Hiking with Kids and Dogs: Rainbow Falls, August 15 2015

posted in: Hiking with Dogs, Hiking with Kids, Photos, Trip Report |
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With the local forecast nearing 110° F, my wife and I decided that we should head north for a few days. We decided to spend the weekend in Mammoth hanging out and hiking. My dog (Riley) and I hiked to Mammoth Pass and McLeod Lake earlier in the day and after eating some breakfast, we hopped onto the shuttle at Mammoth Mountain and headed into the Devil’s Postpile National Monument. 

Riley was misbehaving because he needed to wear a muzzle on the bus, which made the ride stressful for all of us. Once we arrived at Red’s Meadow, I was relieved, until I looked to the north. We could see a large plume of smoke in the distance and I was fairly certain it wasn’t from one of the fires I had been reading about. In June, the Lakefire severely damaged our local mountains, and whenever I see or hear about another fire, I get anxious. I knew that the June Lake area was to the north, and I really hoped that area was not burning.

After spending a long time hanging out at Reds while my son built a “tower” (I needed to remind myself of the lessons learned on our Zion trip), we got started. We made fairly good time down to the falls, but with several toddler meltdowns on the way back to the trailhead and the heat, the hike took longer than expected.

 

Geek Stats

Distance: ~3 miles || Duration: 4 hours || Difficulty: Easy

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Gear

  • Darn Tough 1/4 Hiker Cushion Socks
    • Lighter and thinner than my typical hiking socks, they work well with my Oboz Traverse Lows for tasks and hikes where I don’t need the extra cushioning or warmth of thicker socks.
    • Since they are made from a merino wool blend, they have antimicrobial properties which helps them repel bacteria and odor. After this hike, I wore them as “everyday socks” for 3 days before they started to smell.
  • Oboz Traverse Lows
    • Worked great on this short hike/day.
    • Had great grip on the rocks where I played with my son.
  • Cotton Carrier STRAPSHOT EV1 
    • I continue to be happy with the modifications I made to the carrier. I also figured out a “new” way to attach it to the Deuter also. More on this in my full review (coming soon).
  • Kurgo
    • Baxter Dog Backpack
      • I got the saddle bags well balanced earlier in the day, so we had no issues in the afternoon.
    • Quantum Leash
      • I used the leash for the first time earlier in the day and loved it, so I let my wife walk Riley for most of the Rainbow Falls hike. She was equally impressed.
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