Trip Report!
Just took my first trip to the Sierras and went to Funnel Lake, Alabama Hills and then Owens Peak and Chimney Peak area.
Day 1:
Left San Diego at 430 and met up with the crew. 4 trucks total. My brother in a similarly modified 2021 F150, My good buddy in a stock Taco with a GFC and a friend of the crew in a stock Ranger. We made great time getting to Bishop where we started out journey. Got to Bishop and gassed up and got any last minute things we needed. Then we hit the trail for funnel lake where we aired down in 103 degrees. We read plenty of reviews on the drive up there and it seems they were pretty outdated. Lots of them said it's simple and there is an easy way and a hard way. Since we had 2 stock trucks we chose to go the easy way, and it was not easy. The first part of the trail is high desert switch backs with some rocks and some holes. Not too bad and fairly simple for all trucks. Once we made it up to the Coyote Flats areas we stopped to take some pictures and enjoy the scenery. We did 2 creek crossings and finally made it to the tree area of the trail where it got rocky and technical for the stock trucks. My brother and I had little trouble with our trucks and our 315's. There was only one spot where the size of the trucks was a disadvantage and we had to give it a little bump to get over some rocks. The Ranger and Taco were a little different. They needed spotters and the best line possible. Little bit of damage on them but nothing bad. It took us 4.5 hours to get up and we were all exhausted and hungry becuase we didnt think it would take that long to get up there.
Once we got up there and found our camp spot we started to set up camp and make some food. I saw some clouds and decided to leave my tent closed because I have a hole in my rain fly. The rain turned into hail and it dumped hail on us for 2 hours. So I took a glorious nap in my truck for about 30 minutes and it revived me. Clouds finally cleared and we got dinner made and talked to other guys in the area etc. Finally was able to sit down and have a few more cold ones. We were really really tempted to get a fire going but there is a fire restrictions out there. We set up camp around an existing and very large and tall rock fire pit but we never used it. I definitely take for granted having a fire. Not having one kind of sucked but we lived and had a great time.
Day 2:
Woke up about 6am from some neighbors dogs barking so we got the day started. Made breakfast and got some awesome pictures of fog in the area. Got mostly packed up and went for a little hike to rocky bottom lake, which is actually now more of a puddle so went back to funnel lake and jumped in and it was cold and refreshing and we got the dust off of us from the night before. Started making our way back down to Bishop. I'd say about half the time I was in 2x and the other half I was in 4Lo. Took us exactly 3 hours to get back down to the miserable heat where we aired and gassed up and went to Alabama hills. Which ended up being even more miserable with the heat but it was a ghost town and the rocks were awesome. We thought about camping there depending on the temp but of course decided not to so we took off further south. I really wanted to do another night at funnel lake but couldn't risk taking 4 hours to get down and then the 5 hours home. I had to be home for my baby girl so decided not to stay the extra night.
Headed south on the 395 to Owens Peak and Chimney peak area. The drive up was on a paved road but it gained elevation real quick. Went down to Chimney Creek camp area but we wanted to be higher elevation so doubled back and went up the mountain a little more to about 6500 feet where we found a cool spot and set up camp. Again, no fire was set up and we could have really used it with all of the bugs. Luckily we all brought some bug spray and some citronella candles so it kind of worked in our favor but the bugs were 50 times what they were at Funnel Lake. Made dinner and did that whole shebang and once the sun set and the stars came out we got a crash course in iphone photography and how to capture the milky way and make pics look awesome. We hit the tents at like midnight.
Day 3:
Woke up to a bee trying to get into my tent at 6am which pissed me off. It was hot. The bugs were out. Nobody slept well. We were all pissed so we packed up, skipped breakfast and hit the road lol. I got home at noon which I was happy about. Once I got home I did not unpack. In fact my truck is still filthy, all my gear, RTT, Comms and even food are still in it. Currently in the parking garage at work. When I got home I jumped in the pool and hung out with Wife and daughter and it was a great end to the weekend.
Post Trip thoughts/notes.
-I should have studied the route up more or asked more questions. I was not mentally prepared for what it was. Made it through without any issues but still.
-I am going to do a complete overhaul of my cooking setup. Rain got in the tote and ruined some things. I've always used paper plated but am going to spend a recent amazon gift card on a nice set of plates, utensils, pots pans etc. If you have recommendations PLEASE let me know, I want something that all stacks together nicely and not what I have now which is a Hodge podge of crap from goodwill over the last 10 years.
-Bishop and the surrounding low(er) elevations is hot in the summer
-My truck continually impresses me in offroad situations.
-I will go back to Funnel Lake or a similar one
-I averaged 15 MPG which is rad.
-Gas is too expensive.
PICS COMING
