We visited the Mono Lake South Tufa
this morning. They are really weird shapes - originally hot springs which form limestone columns under water. Just like where life is supposed to have originated. Then the water receded and left the columns exposed. The water in Mono Lake is very concentrated as water drains in but then evaporates.
We then went to Panum Crater, the most recent volcanic crater in the US, it erupted about 600 years ago. We looked at the central cone which had layers of pumice and obsidian.
Then we went down the 395 to Mammoth Lakes where we had lunch. We then visited a fissure from an earthquake before heading south to Lone Pine where we are now in quite a nice motel (Mt Whitney). After unloading we drove up to the Alabama Hills where there are amazing views of the orange foothills against the jagged Sierras. The Alabamas have weird shapes. We found Mobius Arch that we were looking for. They've filmed a lot of westerns here including Django Unchained, the Lone Ranger and Iron Man.
Finally we had a good burger and have finally caught up with the blog as the wifi is useable!
Tomorrow we head up the Alabama Hills and Mt Whitney again before heading into Death Valley along the 190. We'll probably go north first to Ubehebe Crater and Scotty's Castle. I'm not sure where we'll stay yet.
Mono Lake Tufa
this morning. They are really weird shapes - originally hot springs which form limestone columns under water. Just like where life is supposed to have originated. Then the water receded and left the columns exposed. The water in Mono Lake is very concentrated as water drains in but then evaporates.
We then went to Panum Crater, the most recent volcanic crater in the US, it erupted about 600 years ago. We looked at the central cone which had layers of pumice and obsidian.
Then we went down the 395 to Mammoth Lakes where we had lunch. We then visited a fissure from an earthquake before heading south to Lone Pine where we are now in quite a nice motel (Mt Whitney). After unloading we drove up to the Alabama Hills where there are amazing views of the orange foothills against the jagged Sierras. The Alabamas have weird shapes. We found Mobius Arch that we were looking for. They've filmed a lot of westerns here including Django Unchained, the Lone Ranger and Iron Man.
Finally we had a good burger and have finally caught up with the blog as the wifi is useable!
Tomorrow we head up the Alabama Hills and Mt Whitney again before heading into Death Valley along the 190. We'll probably go north first to Ubehebe Crater and Scotty's Castle. I'm not sure where we'll stay yet.
Mono Lake Tufa
Panum Crater
View from Panum Crater
Down the fissure, the hole went really deep and the temperature dropped about 20C
Arch at Alabama Hills at sunset
Mount Whitney through the arch
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