We're up in Mammoth Lakes to go skiing. One problem. Not much snow. Fortunately I planned ahead. Hiking boots, a pack and I'm ready to go. I had never been to the Sherwin Lakes during the winter months because there is usually too much snow. There are a few exposed areas along the trail where I would really be worried about avalanches. Fortunately, with only about two inches of month old snow, I felt pretty safe from an avalanche standpoint.

I went to see frozen lakes and that's what I got. My wife and son went skiing anyway and my daughter stayed at our condo and read all day. While on my hike my wife texted me that I was missing out. My response was simple, "No I'm not."

The lakes were beautiful. The stream between Upper Sherwin Lake and Big Sherwin Lake was full and clear and relatively ice free. I was surprised by this.

Right now is a great time to hike the Sierra. All roads are open, including the major passes. You get to see the Sierra like few do, in the dead of winter, with nowhere near the effort or risk that it takes to get to these spots in the middle of a normal Sierra winter.