Beautiful Day Hike

At Cannon's Point Preserve, St. Simons Island, GA.  And beautiful views in to the Altamaha River delta.

16.6 miles of beaches! And beautiful oak canopy in the maritime forest. Ferries depart daily from St. Mary's, GA.

It was a great eight days in Southern California and the 395 Eastern Sierra corridor.  From LA, to the Mojave Desert, to the Owens Valley, to the Mammoth/Mono basin, the variety of topography was fabulous!  The week started cool and windy (even a little snow overnight the first night at Walker Pass) and ended mild with calm winds.  Eight days of sunshine -- one thing I learned was that shade is at a premium!  This was caused partly by not being able to get up high in the Sierra (except the Mammoth area) because the access roads were still closed from the winter.  I traveled a total of 1232 miles exploring the byways of the Eastern Sierra.  I'll definitely be going back... And one last salute to Mt Whitney, highest peak in the continental US at 14,494 feet.  It towers above Lone Pine at 3,500 feet, but only about 8 miles west as the crow flies!

Near Tehachapi, CA.

Inyo NF. Near Lone Pine, CA. 

Town park is spectacular!  Holes in rock created by Native Americans grinding plants for food, medicine, etc.

Unbelievable views of the Sierras from the White Mountains!  Plus more ancient bristlecones.

Inyo NF, near Independence, CA. Lightning burn damage from ~10 years ago.

Just off 395 near Sherwin Summit. Short hike to great lookout!

Inyo NF.  Between June and Mammoth.  Looks like black glass.  Was able to use snowshoes around the base!

Inyo NF. Near intersection of 395 and 158. Looking Northwest towards Yosemite.  

Inyo NF, near June Lake. Too steep and too much snow. Had to turn around!

Inyo NF, near Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Recent (~ 650 years ago) steam eruptions. Great views of Mammoth.

White Mountains, Inyo National Forest. Near Big Pine, CA. Plus incredible Sierra View.

Inyo National Forest, near Big Pine, CA.

Late afternoon in the High Sierra!

Mt. Whitney in the left background.  Near Lone Pine, CA.

John Muir Wilderness, Inyo National Forest. Near Independence, CA. 

Inyo National Forest, near Lone Pine, CA.  Hiking on the National Recreation Trail which goes from Lone Pine campground to Whitney Portal.  Road to Whitney Portal is closed at switchbacks.

Inyo National Forest.  Near Kennedy Meadows and the Kern River.

Pacific Crest Trail, near Ridgecrest, CA.  Spring snow in the desert!

 "High end" of the desert near Tehachapi, CA.  Snow in the Sierras, in the background. Tremendous wind farms in this area.

St. Simons Island,GA.  600 acre preserve managed by the St. Simons Land Trust. What a blessing to be able to go hiking with my 90 year old Dad!