2013-06-16: Lava Flow
Just south of Lone Pine, our first stop, we spotted this volcanic area where you can actually see the path of the lava flow. Pretty interesting.
2013-06-17: June Lake
We are staying 3-days right here on June Lake in Oh Ridge Campground, a great forest service facility. With the wind blowing, there were whitecaps on the lake giving it a spectacular look.
2013-06-17: Deer
It was fun to watch the deer wander through our campsite grazing as they moved.
2013-06-18: Mono Craters
Mono craters are a series of rhyolitic domes and form the youngest mountain range in North America. Panum, the northern most crater, erupted only 640 years ago!
2013-06-18: Tufa
Mono Lake is known for its tufa tower formations. The strange spires and knobs are formed when fresh water springs containing calcium bubble up through the carbonate-rich lake water. The combining of these waters forms calcium carbonate, a whitish limestone deposit that forms the basis of the tufa formations. Tufa is found in many alkaline lakes throughout the world. Aren't we lucky to have some here in California!
2013-06-18: Beached
Because the water level of Mono Lake is very low, we got to see some "beached tufa" on our way down to the water.
2013-06-19: Fumaroles
Looking into the Hot Creek gorge we were able to see these fumaroles or steam vents. The pools are actually not blue - it's an optical illusion caused by light reflecting from white calcium carbonate crystals in the rock. The steaming fumaroles are an indication that this region is still very geologically active and that earthquakes and underground magma activity could change the location or intensity of these fumaroles overnight.
2013-06-19: Hot Springs
This was like a trip back in time for us - we came here some 40-years ago on a Mammoth ski trip. This area was little known then and a great place for a hot water soak (in your birthday suit) while passing the bottle of wine around. Oh to be young again! BTW it is now closed from sundown to sunup.
2013-06-19: Pelicans
As we were standing admiring Hot Creek meander through these meadows three pelicans flew over and landed quite close. What magnificent birds they are.
2013-06-19: Inyo Crater
On our way back to camp we did a little side trip out to Inyo Crater. Unfortunately we didn't get to walk to the crater because it was getting too late but we did get to do some off-roading which we always enjoy.