and took USFS 4S54 to USFS 5S08.





















We got to camp at 8pm. Had a real nice potluck dinner and sat around the campfire until 10pm. The temps overnight dropped to 32°. We hit the road at 10am on Sunday. Back the way we came in until we got to Swall Meadow then we headed South for Bishop. Lunch at 1pm in Bishop and we decided there was not enough time do do anything else and we all headed for home. Back in La Habra at 7:30pm. A fabulous weekend in the Eastern Sierras.

[Mitch]

Looks like a couple more days were in order. Beautiful country out there. Thanks for sharing the adventure Doug.

[Mike]

Awesome trip! And great pics.
I only see red X's for the Bodie shots though

Too bad you guys didn't have time to run up to the top of Wheeler Ridge. The views are fantastic from 11,000 feet.

[Rubiclone]

I think I saw the dark grey Cherokee on my way to the Rubicon Thurs. I've driven by the Bodie turnoff 4 times this summer, if only I had the time.......Thanks for the best pics I've seen someone post.

[Mike]

Great Bodie pics! Looks like you got in to the Mill tour. I didn't get to do that tour on my visit. All the more reason to go back.

[dirtman13]

Great report Doug. Looks like a awesome adventure. That area is beautiful.

[nwoods]

Great Bodie pics! Looks like you got in to the Mill tour. I didn't get to do that tour on my visit. All the more reason to go back.

The Stamp Mill tour was fantastic. Our tour guide dressed up as the stamp operations foreman's wife and tour us potential "employees" through the mill and described the various "jobs" we could strike for. She was a real character and really knew her history. Fantastic building. It felt a lot like a themed amusement park ride, but 100x better. The timber and carpentry and inherant work conditions inside that facility were amazing, and humbling!

I'll be processing photos and videos this weekend.

Great to have another outing with you Doug!

[Guest]

Just incredible.....the way it's supposed to be done! Thank you for sharing!!!

HOOYAH!!!
Dan

[nwoods]

I have posted a few photos (88 of them) on my photosite: http://nwoods.smugmug.com/Family/Travel/ExPo-Bodie/

Here are a few I particularly liked.

Bodie, CA














Food and Camp:












People:




Trails