Inyo National Forest - Mammoth Lakes, CA - Hiking Emerald Lakes trail

We started the day off at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center for the Inyo National Forest district.  It offered helpful staff, a good number of detailed topo maps for sale, and a huge number of books for sale.  All-in-all, it put every other national forest welcome center I have been in to shame (which isn't saying a lot, as I have only been in a few others).

Of course, no day would be complete if we didn't try a new restaurant, and today it was Schat's Bakery  in Mammoth Lakes, CA (http://www.erickschatsbakery.com/ is the Bishop location, I believe).  There is always a line here, and for good reason.  The selection of bread and pastries was fantastic, and the bread is wonderful and good enough to challenge any bakery we've ever visited.  The toffee wasn't so good...while the choco-coating was nice, the toffee itself was almost tasteless and had none of the buttery goodness that toffee should have. We had the fresh roasted turkey sandwich on sourdough, a roast beef on seven grain, and a tuna on honi-squaw wheat, and a bowl of steaming hot turkey vegetable soup.  With this in our bellies, we were ready to hike!

Pack stuffed with goodies, we took off for the Emerald Lakes trailhead.  The trailhead is up Lake Mary Road in the parking area past the Coldwater Campground.  There is plenty of parking here, even on a busy day in the summer with the Mammoth Brewfest going on and summer vacation crowds in full swing.

The trailhead is clearly designated, and a prudent set of rules are posted.

The trail was easy, steep enough to let you know that you are hiking in the mountains, but easy enought that even a trio from Florida, who haven't seen a hill in several decades, marched right up to the lake and back in short order.  Being our first hike in the Sierras, I can't compare it to other spots, but we thought it was a beautiful location filled with friendly people and lots of dogs.  It was a real pleasure to be hiking in the mountains after years of trudging through sand pine scrub in Florida heat and humidity.  Here are some shots of the trail and the lake.

Anywhere near water, the mosquitos were immediately on the attack in swarms.  They were savvy, refusing to allow me to take pictures by only landing on the backs of my arms and on the arm holding the camera.  I was finally able to get a pic of one to prove that they exist.