11/10, Lone Pine Lake, Manzanar

11/10 Hike to Lone Pine Lake

Awesome! The lake was frozen, and made crazy sounds, first when I threw rocks on the surface, then, on its own, maybe from warming up?

Granite walls are awesome, and the giant trees are fabulous- Ponderosas, maybe Jack pines, Pinyon trees.

Manzanar,

This place was sobering, or maybe depressing. It's a historic site which highlights the patterns of abuse that the white "settlers" impose on other cultures. The Paiute tribe was displaced for settlers to grow apples and other fruit trees. In the early 1900s already Los Angeles had their eye on the water from the Sierras, and forced the farmers off by acquiring water rights and land. After they had the area declared abandoned, the government created the detention facility for nearly eleven thousand Japanese US Citizens during WWII. So now we get a museum like facility to remind us how not to be- yet we just voted in another DJT presidency- what is wrong with us?!?!

The Japanese story that's told here, though accurate seems to be rather whitewashed. I just read a book titled "Snow falling on Cedars" which illustrates the suffering imposed on the Japanese US Citizens and the attitudes from real people who were friends and neighbors becoming mean and hostile towards them, even though they were part of the community. I didn't like that book, but likely because it rings too true at the moment. Depressing.

Alabama hills

Lone Pine is a 2 star town (of 5)

Everything is inconvenient, and unhelpful. Cell service is sketchy, WIFI is largely avoided- or for store use only, even at the café- which is like a greasy spoon type of café. No guest wifi. What is there seems to be run down and neglected. The road to Whitney Portal and the Alabama hills is closed for construction, and the information place is blocked off, behind the detour area.

The grocery store is weirdly inconvenient, and hyper priced. The chicken we bought had 1 monster thigh, and 2 mini thighs- hard to cook that! That needed to be requested, rather than in a case to pick what you want.

Leaving town, I was coerced into topping off the diesel tank, only to have the auto shut off fail, and splash diesel all over the place, including my shoes and pants- with no apologies or concern given by the station staff. Good riddance.

The Alabama hills were very cool, even if you don't know the movies that were filmed there. Rock boulders and pathways around them were very fun. It may be a fun place to explore at some point especially if bouldering is something to do.

OK, let’s move on to somethig more positive and uplifting?!

Saline Valley to Alabama Hills 11/9

And Manzanar

The road seemed a lot more rough on the way out of Saline valley. What a magical place, but a bit weird too- maybe that's what is so magical. An odd collection of people in the desert oasis.

We spoke to some fellow Portlanders, and he said he'd been here like 20 years ago, and there were almost nobody here- just an old naked guy. I missed my opportunity to say "he's still here!" there is a 30 day limit to camp , so that's something. Most of the folks we met were exceedingly nice and enjoyed the hot spring "spa". I'm failing  description of the "magic" of Saline valley hot spring.

The few folks that we spoke with couldn't believe that we "just stumbled upon this" rather than be invited, or someone told us about it.

Tom and Kelly- they've been on the road for 10 years! He calls themselves "dirtbags", I guess gathering dirt- camping

Everyone was polite, nice and seemed educated- but I guess not judgmental, oh, here I go again- not making sense.

Coyote, Bats, Rabbits, Roadrunner, and a bunch of naked people in the hot pools. Burros like books I guess, we saw a few on the way out, but without the books.

We stopped at the Saline valley sand dunes, since I didn't get to go to the Eureka dunes- the road directly there was "not advised"- definitely a 4x4 road- I can appreciate that more now than ever. These roads are rough!

Just ask Ginger.

On the way in, we had 2 eggs fall casualty, even in the plastic protective case, on the way out the carton of broth sprung a leak- rough roads!

The sand dunes! I loved seeing the evidence of life in the dunes- there were footprints  of all kinds of critters, mostly not identifiable to the layman like me.- still very cool though.

Big pine, independence, Manzanar, Lone Pine, Alabama hills

Leaving the Saline valley on Saturday seemed right, but we noticed a huge influx of people for the long weekend- it's Veteran's day on Monday, so a lot of people have the long weekend- bad new if you want to go somewhere popular- like the Alabama hills! :(

Anticipating the crowds, and the camping restrictions and the poor timing, we set out to see what this place is about. Initially we did find it busy, and full, so hopes dropped quickly for finding a place in the rocks. But we persevered, and did find a camp spot at the north end of Alabama hills. It's nice, and the scenery is incredible, with the rock outcroppings.

Not really into the movie scene, but the area is spuer impressive, geology wise!

Death Valley, Saline Valley 11/7

We're leaving the woodlands for desertlands! 8500 feet for 2400 feet. 13 degree nights for 37 degree nights.

We'll see………… :)

When I called the NPS line, I got a very helpful guy on the phone saying that the road was passable, there is no rain/ weather in the forecast, so the dunes should be a good destination, except.. When I mentioned that we would go from the Eureka dunes, to Saline hot springs, then exit from there, Would it be better to leave the north pass route, or south pass? "going from Eureka dunes to Saline is not recommended- ugh.

So, lets forget about the dunes and just go to the hot springs.

Good idea.

The road is long and rough- like 37 miles long and rough, but the oasis that is Saline hot springs is nothing like we read, or saw. It's truly an oasis, but the people are laid back and maybe it's an old hippie enclave!?

Planes!

F1, F5 , F35, in the morning 4 F15s!

White Mountains 11/6

We camped in the white Mountains, at Grandview Campground, 8540 feet elevation, and woke up to 13 degrees! Welp, seems like hell froze over because we picked up a few bars cell service to find out that we will have another DJT presidency- it's like a day of mourning. I'm happy that we have been out of touch so as not to be so bombarded and fatigued with all the news stream, nonetheless, it’s a shock and "I can't believe this!"

Susan mentioned that perhaps it was fitting to be in the presence of the ancient Bristlecones, as they have withstood 4,000 years of existence in a very harsh place. Let's gather some of that resiliency and know the long game is not about these 4 years. Yes we'll need to fight to retain our democracy.

The sun came up today the same as ever, and that feels good. Stick to what's important, and carry on.

Perhaps it's a time to reflect, and listen to what it is that the conservative voters are searching for? The voters are believing in a dream that I don't quite understand, but to listen, and understand, maybe we can come together on some cornerstones of what we deserve as a nation.

In the meantime, I have a newfound respect for Pinyon Pines (or Pinyon trees if you don't want to seem redundant). The Pinyon and Juniper woodland is so impressive. The Pinyon are shedding their cones, and pine nuts are all over the place! The trees seem to have a competition with the bristlecones for tenacity. They are growing in the rocks, enduring the high altitude severe weather, and have a similar twisted form, they are amazing.

Once the sun came up, and warmed us to at least 20 degrees, I went for a Mountain Bike ride from camp to an old mine site, with breathtaking views of the Sierras, the Pinyon pines, Utah Junipers and rock formations in this magical woodland. Dang those climbs are brutal! Maybe it wasn't the view that took my breath away! A great start to the day!

Bristlecone Pines and Limber Pines, White Mountains, 11/5

The ancient Bristlecone Pines, over 4,000 years old! Imagine the changes on planet Earth in the last 4,000 years. Rather than a Pine forest, it’s a sculpture garden with ancient living wooden sculptures depicting the sinuous curves of a flame. Sometimes a bonfire, or the locks of Medusa jutting out at every angle. I could spend a week with these, if it weren't so cold. But that's where and how they thrive- where others can't, how others can't. when most trees would die if the bark is stripped off, the Bristlecone endures. Large swaths of bark removed by rockfall, snow slide, ice and wind, as much as 90% of the bark can be removed, yet the tree will live on.

This is also one of the places when the photographs fall short of the awe inspired by the grove of trees. The lines, forms and colors of the trees and snags have the patina of weathered barn wood. Seeing them was like watching the flames jump from a bonfire, only frozen in time, paused for you to walk around inspect from different perspectives.

Bristlecone Pine Sculpture

Then on the way back to camp, the sky put on an amazing show for us- just to ensure that I stayed out and froze!

Sunset before our 13 degree night!