A Summer Weekend Hike in the John Muir Wilderness

We spent a weekend in late June 2018 hiking in California's Inyo National Forest. The weather was exactly what you'd hope for in the Sierra—bright sun and a solid blue sky from horizon to horizon.

The trail gave us these incredible views overlooking a dark blue alpine lake. The surrounding mountains were rugged and mostly bare rock, with a few patches of snow still holding on from the winter, even this late in the season. The air felt clear and thin.

We stopped a few times along the path to take some pictures. A few selfies, a few of the family, just trying to capture the scale of the place with us in it. The light was pretty direct and strong, but the backdrop was what mattered.

Before we left the area, we got a photo with the wooden sign for the John Muir Wilderness. It's always nice to mark the spot. A simple, straightforward trip into the mountains.