Lone Pine/Alabama Hills CA

Trekked out to California late spring of last year (see 'Death Valley'). Had acquired a permit to "climb" Mt. Whitney in the Eastern Sierras. Upon arriving, discovered that weather conditions at elevation were still a little "desperate" - still a pretty good snowpack with icy trail conditions. A few other "trekkers" I ran into were in the gear shop ('Elevation') in Lone Pine purchasing some technical stuff - crampons, mountaineering axes, rope. Had come prepared for cold weather and an overnight "ascent" of Whitney Peak via the  'Mountaineers Route' - around 22 miles round trip at elevation between 12K - 14K. Not prepared for any technical travel. Was told that I would probably be "turned-back" (eventually) by the rangers after "inspecting" me en-route and finding no gear per conditions. I understood that - but didn't wish to purchase any gear - and didn't care to undertake any unfamiliar "technical terrain" alone, no matter how easy - learned my lesson a few years earlier while scrambling around the Spring Mountains in Nevada while icy with sparse gear. No big deal, had a back-up plan as usual....

....rented an SUV for the trip (departing from Las Vegas) - went as inexpensive as could - wound up getting a 'Ford Escape AWD' - in this case meaning positive traction axles front and rear - no hi/lo range gear box - no ground clearance, and pavement tires. Checked one out at a local dealer before placing the rental order - plenty of sleeping room in the rear - good enough. Figured that if I bagged the hike I would do some off-roading/photography and camping for a few days around the Alabama Hills in Lone Pine and then travel up to Bishop for the same. Always wanted to visit both areas, primarily after watching hundreds of westerns (movies and TV) since a kid, which were filmed there -  always spent more time viewing the background location photography than watching the "shoot-outs".....

...anyway - some photos...

.....traveling up 'Whitney Portal Road' to the trailhead - the far peak in the upper right is 'Mt. Whitney' - 'Keeler Needle' is the "spire" to the immediate left.....

...looking back to the east from 'Whitney Portal Road - 'Alabama' foothills near, 'Owens River Valley' far, 'Inyo Mountain Range' farther.....

...'Alabama Hills' - a "glacial erratic" deposit of large (basalt?) boulders, with the 'Whitney Range' as backdrop....wheres 'Whitney'?....

...they got an unimproved 'loop road' ('Movie Road') traversing the 'Alabama Hills', with many spurs - most of which you can travel by 2WD - pretty cool place - don't know what the rock climbing opportunities are that exist - saw bolts on a few boulders - considering the history, I would travel elsewhere before "chalking up the place" - was watching the old film 'Gunga Din' on TV a few weeks back - the switchback road climbing the ridge in the (above) photo background was visible in a few scenes in the film - must have been there for a long time - a few were photographed pretty much from this exact angle - pretty cool...

...ditto...

...ditto...

...endless "off-roading"...

...ditto...

...the 'Escape' - I'd buy one, and I'm no way a "Ford Guy" - no way a serious "off-road" machine - could use some modifications, but not bad - had to "distort" the plate in the photo - have two rental car companies as it is that won't talk to me....

...one would only offer me this guy as a rental! - with mileage 'ta boot!!...

...finally decided to give the "wheels" a little test - attempted the ridge in the photo - not bad looking from the distance - remember to multiply everything by a factor of 10 out west if your used to lookin' at things with "eastern perspective" - got pretty steep and narrow with RAZOR SHARP rocks midway up  - and I'm trekkin' on shitty, cheap thin sidewall pavement tires and no ground clearance -  finally thought better of the situation and decided to retreat - having to turn around in a "steep rut" section of the hill - anytime the 'Escape' looses four-point contact with the ground, it's like liftin' a turtle out of the water - it's paddlin' air (positive traction axles, remember). Anyway, made it back - but for a few minutes "Mister Ed" was lookin' pretty good...

...great camping - 'Tuttle Creek' campground is the best - $5/night - nobody there M-F, table, fire ring, plenty of wildlife creepin' out after dark (was drinkin' beer every night with a local 'kangaroo rat' - was pretty tame, liked potato chips) and lots of early morning birds...

...overlooking these (unknown to me - and don't want to know, if I ever go back climbing) giant slabs... a few beers into the evening and soon, you're settin' there bullshittin', drinkin' beer and eatin' potato chips with the kangaroo rat and you're wishin' it was twenty years earlier and you had one tough partner to head out with at 5am.... 

... plenty of "roadside pull-off" camping as well...

...three days throughout - ran into one other vehicle...

... open desert...

...twilight...

...ditto...

By the way - as bright and sunny and pleasant as these photos show, was very different up high - here is a link to a 'trip report' and brilliant new climb on 'Keeler Needle' that was "topped out" the same day as the photo in the 'header' of this Blog was taken:

http://www.supertopo.com/tr/Keeler-Needle-Blood-of-the-Monkey-VI-5-12-16-pitches-F-A-Moser-Ness-May-28-2012-June-6-2012/t11495n.html

...FINI!