spring break pics ***DIAL-UP WARNING***

[mike_c]

Here are some pics I took during a spring break camping trip to the Saline Valley. I didn't visit the hot springs this year, but rather camped near the base of the Inyo mountains near McElvoy canyon. Perversely, the captions are above each figure.

The eastern Sierras in mid-March.


Overlooking the Panamint Valley on the south pass road into Saline Valley. When I got out of my truck to take this picture a Navy pilot from China Lake was in a near vertical climb out of the Panamint Valley just over my head. I looked directly up his tail pipe as he lit his afterburner. No more than a few hundred feet away. The noise damned nearly knocked me over and flame shot out of his exhaust.


Sunrise just beginning to touch the Inyo mountains, seen from camp. The deep slot on the left is McElvoy canyon.


The view from camp facing north. The Inyo mountains are on the left.


Hiking up McElvoy canyon. It's a narrow, winding slot canyon.


McElvoy canyon. There's water in the canyon, hence the willows.


Waterfall in McElvoy canyon. This is just magical. The canyon walls are so steep we couldn't discover whether this waterfall issues from a spring or whether there is a surface creek up there.


Standing under the waterfall, looking up.


The wet canyon wall beneath the waterfall is covered with a spongy, colorful biofilm an inch or two thick, which hosts maidenhair ferns, orchids, mosses, and so on. This is a natural swamp cooler-- the air in this part of the canyon is easily 20 degrees cooler than the valley itself. Maidenhair ferns in one of the hottest and driest deserts in North America!


Hiking out of McElvoy canyon.


More hiking out of McElvoy canyon. The mountains in the background are the Panamints.


Moonrise over the Panamint mountains, see from my camp chair. The shadow of the Inyos is creeping across the valley floor.


An early morning view of the Inyo range and the Saline Valley, photographed from the beginning of the north pass road out of the Saline Valley.


An old mine. This is harsh country to work in!


Atoning for the sin of impatience on the north pass road. The north pass cuts a couple of hours off the travel time if it's open. That advantage is lost if you spend several hours digging yourself out of snow!


And finally, the only major bummer of the trip.


Hope you enjoyed them!

xoxo
Mike C.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear mike_c!

These are wonderful!

Very rugged country...

I especially love the waterfall, of course ...

Falling water is so beautiful, whether it be a huge torrent, or a fragile spray...

And how amazing that little bit of water can sustain so much life...

I'll bet you had a ball!

Thank you for sharing...

:hi:

[mike_c]

2. somehow I KNEW you'd be one of the first to comment on these....

Actually, I was thinking about your beautiful socal beach and sunset pics when I posted these. A bit different country, just to the east of you.

I love the socal desert!

[underpants]

3. Man, I panned all the way down

and not ONE topless chick :grr:

:bounce: just kidding -looks great (next time get some topless chicks...seriously)

[mike_c]

6. LOL-- I might be able to find one of a topless 53 year old grizzled dude....

You don't mind lots of body hair, I hope....

:rofl:

[Orsino]

12. No girls went wild in the making of these pics.

All that beauty, and not a wet t-shirt contest in sight. Well done!

[lost-in-nj]

4. Beautiful!!!

I love them!!!
THANKS fro sharing!!!

lost

[XemaSab]

5. Excellent pictures!

I need to get myself up there soon...

I need my 100 for Inyo. :(

But it looks like you had a good time. Hope you stayed hydrated. :beer:

[mike_c]

7. well, let's just say that plenty of liquids were consumed....

Even some water!

:rofl:

[mike_c]

13. yeah, I need regular desert fixes....

There's nothing like the soft air of a desert evening. Sigh.

[XemaSab]

20. I need regular "east side" fixes

I haven't been out there in almost a year and I'm overdue. :P

[ghostsofgiants]

8. If there are no chicks in the back of dune buggies flashing their boobs...

And no drunken frat boys cheering them on, it's not Spring Break. :P

[XemaSab]

10. Is that how they do spring break in Newfoundland?

Here in California, we out to the desert alone or with a few friends to check out the natural history of the area. :P

[ghostsofgiants]

11. No, in Newfoundland girls flash the sweaters beneath their parkas from the back of snowmobiles

Because Spring break is still Winter here. x(

[Kajsa]

9. Beautiful pictures, Mike!

It is stunning how much flora can thrive in the desert,
if given a good source of water.

I know just how hot that desert can get, especially in the
summer.

Spring is the most beautiful time to see our CA deserts.

Thanks for sharing these.

:D :hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

14. Very pretty, MikeC

and like a trip down Memory Lane for me. Back in the very early '70s I lived for a while in the Panamint Mountains in a tipi (sewn by my own two hands on a treadle sewing machine while hanging out in a commune in southern Oregon). There really is an unearthly beauty there.

[mike_c]

16. it probably hasn't changed much since then....

I love that country.

[Call Me Wesley]

15. Gorgeous landscape, gorgeous photos!

Love the third one! :thumbsup:

[mike_c]

17. thank you-- I was drinking coffee and looked up in time...

...to catch the moment when the sun just started to touch the nearest mountains. Five minutes later it lit the whole range, but without that ethereal orange light.

[Haole Girl]

18. Those are awesome!!

I especially like the sunrise, waterfalls, and moonrise shots!! Thank you for sharing these. :D

[Maestro]

19. Great series

Beautiful landscapes! It looks like you had a great hike/trip. That last pic is just downright scary though.

[JohnnyLib2]

21. Beautiful. You've made me homesick--

for the Yerington-Minden-Washoe Valley section. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :hi: