![\"Dormant](\"http:\/\/www.thejohnsonsjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/10\/IMG_1891.JPG\" "\\"IMG_1891\\"")
<\/a>Dormant Hot Springs<\/p><\/div>\n
Some of the springs were nice, some were boring, many had seen more active days in the past and now lie dormant and dry. It is still very impressive to see the magnitude of the growth of these pools and streams of boiling water.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/a>Looks like a Dali painting<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
Later that afternoon after warming ourselves in the Visitor Center and having a picnic of “Cup-o-Noodles” in the park in the center of town we went for a hike.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/a>Great view of the valley north of Mammoth<\/p><\/div>\n
The destination of this hike was a collection of ponds called “Beaver Ponds”. The solitude was amazing, we only saw one other hiker and a few Forest Rangers building a few stream crossings along the 5 mile jaunt. At the last and largest of the ponds we found a comfortable rock to sit on and had a snack and rest.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/a>Lunch overlooking Beaver Pond<\/p><\/div>\n
Unfortunately along with the lack of humans, there seemed to be a lack of wildlife as well. On the hike which was supposed to be frequented by elk, deer and to a lesser extent bears, we saw nothing but a few ducks on the ponds and this little fellow.<\/p>\n
\n