🏔️ Visiting Kirkwood Mountain Resort in Summer | 🚗 Sierra Nevada Road Trip via Scenic Highway 88 скачать в хорошем качестве

🏔️ Visiting Kirkwood Mountain Resort in Summer | 🚗 Sierra Nevada Road Trip via Scenic Highway 88

‪@outandabout_channel‬    • 🏔️ Visiting Kirkwood Mountain Resort in Su...      • 🏞️ Summer Escape to Caples Lake 🌲 Hidden G...      • 🌄 Silver Lake, Kirkwood, CA | Must Visit A...      • 🚗 Scenic Drive through Sierra Nevada Mount...   ✨ Welcome to my summer getaway to Kirkwood Mountain Resort, nestled high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California! Located about 180 miles (roughly 3.5–4 hours) east of the San Francisco Bay Area, Kirkwood sits at an impressive 7,800 feet elevation, making it one of the highest base resorts in the Sierra. You’ll find it right along the scenic Highway 88, a historic mountain pass that cuts across the Sierras and is generally only open from late spring through early fall due to heavy snowfall in the winter. (👉 Don’t miss my detailed Highway 88 Drive video, linked on the screen!) In this 6-minute video, I take you along as we reach Kirkwood Village, the small alpine-style center where most of the resort amenities are located. On the way, I made brief stops at two nearby alpine lakes—Silver Lake and Caples Lake—both less than 15 minutes’ drive from Kirkwood. These high-elevation lakes are great for quick photo stops or short walks if you’re passing by. (👉 Check out my Caples Lake video and my Silver Lake video, both linked on the screen!) Once at Kirkwood itself, the atmosphere was very different from the bustling winter months when thousands of skiers and snowboarders fill the slopes. Since it was summer and the ski season was closed, the village felt almost deserted. Walking through rows of shuttered shops, cafes, and restaurants gave off a quiet, surreal vibe—almost like stepping into an alpine ghost town. From there, I explored the ski lift area. Normally, Kirkwood runs over 15 chairlifts during the winter season across 2,300 acres of skiable terrain, but in the summer everything was completely at rest. Even the massive snowmaking machines, which help produce up to 200 acres of man-made snow coverage in winter, were silent, lined up along the slopes. A short hike up the lower runs revealed patches of remnant snow, even though it was mid-summer. The melting snow created little trickling streams of fresh mountain water, running down the slopes and adding to the peaceful alpine setting. Later, I checked into my 1-bedroom condo right in the resort village. The first thing I noticed was the view—absolutely breathtaking, with panoramic mountains right outside the window. Inside, the unit had a full kitchen, which was very useful since all the resort’s amenities were closed, and a cozy bedroom upstairs with plenty of space for a relaxing stay. Having the kitchen meant we could still enjoy good meals, even with everything around shut down. On the positive side, because the resort was empty, it truly felt like having the entire mountain to ourselves. That rare feeling of solitude—quiet, relaxing, and peaceful—was the highlight of the trip. In contrast to the lively, packed ski season, this summer visit was all about stillness, reflection, and enjoying nature at its own pace. Thank you so much for watching! 🙏 If you enjoyed this trip, don’t forget to click the thumbnail at the end for another travel adventure you’ll love.