3rd Mammoth Lakes Runcation

Rock Creek, near Little Lakes Valley Trailhead, between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes

After missing last year due to my graduation, we returned for the 3rd time to Mammoth Lakes (2016, 2017, 2019) for some outdoor adventure and the Mammoth Half Marathon.

My training partner Holly and I started this tradition and idea of planning a family vacation around a road race way back in 2016 and it's one I hope to keep alive as long as I am able to run.

This is certainly one of the most beautiful parts of the world I have ever experienced. The monumental-ness of the geology and beauty of the alpine ecology is just hard to comprehend or ever get tired of.

What is easy to get tired of, in just a matter of days, is traveling with a teenager who dislikes the idea of doing anything besides sitting in a hotel room and a fifth grader who enjoys nothing more than being defiant and aggravating (characteristics that often, intentionally coincide). I really did waffle between never wanting to go on vacation again until they moved out of the house and determined to vacation twice as much to "punish" them.

I know one day they will tell their friends how lucky they were their parents took them on such adventures and hiked through the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses, but I am slightly surprised by how much they seemed to under-appreciate the experience.

In any event, let's get to the good stuff, pictures!