Sierra Resort Real Estate Blog

Mono County’s Winter Gems: Spotlight on June Mountain

It’s almost time to dig out your gear, slap on some board wax and head towards one of Mono County's winter gems. Yes, we are talking about June Mountain. Located in June Lake, it is 500+ acres of pure skiing nirvana. 

Word has it that the mountain will reopen to visitors on December 13th.

With that said, consider starting your day at 8 a.m. with a chair lift ride to the June Meadows Chalet. It’s a great place to survey the breath-taking mountain views over hot coffee and palate pleasing muffins. It will also give you time to come up with a game plan.

The mountain itself features a 10,090 foot summit elevation, a vertical rise of 2,590 feet and 35 named trails to choose from. If you have skiing skills on par with Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller, the expert trails may prove to be your best bet. They include Gulf Canyon and the Powder Chute. Of course not all of the trails are geared towards experienced skiers. There are beginner and intermediate tracks too.

There is also an award-winning terrain park on offer. You may have read about the park several times in TransWorld Snowboarding magazine. In 2012, it was listed in three of the magazine’s Top 10 categories (resorts, parks and pipes). If you do decide to head towards the terrain park first, be sure to hit the super pipe. It will have you feeling like a young Travis Rice, Shaun White or Kelly Clark in no time.

Once you’ve had your fill of super pipes and powder, contemplate capping off your day with dinner. There are several places to dine in the area. One of them is the Double...

Eastern Sierra Communities: A Glimpse at Why People Love Independence

Situated in Inyo County, California, is the Eastern Sierra community of Independence. For fans of the late author Mary Austin, it’s a name that they know well. For others, the community represents much more than a famous writer’s former stomping grounds.

Eastern Sierra is also a warm and inviting place to refuel while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. The 2,655-mile trail is one of many favored by avid, ambitious hikers. Those that aren’t ardent hikers may recall seeing it featured on Oprah and ESPN. The ESPN feature was the most recent. It focused on two record-breaking hikes that ended in August 2013.

The famed Pacific Crest Trail isn’t all that brings hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts to the Eastern Sierra community of Independence. The Onion Valley, John Muir Wilderness Area, Independence Creek, Kings Canyon National Park and Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery do their part as well.

Collectively, all of the natural spots found in Independence and the surrounding areas offer opportunities for engaging in a multitude of activities. Those activities include fishing, 4-wheeling, climbing, rock hunting and mountain biking. There is also cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, pack riding and wildlife watching available too.

A famous author and a bevy of recreational opportunities are not Independence’s only claims to fame. It is also home to the Eastern...

Fall Colors Eastern Sierra Communities: A Look at Bishop’s Outdoor Activities

If you are looking to enjoy the outdoors before the snow flys and enjoy the fall colors, the City of Bishop is an ideal place to do it. 

Known for its temperate fall weather, this Eastern Sierra community is custom made for outdoor enthusiasts.

Consider beginning your day at the Black Sheep Coffee Roasters on Main Street. They serve rave-worthy, hot breakfast sandwiches, baked goods and eye-opening coffee. Once your appetite is satiated, you’ll have your pick of outdoor activities.  Fall colors are in full force.  A perfect time to walk the trail around Convict Lake to see all of it's beauty.

Wilson’s Eastside Sports can help set you up for a day of fun at the famed Buttermilk Boulders and Volcanic Tablelands. They are excellent places to go hiking, mountain biking, ATV riding, bouldering and rock climbing.

Although there are multiple places to climb in the Eastern Sierras, two of the more popular are the Happy and Sad Boulders. Situated outside of Bishop in a modest canyon, they are accessible from the Chalk Bluff area. Both feature climbs of varying difficulty. Fall is the perfect time to visit the climbing hot spots because of the weather.

Of course the previously mentioned recreational activities are not all that you’ll find on offer in Bishop. There are also opportunities to go trout fishing, horseback riding, camping and wildlife watching. Places that offer such activities include Bishop Creek Canyon and the Owens River.

Prefer not to break a sweat or pull out a fishing pole just yet? You could always partake of Bishop’s outdoor ...