Finally, progress...

It is true that some wags might say, 'Compared to what?'

Whatever. I'll take the progress. Dawn was calm. It seems to be the only time that is calm around here. I was on the South shore of Mono Lake when the first red light came over the mountains behind me. Up went the Phantom for a scouting mission.

 

I have more of that for the web site later. By 8:00 I was on my way with mission accomplished.

I drove North to visit Twin Lakes. The !#!$!%! wind had started, so I just shot from the beach. Nice setting for the lakes here:

 

Leaving the lakes I saw one of the patches of aspens showing color here at 7,500 feet. Most of the large groves of trees that are showing color is still up above 10,000 feet, but finally I'm seeing small patches here and there down here. I'm hoping this will be visible at all lower elevations before I have to go home.



Since I was in this area, I raced back up to Chemung Mine. My first trip a few days ago was in the rain, but this time the mine and surroundings were dramatic.

Standing down amid the structures, I thought, 'Why don't I put the drone up? I have a little protection from the wind here.' 

It all began so beautifully.

Alas, once the drone got up there the wind took it and it flew to China. Well, not quite. It landed down below the buildings, precariously balanced on four bushes which had caught it like a net. Indeed, I found the drone because its camera was showing me on my smartphone the view of the buildings that it was seeing

I firmly believe in miracles...

Finally, some Sun...

The wind is still around but the skies are clear, so I got out and shot some material. Here's Big Virginia Lake, where I shot some panoramas I look forward to processing:

 

The snow-capped peaks were everywhere after the horrible weekend, including the tufa beds at Mono Lake:

 

 

 

Then I went up to the Log Cabin Mine, waaaaaay up a very rocky road:

 

 

The reward for the drive is grand views, today including snow-capped mountains South of the lake:

 

 

Ah, but then we have to go back down that rough, rocky road. I'll spare you the worst of it, just pick up one of the hairpin corners with a magnificent view:

 

 

The forecast is finally good for the next few days. Hope to use them for more adventures!

Oh, never mind...

I spent hours praying for the wind to stop, but somebody screwed up the order. Instead of 'No wind!,' they delivered, 'Add cold, snow and rain to the wind!'

At Ellery Lake, the waterfall accented a mountainside of snow. I'll spare you the sound track on this video--it would blow you away!

 

Since a lot of the scenic places I yearn to shoot were obscured in clouds and low mist, I went to the ruins of the Chemung Mine for a change of pace. I guess this is what happens years after the ore runs out!  http://www.ripleysghosttowns.com/chemung.html

 

There are a lot of strange people in California...

 

The ruin from the ground is big and definitely ruined. The snow adds a final macabre touch. I'd like to come back in bright cheerful Sun and get the buildings with the distant snow-capped mountains to the West as background. No chance of that today. It rained for a while soon after I took this picture.

 

 

Despite the dangerous weather and wind I couldn't help putting the Phantom up to take a look from above:

 

 

Beggars can't be choosers. We shoot what we can, when we can. I'll add a 'Farewell to Chemung' for my buddy who keeps recommending these places.

 

 

Oh, well. I can always look at past pictures to see what it's like around here when the Sun is shining. This was Silver Lake from its Eastern end yesterday:

 

It is pouring as I write this. Perhaps I shall have a hot toddy while I enjoy my fireplace.

 

 

Hoping to see the Sun again one of these days. Waitress, about that order...

Another day of wind...

It does make getting pictures more difficult, but my time is limited so I keep looking for subjects that can be captured in these conditions. Good grief, today there were whitecaps on Grant Lake!

 

Mammoth Lakes is completing one season (fishing) and preparing for the other (skiing). The remaining fishermen are diehards. The couple in the next cabin are gone fishin' before I make my coffee. Hope they got some fish...

 

The road around the western side of Mary Lake is closed all Winter, but here's the view today as the days grow cooler and the road is soon closed again:

 

 

Returning from Mammoth Lakes, I wound my way on endless dirt roads through the woods (with no help from any !#!$!%! signs) until I reached the parking lot for the Inyo Craters. From the parking lot

one climbs a small mountain on a half-mile trail. The reward for one's effort is this:

And, from a different portion of the trim:

 

 

 

Finishing off a day of challenges, I stopped off at Mandarin Vista,  a high overlook near Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort to view the tall peaks (the Mandarins) off to the West.

 

Please, God, stop the wind and let me get some work done!

 

Amen...

 

Somehow, they forgot to tell me about the wind...

Surprise! The wind blows in huge gusts and sandblasts your skin with the dirt!

Oh, all right. Enough whining. I should have noticed the 'High wind warning' signs by the side of the road. Sue me.

So, I put the photographic burden on the hood-mounted GoPro, stayed in the car and looked for future subjects.

Twin Lakes is one spot I'll go back to when the hurricane passes. Very dramatic mountain surroundings which I hope to capture with the HDR camera:

 

Then I went to Saddle Bag Lake, a favorite recommended by my source of recent travel wisdom, Rick Tegeler. The wind was partially blocked by the mountains, and the lake was sublime. There was still too much wind for my drone, but I hope to hit this overlook again on a calm day.

 

 

 

Very near the Saddle Bag Lake exit is Tioga Lake, small and scenic. Definitely worth visiting when the wind is down.

 

 

Since this day was reduced to 'stay in the car and scout out the lakes' day, I stopped off at Grant Lake, one of the lakes on the June Lake Loop whose water has largely disappeared in the drought. There are whole sections of this basin that are completely dry! I hope they get a snowy Winter!

 

 

We'll see what the wind does tomorrow. Oh--and I'm delighted to report that I drove like a granny and got no tickets...

 

 

 

The Sierra in the Fall...

Arrived in June Lake after some adventures on the road. With the afternoon at hand, I went to some places that get good afternoon light (most spots here are best in the morning). I wanted to see if the foliage had begun exhibiting Fall colors at the higher elevations.

Yes!

 

Next I followed my friend Rick's directions up the Log Cabin Mine Road for a high view of Mono Lake. He said it was a grand view, and it was!

 

 

I shot some GoPro on the way down the bumpy road, but discovered a bug splat I hadn't seen, so I'll have to go up there again. Sigh. I want to show just how many times the road switches to give successive view of the lake as I drive down.

 

Until I get a replacement, pardon the splat!

 

 

It's only the first day of ten, and I need sleep badly. Tomorrow, as they say, is another day!