You may recognize the iconic tufa of Mono Lake and wonder what’s up with that?  Mono Lake is a highly alkaline lake with a salt content almost 3 times that of the ocean.  As the lake does not have an outlet and the surrounding mountain runoffs deposit large volumes of dissolved salts in the lake, the salt concentration and PH level are high.  Tufa are limestone columns of calcite. From the bottom of the lake subsurface waters containing calcium mix with the inorganic carbon of the alkaline lake through spring orifices and around those orifices develop the calcite tufa. They only appear to you today as the water levels have severely decreased mostly due to water divergent projects of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power since 1913. It is a fascinating history and geological investigation which you can discover more of through Mono Lake Commitee and The California Department of Parks and Recreation.

Yosemite National Park…where does one start to talk about it?  Encompassing over 750,000 acres of the Sierra Nevada mountains of California spanning to both the Eastern and Western slopes, you could spend a month alone exploring it’s abundance of waterfalls, hikes, vistas and wildlife.  If you are a climber…well, you’ll be in paradise.  From our side of the park (Eastern) you’ll go through Tuolumne Meadows at 8,585ft above sea level before descending into Yosemite Valley at 4,000 ft above.  Depending on traffic it will take approximately 2 hours to get to the valley.  When folks talk of Yosemite, they are thinking of the impressive valley which encompasses the incredible rock formations of El Capitan and Half Dome as well as the iconic Yosemite falls, Bridalveil falls and Vernal falls.  You can hike, bike, enjoy a meal, listen to forest service talks or just lounge in the multitude of meadows watching the big wall climbers on El Capitan.  Don’t however, dismiss the drive through Tuolumne Meadows.  You’ll pass lakes to stop and swim in, meadows to take photos of wildlife, and so many vistas that you might want to plan a few extra hours just for the drive alone. 

To enter Yosemite NP, things have changed a bit since COVID19.  A reservation permit is now required to enter or drive through the park. 

(Update: For 2023 there is discussion of no longer requiring a permit but there may be other restrictions in place to assist the National Park in protecting this beautiful place)

Please look here for details and plan ahead.  This is one of the most magical places in the United States and hence a popular one.  Have an idea of what you want to see and then go explore all the possibilities.

In 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument was created to protect and preserve the Devils Postpile formation, Rainbow falls and it’s pristine mountain environment.  The dramatic symmetry and 60’ height of the Columnar basalt towers is one of the world’s finest examples.  Current studies suggest that they were formed less than 100,000 years ago when a cooling lava flow cracked into multi-sided columns.  To explore the depths of this fascinating natural phenomenon further, check out it’s geology at the National Park Service.

GETTING TO THE PARK

The road to the postpile is open from spring (when the snow melts enough to plow the road) to mid October.  In 2022, Oct 11 is the last day the road is open.  The mandatory shuttle will end on September 5 so you can drive down after that with your own vehicle.  (Be aware that the road is narrow, curvy and has a fair amount of exposure).  Until September 5, you must take the shuttle from the Main Lodge of Mammoth Mountain at a cost.  Please check prices at Mammoth Mountain 

You will be taking the shuttle down to one of two stops at the end of the line (Red’s Meadow) depending on whether you are hiking to Rainbow Falls as well as the postpile. Both are easy hikes that any adult or child can do.  You can find maps for more information here.  National Park Service Maps 

Bring a snack and water and enjoy your day.

No trip to the West coast of the US is complete without experiencing an iconic Western Ghost Town. As you walk down the streets and peer into the windows of houses, stores, the school and church, you’ll begin to hear the whispers of those 8,000 souls that once called this place home.  In 1875, Waterman S Body discovered gold deposits in the hills above Mono Lake. By 1877, the Standard Mining Company bought the land that is now the Bodie Ghost Town and by 1882 these pioneers pulled upwards of $38 million in gold and silver from those hills.  It became a state historic park in 1962.  Today, as you look in those windows of the 200 abandoned structures, you’ll see what was left behind as the deposits dried up and residents departed taking only what they could carry; leaving behind furniture, dishes, tools and old vehicles. The general store is still stocked with cans of spice and lanterns, the mortuary has caskets, and the school has poems on the chalkboard with desks lined up awaiting the children that will never arrive.  You get this glimpse of what life was like in this time of discovery and hardship; particularly when you visit the tombs of the cemetery.  Don’t miss visiting the store/museum in the old community building where you can read their log books and see the photos and time pieces of those who lived here. You can even purchase books written by these folks for an even more in-depth experience.

PARK DETAIL:

*Bodie State Historic Park website

*Phone: 760-616-5040

*Entrance fee $8 adults $5 children payable at the stand as you enter the park.

*Open year round but once the snow falls, the road is closed to vehicle traffic.  In the winter, you must snowmobile, ski or snowshoe in.  You can check the road conditions for SR270 here. California DOT 

*Summer hours 9am-6pm   Winter hours 9am-3pm

*PDF of map, history and details of the park 

TIPS:

*From Mammoth Lakes, it will take about an hour to get into the park.  It is on a well maintained dirt road 13 miles off of 395. 

*You’ll want to spend the full day exploring so bring water, lunch, snacks and plan on taking your time.  This isn’t the kind of place that you can really experience with an hour stop over.

*Check in the store/museum for the schedule of daily historical talks and Stamp Mill tours.

*Bring your camera. Every time that I visit (every family visit) I see things within my camera lens that I didn’t see before and it is truly fascinating.

*Due to the historical artifacts that are in this park, please collect nothing to take home as a souvenir.  You can purchase items in the store/museum.

*If you become a member of the Bodie Foundation  many special events will open up to you such the “Friends of Bodie” day in august where members come dressed in the era to enjoy what life would have been like or the evening “Ghost Walks” that occur 3 times per summer.