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| Owens Valley and Mono Basin
June 2-13 |
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| For the first time in the 20 years I've been around the
area, I saw water in the McIver Canal. They had been working on allowing
it to carry water again due to the huge expected Sierra runoff. I heard
from a McIver that it was the first time since 1969. |
| After only getting out for 2 days in May I
decided to get out more in June. I started out a couple days on Mazourka
Rd out of Independence. It was in the low 90s during the day and hotter in
the trailer. Dave showed up Saturday and I showed him some of the area
such as the Whiteside Mine and Mazourka Peak. Sunday I moved up to
Obsidian Dome Rd where at 8000' it was much cooler. I had to go back to
Ridgecrest for a Wednesday doctors appointment and left the trailer up in
the mountains. By Sunday it was much colder with occasional snow flurries
most the day which began to stick by 5 pm. It got down to the high 20s
that night with only a light dusting by dawn. A week latter 180 miles
south in Ridgecrest the temperatures were hitting over 110. |
| Mazourka Peak |
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| Mono Lake |
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| There was a lot of green in the water and by
looking past the reflective surface with a polarizing lens it really
brought it out. |
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| Looking below the surface |
Looking at the surface reflection |
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| Penum Crater |
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| Finally got to Penum Crater after passing by it
dozens of times. It is the youngest of the Mono Craters volcanoes. |
| Campgrounds |
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| Flooded Upper Deadman Creek Campground |
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| Lee Vining Creek through Aspen Campground |
| On Deadman Creek Road
both Upper and Lower Deadman Creek Campgrounds were closed probably
because of the water level. Deadman Creek Road was still snowed in past
the campgrounds. In Lee Vining Canyon Aspen and Big Bend were closed
although Big Bend was open for day use. For some reason Hartley Spring was
closed which added off roading quad neighbors for me for a couple nights.
Glass Creek Campground was packed with RVs and toy haulers. The open
portion of Big Creek Campground was half full. Someone was in my normal
Obsidian Road camping area when I first arrived and I had to wait a night
until Monday to get the spot. |
| Bald Mountain Lookout |
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| So close but the road was still snowed in
and the views were poor because of inclement weather |
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