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Independence Area 08/04-6/15
Lone Pine
A fire on the western flank of the Sierra about 50 miles to the southwest was funneling smoke over to the eastern escarpment between Olancha and Lone Pine's Lake Diaz.
I headed to the mountains for a few days to mourn the loss of a good friend Bill Furlong. Out in nature is where I feel closest to my god which is everything. I had know Bill for almost 50 years and had planned on seeing him again when the colors changed this fall in upstate New York.
Oak Creek
New Jeep camping North Fork Oak Creek	South Fork Oak Creek
There were a couple of tiny snow chutes on 14,375' Mt Williamson's north facing side. Both the North & South Forks of Oak Creek were still running. When I had passed over the LA Aqueduct on US395 there had been some water in the concrete trough. Overall signs of California's 4th year of drought. The Oak Creek area was just not the same since the fire and flooding years ago.
Onion Valley
Parking at Onion Valley (9,000') was overflowing	The Owens Valley was hazing from the smoke (My normal free camp area left middle of picture)
I had planned on hiking out of Onion Valley up to Robinson Lake but the area was too crowded. I checked out my nearby free camping area and no one was there. I decided to go over to the Inyos for sunset/sunrise pictures of the Sierra from across the Owens Valley.
Badger Flats
Sunset from Badge Flats	Snowless 14,000' mountains Williamson & Tyndall from Badger Flats.
I saw no one for the 20 miles up the dirt Mazourka Canyon Road nor at Badger Flats. The Coyote pack is still in the area at night. Last time they chased Mya into the tent in the fog in the middle of the night. No tent this time. About 700 feet lower than Onion Valley but still nice temperatures compared to the desert. Didn't want to do any serious 4 wheeling with the new Grand Cherokee and get over to Papoose Flats.
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