On Monday, October 28th, 2024, I set out for Long Lake, ready to explore another slice of the beautiful Sierra Nevada. The trailhead for Bishop Pass served as the starting point of this hike, which had been recommended by my work colleague—the very same colleague I coincidentally met while hiking Kearsarge Pass the day before. It felt reassuring to be retracing some advice from someone familiar with the area.
The weather was forecasted to take a turn, with a cold front moving in, and it certainly lived up to the prediction. When I began the hike, temperatures were already below freezing, and the sky was filled with thick, heavy clouds. There was a sense of anticipation in the air, a feeling that something powerful was coming.
This time, I wasn’t alone at the trailhead. There were three other hikers, Asian-Americans who seemed well-prepared with the latest gear and expensive cameras. I put on my long underwear before we started the hike. As we set off, however, it became clear that their physical condition didn’t quite match the level of their equipment.
The hike to Long Lake was relatively easy, and I reached the serene waters in good time. The lake was surrounded by modest peaks and blanketed by the stillness of the cold. The sense of isolation and untouched beauty was almost surreal. I decided to continue on towards Saddlerock Lake, eager to see more of this wonderland.
It wasn’t long before the sky darkened, and snow began to fall. At first, it was just a few flakes drifting down, but soon enough, it turned into a steady snowfall, transforming the landscape around me. The path began to disappear under a layer of white, and I realized it was time to turn back before conditions got worse.
On my way back down, I passed the same group of hikers from earlier. They were visibly struggling—one had even picked up a branch to use as a makeshift walking stick. They confessed they hadn’t made it to Long Lake; the hike had been too strenuous for them. I couldn’t help but think that perhaps they had been inspired by Instagram photos rather than proper research, but at least they had good gear to keep them warm.
Once I made it back to the car, I felt a sense of relief. Although the hike had been easy, I wasn’t cold, just ready for the next part of the journey. I decided to drive further to Mammoth, hoping for better weather. Although there was still snow on the roads, the conditions were more manageable, and I spent the rest of the day driving around Mammoth, visiting a few lakes, and enjoying the scenery from the comfort of the car. By evening, I checked into an almost completely empty hostel.
