July 5, 2006
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Backpacking in the Sierras
We drove out late Friday evening to Mosquito Flat Campground in Little Lakes Valley which is between Bishop and Mammoth. We picked up our permit which is required for any overnight trips into the John Muir Wilderness. Here we are before the start of our hike on Saturday morning.
Lots of mosquitos and temperatures ranged from hot during the day to chilly at night. The gorgeous views and moments of serenity were worth it though. There were numerous lakes with many people flyfishing...too bad we didn't bring our poles.
There was still a lot of snow for July after you get past Long Lake (about 10,500 ft elevation)
We set up camp at Chickenfoot Lake about 3 miles from the trailhead. Don't you love how I'm sporting the mosquito net hat? It's the newest in thing
There were reports of an active bear in the area but unfortunately we didn't get to see it.
We did a day hike to Morgan pass and Gem Lakes on Sunday.
Hiked out Monday morning. Went to Keough's Hot Springs to take a cool dip in their pool and relax our tired muscles in the "largest natural hot springs pool in the Eastern Sierras". Stopped on the way back at Silverwood Lake for a barbeque.
Miscellaneous Stuff
* I cooked Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi with Spanish Rice. Here's the recipe:
1 pound fresh mahi mahi
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper
1 ounce macadamia nuts
1 ounce Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
1-1/2 ounces butter
1 tbsp flour
1 cup chicken stock
1-1/2 ounces pineapple, rough chopped
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a food processor or blender, pulse together macadamia nuts and breadcrumbs until finely ground. Coat fish fillets with oil on both sides and season with salt and pepper. Cover with nut and breadcrumb mixture.
2. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry fillets on both sides for 3 minutes or until nuts are golden brown. Remove to a baking pan.
3. Pour chicken stock into saucepan. Add flour and mix until even. Add pineapples. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer until sauce is thick, about 30 minutes. Reserve sauce in a pan over low heat.
4. Bake mahi mahi in preheated oven about 10 minutes until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F or fish flakes off nicely with fork. Remove fish, and lightly coat with sauce.
* drinks at Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica...their Lychee martinis are pretty potent and they have a jazz singer on Wednesday nights...very nice views of the beach
* dinner at Hollywood Thai...they have karaoke too
* lunch at Blue Marlin in West LA...order the Om-rice...it's a japanese dish with rice inside an omelette. I ordered mine with a seafood cream sauce and it was really good.
* watched Superman Returns at the Bridge Cinema Deluxe. It was a good movie...not as great as I thought it would be but still enjoyable. Definitely worth seeing in IMAX though for some of the 3D scenes.
* went to a party at a house in the Hollywood Hills for fourth of July...the place was huge with an amazing view of the city. There were fireworks going off in every direction you looked.
* late night food at Jones in Hollywood. We ordered the margarita pizza and the ahi tuna salad. The best part of the meal was dessert...their apple pie was the best I've ever tasted...they serve it on a hot metal plate with a thin layer of caramelized sugar and a side of vanilla ice cream. We saw Gwen Stefani there.
Comments (18)
hehe, still waiting for your pics to come out
all about IMAX3d...thanks for the recipe. i 'll pass it on to the GF. haha
dude GORGEOUS views!
yeah i should've watched superman returns IMAX.....but it was still a good movie! i saw devil wears prada too! feel good movie...if anything, chick flick mainly cuz of all the designer clothes and fashion. haha
hmmm, that mahi mahi recipe seems quite complicated... especially with the watching Superman Returns at the Bridge Cinema Deluxe IMAX. heheh
ryc: It was nice meeting you, too. I had to return the belt...
BEAUTIFUL! MISS YA!
so hungry right now, tempted to make that dish with whatever meat i have in the freezer, haha.
oooh looks nice out there...
Stunning nature photographs. Hiking looks cool -- must be great exercise. You really go to alot of cool restaurants and events. Me, I like the club sandwich at Norms.
i was just up the street from you... stayed in camprounds in mammoth and hiked devils postpile rainbow falls and minaret falls..... we moutain biked at mammoth too... sooo much fun!
heard that if the screen isn't correctly sized, the 3d on imax isn't all that great.
Great pictures! The place is beautiful!
wow..hiking...and snow!
gorgeous pictures =)
Wow, I would have LOVED to have done that. I used to do that all the time here in Hawai'i, but I never did it in California. I used to spend days out in the wilderness like that... and seeing what your pictures show, I'm SO jealous. *sigh*
Thanks for your subscription and your support!
That's a good Mahimahi recipe, btw. It's similar to the one I use.
OHHH there's still snow!
RYC: Thanks
If you have any questions, just ask. I think you'll be fine though, I think you know what you're doing hehe.
RYC: Thanks
This recipe, actually, is just an "alright" one. It's more to show a stripped-down version of Beef Stroganoff that you can make quickly and have it still taste pretty good. There are much better recipes out there, including the one I linked to on my entry 
i've been dying to go camping or do anything outdoorsy. my friends have been so wishy-washy.