- Cassie. Sarkisian
- Oct 15, 2019
- 4 min read
Another trip out to the mountains, Eastern Sierra ; the place call my second home. This trip was a interesting one, I can easily say that. Two days with three cameras ,I got lots of pictures. This trip was originally supposed to be three days but life changed that but I am blessed to have the time I had, was amazing. Maverick had a bee sting him and the power went out at my home from the high winds but in the end everything worked out to be a happy ending.
Back to the trip, waking up at three am on a weekday was so worth it, in so many aspects. Yes , I did get my coffee at three am and drove five hours. So many sights that I have seen my whole life and also locations, I have never been before,surprising. At least on this trip no one lost their phone this time. But I did do the number one thing as photographer that would make any photographer cry. I dropped one of camera's in dirt ,at least it didn't land on the rocks and I didn't need emergency surgery on it either, I got LUCKY. I picked it up and said a little a prayer and it come to life. I main aim of this trip was to get more fall colors captured and chase down as many waterfalls , I could get to. I captured almost all of them on my list besides one, I couldn't to it, that's for another trip all by itself. I do have to say , I found one waterfall that I didn't expect to find on my last day , on a early morning at the twin lakes. I couldn't believe it , I never spotted it before this trip. I turned into a little girl in a candy shop quickly as I jumped out of the pick up truck faster than I ran into any coffee shop.
Speaking of coffee, Sidenote if you have never been to the black velvet coffee shop before worth every penny and then some in Mammoth.Let me tell you, everytime I am in Mammoth; I get myself a Peppermint mocha and I am one happy camper. Besides going to Mammoth, I went to Saddlebag, Lee Vining, June Loop; Convict Lake, Bishop and Mt Whitney area. Along the way in almost every location, I found a little spot or two that I never been before. Sometimes I think each time I am on the Eastern Sierra ,It keeps growing and new places appear that, I have never been to before.
I love the aspect of traveling up and down curvy roads that lead to places that I have been before. I love that giddy smile and laugh seeing something that makes you completely relax that's not the internet or social media related but what's in front of the windows of the soul that makes life unbelieve to experience. I hiked so many paths in those days and saw butterflies , flying besides me and hearing the running creeks in the area and the clean air to breathe in. I did have a few sketchy little hikes that turned into crawling on rocks and griping edges . I can easily say another successful trip without a hiking injury.
I think one of the coolest things about this trip was being the one to show someone else places where they have never been before that made my heart happy to share that with that person. And watching their eyes see something for the first time made me feel like, I was seeing those spots for the first time to. Two locations for me where perfect to photograph was Convict lake and the two waterfalls in Lee Vining . I just happened to have the right timing and lighting to get the exact shots, I wanted that made happy.
Another interesting moment was watching a hatchery truck drive past then immediately jumping in the truck to find where his next location was. I haven't done that since I was a little girl , it felt like a mission to find the truck when he had about ten minutes ahead of us. After go through a few other spots and no truck in sight , we saw him coming out of the next campsite. Being excited to not only find some gorgeous but wouldn't you believe it, I found another waterfall , I HAVE Never seen before in my whole life. I almost cried right on the spot but there was few people coming up the spot and they would have been confused seeing a photographer crying and photographing at the same time ,especially since no one was getting married at that present moment . That's how much I love nature and how much joy and beauty it brings to life; It was all here before us and will be here after us.
One of the scariest moments were one road locations and a creek on one side and cliff on the other. It's definitely a challenge to drive when people haven't driven it before. A few times on certain points , I held my breath in and hoped the other driver knew how to drive ,safely. And probably wasn't the smartest decision to have a lifted truck at the same time. Upon arrival to the inn and parking in the garage wasn't the easiest to navigate through when there were poles everywhere and ceiling was about a few inches away from the roof. But lesson learned and nevertheless an interesting experience.
After rushing home that next day, getting cases of water, finding a generator a few towns away and gas can, plus dinner which was grilled chicken ; wouldn't you believe it the power finally came on; it was a miracle of luck . That was the ending of my trip. Those two days , were perfect, perfect weather minus the thoughts of what could be happening at home ,running through my mind.
I have so much content to share, from this trip, I don't even know where to beginning with. And I do have some awesome gopro footage but I didn't bring my drone this time, sadly.
