Cerro Canyon Road
The Joshua Trees on the Darwin Plain were worth the drive, and there, lying innocently on the map, was a little connecting line ... that took us over the Inyo range at Cerro Gordo, altitude 8,500', and down a wicked precipitous drop to the Owens Valley, altitude 3,560. Why there was cell service in the Darwin Plain remains an unsolved mystery.
The kids were happy to play in the snow, and the mix of pine, juniper, and Joshua trees in the canyons going higher into the Inyo range was interesting. A wild burro and a dozen cattle were waiting for us to join them for lunch at a waterhole at the Lee Joshua Trees. We brought sandwiches and chips and lemonade, and they brought us a surprise.
Comments
Why there was cell service in the Darwin Plain remains an unsolved mystery.
Scatter coverage from Lone Pine. There's not a huge amount of competing signal out there.
Posted by: Chris Clarke | April 23, 2007 11:08 PM
Crikey, you were nearly at one of my favorite little hikes. It involves Bishop, CA (remembering Chuckie Manson all the while), drive up the hill a bit, get your permit, and start hiking. I haven't been there since I was a teenager, but hoo-boy -- that's some mountains up there.
Might be tough with the kids. Still worth considering.
Posted by: wcw | April 24, 2007 09:27 PM
Really fantastic pictures! I haven't been to Death Valley since I was around four years old. Would you believe 1953?
Posted by: Steve Plonk | April 25, 2007 08:46 AM