Letter 4 High Sierra's

Thursday, April 14 we arrived at Lone Pine, California and visited a great visitor center where we were told which of the mountains was Mt Whitney. We were so close to it on our first trip when we were in King’s Canyon, but couldn’t see it for the other mountains. This is the highest peak in the lower 48 states, but it is surrounded by mountains close to the same height. It is the one in the middle.

The rangers in the visitor center told us so much to see in this area we decided to stay for a night. We found a BLM (Bureau of Land Management) campground on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada’s in view of the beautiful snow covered mountains. As we were settling in we discovered there were

trout in the little creek running through the camp. They had just been stocked the day before and were the older of the fish at the hatchery about 10” plus. Tempting to fish?

Friday, April 15 Olivia awoke at daybreak and climbed out of bed to take this

picture of our camp with the mountains. The campground itself is not much, but the view is outstanding. We decided to stay another night to look and explore the area. Before leaving the campsite she tried a panorama shot. Alaska has got to go a long way to beat this scenery!

We discovered this area was called Movie Flats as the film industry discovered it back during silent films. It became the B western capital. It is within 200 miles of LA and the scenery fit everything from Texas to India. We visited the Museum of Lone Pine Film History. their web site www.lonepinefilmfestival.org lists all the films made in this setting. Can’t you just see the Indian’s chasing the cowboys? Or Hopalong Cassidy chasing around the Rocks? How about the Lone Ranger riding Silver up on a rock with the William Tell overture? Did you ever see Gunga Din? Maverick? Rawhide? High Sierra? Charge of the Light Brigade? Or more current Tremors? We spent a couple of hours riding around this area

area hunting for various scenes. This area of Movie Flats allows boondocking in all the movie sets. There were only a few at this time, but it did look interesting.
Back at the campground we watched a man fish and release. Another reported catching 5 and another 3.

Saturday, April 16 we packed up but before we left we drove over to the

arch that frames a view of Mt Whitney. Olivia is so enamoured over this mountain because there is such a small window to see it. It is nestled among so many in this chain of mountains and those on both side are nearer to us. This shot looks like a post card and is a popular one at the tourist stops, but we took this one ourselves.

Without the arch the view is much closer not far from our camp.
Back at the trailer we prepared to move north.
Our next stop was at Manzanar, which was a Japanese internment camp during WWII. We watched a movie about the residents of this camp. They told their story of being taken from their homes along the west coast and moved into barracks here at this camp. Two-thirds of all Japanese Americans interned here were American citizens by birth. The first Japanese Americans to arrive at Manzanar in March 1942 were men and women who volunteered to help build the camp. By September 1942 more than 10,000 were crowded into 504 barracks. Throughout the year strong winds swept through the valley, often blanketing the camp with dust and sand.

They attempted to make the best of a bad situation by forming an advisory council. They established churches, temples, boys and girls clubs, sports, music, dance and other recreational activities. They built gardens and ponds and published a newspaper. They dug irrigation canals and ditches, tended acres of fruits and vegetables and raised chickens, hogs, and cattle.
The last of the internees left by November 1945. The removal of all Japanese Americans from the West Coast was based on wide-spread distrust of their loyalty after Pearl Harbor. Yet, none were charged with espionage.

In Bishop, we stopped at the famous Schot’s Bakery where we gained five pounds just walking in the door. It was huge and their selection was even bigger. We finally decided on a small round sourdough bread, a large round Sheepherder loaf, huge hamburger buns and some coconut macaroons. We could have selected more but our stomachs and the trailer couldn’t hold more.

Then the scenery really improved! How can we say that? Miles and miles of one mountain after another. WOW! Olivia’s panoramic shots from the moon roof in the car just don’t do justice.
so she decided to take single shots. But still out of the top of the car.

We stopped for the night at Lee Vining which is the east side of Yosemite National Park. The road to the park is closed because of snow, so we couldn’t drive over. In fact all of the campgrounds are closed in this area because of snow, so we had to stay in an RV park. Fred was not feeling good from an ear ache and dizziness. We didn’t know if it was inner ear, swimmer’s ear or just what. His blood pressure was ok. He rested and slept late.

This whole area covered in this letter has a multitude of campgrounds. BLM, Forest Service, County, and private. The Department of Water and Power in the Eastern Sierras provides hundreds of spaces and leases them to Inyo and Mono County. The counties develop, maintain and operate the campgrounds. Both Counties have about 160 various campgrounds as well as fishing opportunies, museums, visitor centers, hunting, water sports and golf courses.
Sunday, April 17 there was no Methodist Church in Lee Vining so Fred slept late and by noon we took off to see this area. We drove up the

Tioga pass road and the view grew prettier around every curve, about five miles to the gate. We then turned into the campground road that followed the creek up the little valley west. We found Big Bend and Aspen Campgrounds with a beautiful creek and waterfall were near several campsites.
Look for the picnic tables hidden with the snow.
Moraine Campground was down river a little bit. All would be great places to stay when the snow melts.
From this area we drove south to the open part of
June Lake road. In just a few miles we topped a hill and found another beautiful view.

June Lake was a brilliant blue with the snow capped Sierra’s in the back ground. Just to the north of this spot was Oh Ridge Campground on the moraine that holds the lake. As we drove around the left side of this lake we were warned of avalanches. Do not stop, walk or ski on this road. Fred didn’t hesitate to keep going. Just past the lake was a small tourist town of June Lake and the population was seen sprucing up for the beginning of tourist season.

Next was another lake called

Gull Lake and it was frozen. We did find two more campgrounds called Reversed Creek and Gull Lake. The later was right between the road and the lake and had about ten sites. Olivia found one we could have fit into, but to accomplish that feat, we would have had to back down the road to the spot. It still had snow at the back, but would have been a dream spot next to the frozen lake. Some of you with smaller rigs need to remember this spot and think of us when you are here.

On our way back to our camp we drove out to Mono Lake that covers the valley. Mark Twain called Mono Lake the “Dead Sea of California,” but nothing could be further from the truth. It is teaming with plants and animals that have adapted to the salty, alkaline (soapy) waters. This makes it one of the most important wetlands in the western hemisphere for migrating and nesting birds.
This lake dropped more than 45 vertical feet between 1941, when the city of LA began diverting water from the streams that feed the lake, and 1982 when the lake reached its low stand.
As we walked to the water’s edge we thought we were on a dry spot. Surface water sinks through this porous soil until it hits a hard rock layer, then it runs downhill toward the lake. A spring forms wherever this groundwater emerges. Looking toward the lake we saw rows of cream-colored rock towers known as
tufa. The towers reveal where springs once emerged beneath Mono Lake. As the lake level dropped, the tufa towers were exposed and the springs that formed them dried up.
When calcium-rich springs flow up through the lake bottom, the calcium bonds to carbonate salt in the lake water. Together they form a type of limestone. This solid material builds on itself, gradually forming a
a tufa tower.

On our way back through Lee Vining the sign for "Whoa Nelli Deli" caught our attention. It is in the Tioga Gas Mart. We had been told of this miles back down the road. Unfortunately the gourmet deli wasn’t open for the season. Olivia picked up a menu and it certainly was unique. It is the home of the “World Famous Fish Tacos & Mango Margaritas.” Also listed in their menu were: Wild Buffalo Meatloaf, Legendary Lobster Taquitos and Ragin Cajun Chicken Jambalya. There were all sorts of sandwiches, mountain pizza, insane soups, breakfasts and desserts. Well folks, enjoy this place for us too.

We both said even though we have missed lots of sites and eats, it is nice to be here this time of year when it isn’t crowded and the weather is wonderful!

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. We moved into Carson City Nevada with a list of maintenance items to take care of: Doctor for Fred who is feeling better, shopping, minor repairs, computer updates, oil change, internet contacts, ATM, Muddie’s paperwork, cleaning and washing.When we went to a trailer supply place we enjoyed seeing their giant bugFred's appointment netted the fact that he was NOT drinking enough water for this dry territory. Drink up Fred!

Most of the week the clouds hung over the mountains, with high wind and sun over us.

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Contact us at Olivia@bobheck.com or Fredharrington@yahoo.com