Today was the trip to Mono Lake.:-)))))) This destination was on my bucket list of life. Most people wouldn't think twice about it but I just had to see it and we were so close (well, kind of).
Being at Twain Harte already all we had to do was leave early and continue up Hwy 108. The Sonora Pass (9,000 ft) was open so it would be clear driving up and over. The high Sierra country is gorgeous so the drive was not boring. At times a bit hairy with the narrow roads, tight curves, and the bicyclists on a road without any shoulder space to share. The views out the window were breathtaking. Not many spots to pull over so Bill was getting to do most of the looking.
We did come to one scenic pull-out and could look back at the way we had came. Notice the appearance of the granite.
This allowed us a chance to get out of the car and stretch our backs and walk along the short trail. This road was very lightly traveled so we had the place pretty much to ourselves.
Then it was back into the car and up and over the pass. The road down had in spots a 10 - 25% downgrade (with narrow lanes, curves, and the darn bicyclists still with us). When we finally got to a flat area near the end we pulled over to give the breaks a chance to cool.
From here we headed south on Hwy 399 and were in the high desert (elevation of 7,000 ft.) But we were getting closer to our goal of Mono Lake. After another long up-hill pull we topped a rise and there before us was Mono Lake.
Even I was starting to have second thoughts of "why were we here"? It looked awfully uninteresting, barren, dry, hot.... We followed the highway down and turned into the Mono Lake Visitor's Center. Then with new information and an explanation of what we were seeing, it took on a whole new light.
"Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area. Mono is the westernmost basin of the Basin and Range province, which stretches across western North America between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada."
The Ranger said we needed to go down to the south part of the lake where the Tufas were. I was all set to get back into the car for the trip home then it hit me that we have come all this way, it was something I've always wanted to see for a long, long time and what was another 15 minutes of drive time.
Tufa where the lake has evaporated.
"The tufa tower formations show what nature can do with a few basic elements. The strange spires and knobs are formed when freshwater springs containing calcium bubble up through the carbonate-rich lake water. The combining of these waters forms calcium carbonate, the whitish limestone deposit that forms the basis of the tufa formations. Tufa is found in many alkaline lakes throughout the world."
Enjoy the rest of the pictures:
A nice couple from Rhode Island took this.
I can't believe I only downloaded so few of these pictures! Luck you.
Then it was back in the car for a very long drive home. We came back through Yosemite Park going over the Tioga Pass at 9,945 ft. Only a few stops were made along the way....too bad as the country was just so awesome.
This is looking back the way we came.
That is Bill going for a better photo!
Out here the gas was $4.99 a gallon (sure glad we didn't have to fill up). All in all it was a wonderful day. It took us 8.5 hours from door to door. Was it worth it? Darn tooten!
Happy to be sitting at home!
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