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Matthew Harper

@asmharper

10.5K

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1890

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CA Assemblyman (2014-18), Huntington Beach Mayor (2013-14), OCTA Director (2012-14), HB Councilman (2010-14), HBUHSD Trustee (1998-2010) & USC Alumnus

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Soaking in Mono Hot Springs up in the Sierra National Forest! ♨️🏞

It is a long drive up via California State Route 168 into the Sierra Nevada from Fresno, California, which eventually turns into a narrow and winding road once you pass Lake Huntington.

There are many hot springs in the area, including this one. The hot springs are alongside the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Six miles away at the end of the road is Vermilion Valley Resort on the edge of Lake Thomas A. Edison, a stop for hikers on the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail!

#MonoHotSprings ♨️
#MonoHotSpringsResort ♨️
#SierraNationalForest 🌲🌲
#SierraNevada 🏔🏔
#NaturalHotSprings ♨️

Latergram: July 14, 2026

OK to re-post with credit to @AsmHarper taken in Mono Hot Springs by @asmharper

55

0

10 hours ago

Soaking in Mono Hot Springs up in the Sierra National Forest! ♨️🏞

It is a long drive up via California State Route 168 into the Sierra Nevada from Fresno, California, which eventually turns into a narrow and winding road once you pass Lake Huntington.

There are many hot springs in the area, including this one. The hot springs are alongside the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Six miles away at the end of the road is Vermilion Valley Resort on the edge of Lake Thomas A. Edison, a stop for hikers on the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail!

#MonoHotSprings ♨️
#MonoHotSpringsResort ♨️
#SierraNationalForest 🌲🌲
#SierraNevada 🏔🏔
#NaturalHotSprings ♨️

Latergram: July 14, 2026

OK to re-post with credit to @AsmHarper taken in Mono Hot Springs by @asmharper

88

4

2 days ago

Soaking in Mono Hot Springs up in the Sierra National Forest! ♨️🏞

It is a long drive up via California State Route 168 into the Sierra Nevada from Fresno, California, which eventually turns into a narrow and winding road once you pass Lake Huntington.

There are many hot springs in the area, including this one. The hot springs are alongside the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Six miles away at the end of the road is Vermilion Valley Resort on the edge of Lake Thomas A. Edison, a stop for hikers on the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail!

#MonoHotSprings ♨️
#MonoHotSpringsResort ♨️
#SierraNationalForest 🌲🌲
#SierraNevada 🏔🏔
#NaturalHotSprings ♨️

Latergram: July 14, 2026

OK to re-post with credit to @AsmHarper taken in Mono Hot Springs by @asmharper

106

2

3 days ago

Soaking in Mono Hot Springs up in the Sierra National Forest! ♨️🏞

It is a long drive up via California State Route 168 into the Sierra Nevada from Fresno, California, which eventually turns into a narrow and winding road once you pass Lake Huntington.

There are many hot springs in the area, including this one. The hot springs are alongside the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Six miles away at the end of the road is Vermilion Valley Resort on the edge of Lake Thomas A. Edison, a stop for hikers on the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail!

#MonoHotSprings ♨️
#MonoHotSpringsResort ♨️
#SierraNationalForest 🌲🌲
#SierraNevada 🏔🏔
#NaturalHotSprings ♨️

Latergram: July 14, 2026

OK to re-post with credit to @AsmHarper taken in Mono Hot Springs by @asmharper

123

4

4 days ago

Soaking in Mono Hot Springs up in the Sierra National Forest! ♨️🏞

It is a long drive up via California State Route 168 into the Sierra Nevada from Fresno, California, which eventually turns into a narrow and winding road once you pass Lake Huntington.

There are many hot springs in the area, including this one. The hot springs are alongside the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Six miles away at the end of the road is Vermilion Valley Resort on the edge of Lake Thomas A. Edison, a stop for hikers on the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail!

#MonoHotSprings ♨️
#MonoHotSpringsResort ♨️
#SierraNationalForest 🌲🌲
#SierraNevada 🏔🏔
#NaturalHotSprings ♨️

Latergram: July 14, 2026

OK to re-post with credit to @AsmHarper taken in Mono Hot Springs by @asmharper

137

7

6 days ago

Soaking in Mono Hot Springs up in the Sierra National Forest! ♨️🏞

It is a long drive up via California State Route 168 into the Sierra Nevada from Fresno, California, which eventually turns into a narrow and winding road once you pass Lake Huntington.

There are many hot springs in the area, including this one. The hot springs are alongside the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Six miles away at the end of the road is Vermilion Valley Resort on the edge of Lake Thomas A. Edison, a stop for hikers on the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail!

#MonoHotSprings ♨️
#MonoHotSpringsResort ♨️
#SierraNationalForest 🌲🌲
#SierraNevada 🏔🏔
#NaturalHotSprings ♨️

Latergram: July 14, 2026

OK to re-post with credit to @AsmHarper taken in Mono Hot Springs by @asmharper

188

2

8 days ago

Soaking in Mono Hot Springs up in the Sierra National Forest! ♨️🏞

It is a long drive up via California State Route 168 into the Sierra Nevada from Fresno, California, which eventually turns into a narrow and winding road once you pass Lake Huntington.

There are many hot springs in the area, including this one. The hot springs are alongside the South Fork of the San Joaquin River. Six miles away at the end of the road is Vermilion Valley Resort on the edge of Lake Thomas A. Edison, a stop for hikers on the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail!

#MonoHotSprings ♨️
#MonoHotSpringsResort ♨️
#SierraNationalForest 🌲🌲
#SierraNevada 🏔🏔
#NaturalHotSprings ♨️

Latergram: July 14, 2026

OK to re-post with credit to @AsmHarper taken in Mono Hot Springs by @asmharper

190

8

12 days ago

My section hike over Silver Pass on the John Muir Trail from Red's Meadow to VVR is complete! 🏔🎒🏞🇺🇸

According to their web site, Vermilion Valley Resort (VVR) is, "Everything you need for your off-grid getaway: a range of overnight accommodations, full service restaurant, and a well-stocked camp store."

I was tired out and ready for a cooked meal. The kitchen at VVR hit the spot!

Vermilion Valley Resort is on the edge of Lake Thomas A. Edison, just above Mono Hot Springs far up in the Sierra Nevada near the upper end of California Highway 168.

In the past, there was a ferry to VVR from the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail across Lake Thomas A. Edison. This day, I hiked alongside the lake through Sierra National Forest on a trail to VVR.

#VermilionValleyResort
#SierraNevada
#JMT2026
#JohnMuirTrail
#PacificCrestTrail

Latergram: July 1, 2026

OK to re-post with credit to @AsmHarper taken in Vermillion Valley Resort by @asmharper

193

5

21 days ago

After hiking over Silver Pass on the John Muir Trail, I have arrived at Lake Thomas A. Edison and am almost at Vermilion Valley Resort! 🏔🎒🏞🇺🇸

I was finally able to get a photo of a marmot. At this point, I was tired out and ready for a cooked meal.

At the Mono Creek crossing, I took the side trail along Lake Thomas Edison, diverting from John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail through the Sierra Nevada within the John Muir Wilderness of Sierra National Forest.

Next stop, VVR!

#LakeThomasAEdison
#SierraNevada
#JMT2026
#JohnMuirTrail
#PacificCrestTrail

Latergram: June 30 & July 1, 2026

OK to re-post with credit to @AsmHarper taken in Lake Thomas A Edison by @asmharper

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24 days ago

Thundersnow! 🌩🌨⚡️❄️🏔 After hiking over Silver Pass on the John Muir Trail, thunder, lightning, and snow started breaking out. I found a campsite by Silver Pass Lake and woke up with my tent surrounded by snow! 🏔🏔🎒🏞🇺🇸

For this section, through the Sierra Nevada within Sierra National Forest and within Fresno County, California, the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail are one and the same.

Next stop, Lake Thomas Edison!

#SilverPassLake
#SierraNevada
#JMT2026
#JohnMuirTrail
#PacificCrestTrail

Latergram: June 29, 2026

OK to re-post with credit to @AsmHarper taken in John Muir Trail by @asmharper

189

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a month ago

Silver Pass (10,700') is the highest point of my section hike of the John Muir Trail from Red's Meadow to VVR! 🏔🏔🎒🏞🇺🇸

Clouds started to gather as light snow began to fall. Due to freezing temperatures, mosquitoes were not a problem. Though the views were beautiful, I was eager to head down to Silver Pass Lake to find a suitable campsite.

For this section, through the Sierra Nevada within Sierra National Forest and within Fresno County, California, the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail are one and the same.

Next stop, Silver Pass Lake!

#SilverPass
#SierraNevada
#JMT2026
#JohnMuirTrail
#PacificCrestTrail

Latergram: June 29, 2026

OK to re-post with credit to @AsmHarper taken in Silver Pass by @asmharper

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5

a month ago

Hiking the John Muir Trail up to Chief Lake, Warrior Lake, and and Nüümü Hu Hupi! 💦🎒🏞🇺🇸

To get here, I had to hike back up and out of the Tully Hole. For this section, the John Muir Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail are one and the same. Due to freezing overnight temperatures, mosquitoes were not a problem.

I got to see a couple of marmots here within Sierra National Forest and within Fresno County, California.

The views continue to be beautiful and worth every step southbound through the Sierra Nevada!

Next stop, Silver Pass!

#ChiefLake
#SierraNevada
#JMT2026
#JohnMuirTrail
#PacificCrestTrail taken in John Muir Trail by @asmharper

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2 months ago