Year: 2012
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Backcountry driving in Death Valley, CA
Several of the areas we had wanted to check out last time we were at Death Valley in December 2011 have a 4-wheel drive vehicle requirement. Since our time then was limited, we vowed to visit those sites when we went back. This time we merged those excursions into a one-day trip and rented a…
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Fascinating Death Valley – you gotta go here!
The sand storm, the wind and a little shower the previous night did not dampen our spirits, for we woke up to a beautiful sunny cloudless day at Stovepipe Wells. However, due to an event – “The 63rd Annual Death Valley ’49ers Encampment” – the 12 full hook-up sites were booked for the rest of the…
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Traveling highest to lowest in one day!
One of the things we did while at Lone Pine was visit the 814- acre Manzanar National Historic Site. This was one of the 10 camps where over 100,000 Japanese Americans were relocated during World War II without due process of law. The historic site preserves the many stories of the people who were relocated…
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The other Alabama…
In the shadow of Mt Whitney stands a group of rocky outcroppings with a southern-sounding name known as Alabama Hills. It is located just west of Lone Pine off of scenic Highway 395. The Alabama Hills got their name from Confederate sympathizers who prospected and mined the area during the Civil war. They were honoring the…
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Discovering majestic Mt. Whitney – She’s a beauty!
After having a wondeful time at Bishop, we packed up and drove into Lone Pine – 60 miles south on scenic 395. We spent a couple of nights at the Boulder Creek RV Park so we could catch up on a few things, ie. laundry 🙁 We also wanted to prepare for what we…
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The Giants of California – Giant Sequoias!
No, we are not talking about the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, but rather the majestic largest trees on the planet – the Giant Sequoias. Along picturesque highway 395 is the gateway to Yosemite National Park from the east. No, we did not stop at Yosemite on this trip, but we did spend about…
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Defying the Odds – The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Tree
We are so behind with our storytelling not only because we’ve had no internet connection but also we are having so much fun and enjoying so much beautiful scenery. For now lets go to White Mountain…
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State of Arrested Decay – the Ghost town of Bodie, CA
A must-see along scenic 395 (if you like ghost towns as Steve does) is a landmark, Bodie State Historical Park. Bodie is the remains of the famously rowdy gold mining town sitting at 8,375 feet elevation, located northeast of Yosemite National Park 13 miles east of Highway 395. Only about 5 percent of the buildings…
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Some hidden gems along the Eastern Sierras – Scenic Hwy 395
We’ve been on this road before, yet the scenery on Highway 395 remains awe-inspiring. We had never explored much of what lies beyond the highway, the less-traveled roads that brought us deep into the area’s natural wonders and very colorful history. Folks who have a strong interest in geology would find this place paradise. For…
