The Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center at 10,000'. After setting up camp at Grandview Campground, we drove up to check out the Bristlecones.
We decided to hike the 4 mile Methuselah loop trail. Sooz is getting a trail guide.
This chipmunk and a few others were at the start of the trail.
Lot of these trees look dead at first but they have a small section growing on them.
Sooz with a cool looking one. Some of these trees are 3000 to 4000 years old.
Me, Joe with a thick short one.
Deep Springs Lake (dry) from the loop trail to the southeast.
Another big one.
The area has hunderds of these ancient trees. The oldest the Methuselah Tree is 4,700 years old and is believed to be the oldest living thing on earth. Its' location is kept a secret to protect it from crazy people who want to kill it.
Orange sunset from the Grandview Campground.
Driving up the White Mountain Road to the trailhead. It's paved to 10,000', then dirt for the last 16 miles.
This was our first view of White Mountain. We are still about 6 miles from the trailhead.
Sooz, Joe (me) and Frank at the trailhead which is at 11,680'. Lonnie, Rosa, Stephanie, Emily, Susan, Alan, Lloyd and T got an earlier start.
Looking back at the trailhead parking area as we start the hike.
Approaching the Barcroft Research Station, 2 miles in and at 12,470'.
Sheep at the research station.
There was a few signs pointing the way to the peak at the research station. Kind of strange having those signs there. The route to the peak is on the only road that's there.
The observatory at 12,800'.
Just past the observatory we got our first good view of White Mountain. Past here the road will drop down into what's known as Marmot Alley due to all the marmots at roam the area.
Following the road through Marmot Alley at about 12,500'. Didn't see one marmot on the way in!!!
Zoomed in on the Mono Craters and the snow capped Sierra beyond.
Cool looking clouds over White Mountain. This is on the up hill climbing out of Marmot Alley, Sooz ahead pulling away from me as I start slowing down.
Frank close behind. He made it just past 13,000' before turning back due to not feeling well. Also past Lloyd and T heading back in this area. T was having a little trouble with the altitude. Wasn't feeling very good myself. I was moving slow from 13,000' all the way to the summit.
Passing 13,000'. Soon I'll drop down to the saddle before the switchbacks to the summit.
A view of the switchbacks and summit hut just before dropping down to the saddle.
Zoomed in on the lower switchbacks. That's Sooz on the upper right. I wont see her again till I reach the summit. I had to stop on the saddle to eat something before hiking on.
Looking up at the summit hut as I near the top.
Lonnie on the way down. Past most of the others on the way down as I hiked up.
Around 14,000' there was this snow drift blocking the road, there was a use trail to follow.
The snow had deep suncups. It was easier to climb the rocks.
A couple hundred feet up I was back on the road. Hut can be seen on top, almost there.
When I got to the summit found Sooz waiting for me. She got there 45 minutes earlier. Next to her is the worlds biggest summit register box.
Sooz and me on the summit of White Mountain. At 14,246' it's the third highest peak in California. Mount Whitney at 14,494' and Mount Williamson at 14,375' are the higher ones.
A view of the summit research hut.
Summit view to the southwest.
View to the northwest.
Looking north towards Bounday Peak.
Zoomed in on Bounday Peak.
Looking down on the saddle from the peak.
A few sailplanes showed up as we were about to start down. Lake Crowley on the left.
This Schweizer 1-26 was buzzing the peak.
Starting the hike down off the peak.
Looking back at the peak from Marmot Alley.
This marmot crossed the road behind us. Cool, when I did this hike a couple of years ago didn't see any.
A short time later saw another one.
And one more on the look out from the rocks.
One last look at White Mountain.
Approaching the Barcroft Research Station, it's down hill the rest of the way.