Camping at Mammoth Lakes

Ryan had the opportunity over the 4th of July weekend to take Ashby and Dalton camping at Mammoth Lakes CA for 3 days. We have been wanting to take the kids camping for some time now but just haven't gotten around to buying all the equipment and finding a good place to go.

My sister in law Laura and her family go to Mammoth every year and absolutely love it there. She invited us to go with her and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to go. My brother Jason and his family went as well.


I decided to stay home with Brooks b/c camping with a new baby just isn't very appealing to me. If he was a couple years older I would go in a heart beat.

Ashby and Daddy at the camp site.I am happy to report everyone had a great time! My brother Jason really helped Ryan buy all the right camping gear and got him all set up at camp. Laura's family was awesome to share their camping spot with us and generously helped Ryan on their first camping experience.

I have to say I think Ryan is amazing. He was so excited to take both kids camping by himself. He planned all the food they would eat each day, went shopping for everything, bought the kids all the coolest camping gear (their own Buzz light year and Tinker Bell flashlights, cots to sleep on, fanny packs for the hikes, lanterns, games and activities to take with them). He thought of everything they might need and had it all organized and ready to go(Auntie Laura's list helped a lot . . Thanks Laura!!). I was impressed!! Here is the tent all set up ready to sleep in.They all slept in the same tent. Ryan on an air mattress in between the kids on their own cots. Ryan's air mattress did pop the first night from the tent heater and he had to sleep on the ground the first night. Luckily Laura's parents had an extra cot he borrowed the remaining nights.The first day they went on a hike to Minaret Falls.

I read online in was the second best waterfall in the Eastern Sierra. It cascades about 250 ft. or so from snow melt in the Minaret mountain range, down into the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River. Ryan said it is pretty impressive, and spans out very wide, falling in many little waterfall rivulets down the mountain side. I guess you can get right up beside the falls and feel the mist in your face.

Ryan was impressed how good both kids did on the 3 mile round trip hike.I love seeing their little fanny packs on for the hike.Ashby always posing for the camera! :)Here is the group that went on the hike (my brother Jason and his kids Brock and Brooke and Ryan, Ashby and Dalton)I guess the hike was pretty steep at times. Ryan said they had to lift Dalton up and carry him over some of the especially steep parts. You get the idea how steep from the picture above.

Laura's parents were so nice to let my brother Michael borrow their boat and take the kids fishing on the lake. Ryan said they loved this. Ashby said she got a few bites on her line but no fish were caught.

The view of the boat on the lake. Pretty breath-taking.

Ashby and Dalton loved camping with their cousin Austin(Michael and Laura's little boy). They all get along so well. This is them in the boat together.

Ashby and Dalton waiting to get on the boat.

They went on another hike to Devils Postpile (pictured above). It is a rare formation of rocks about 1 mile from their campground. Its columns tower 60 feet high and displays an unusual symmetry. You hike to the top of the columns and walk around the top.

This is a picture of Dalton at the top of Devils Postpile.

So overall it was a great 1st camping experience for everyone. The nights got a little cold (30 degrees) but other than that things were pretty much perfect. Although Ryan did say it was a lot harder than he thought taking care of the kids by himself for 3 days, and it would have been a lot more fun with me there as well. Maybe next year me and Brooks will make the trip too!