EASTERN SIERRAS – ALABAMA HILLS TO JUNE LAKE. WHERE’S THE WATER?

AH1WE WERE TOLD BIG HORN SHEEP HAD BEEN SPOTTED IN THIS PART OF THE ALABAMA HILLS, SOUTH OF THE PORTALS ROAD.  UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN’T SEE BIGHORNS BUT THE VIEW AND FLOWERS WERE SPECTACULAR! AH2 AH3 AH4 AH6 AH7 AH8.LUPEN

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WE DROVE “MOVIE ROAD” AND MARVLED AT THE ROCK FORMATIONS.  A WORTHY OPPONENT OF THE ROCKS IN JOSHUA TREE.  AND WE SPOTTED SEVERAL ARCHES!

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Why is this area named “Alabama Hills”?  After the warship The Alabama. AH10 AH11 AH13 AH14

I like this photo because it is ominous.  That cow skull was probably left to be scorched by the sun.  Note the Sierras in the background.  Here it was, springtime (May) and the snowpack was practically nil.  What will this area be like mid summer or Fall?  The lack of water, as you will see shortly, is of great concern!

A trek up to Whitney Portals proves the point.  The pond was shallow.  We did get a few trout.

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And across the pond is the camp store which makes the best burgers and fries!

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How sad!  Lake Sabrina, about thirty miles out of Bishop.  It is no longer a lake but a string of ponds.  Good fishing!  The poor fish are captured into little lakes so easier to catch.  Here the boats line up on shore.sabrina.boats sabrina.

BELOW ARE PETROGLYPHS AT FISH SLOUGH.

Fish Slough Petroglyph Panel, Bishop, California

Fish Slough Petroglyph panel and the Bishop Petroglyph driving loop are located just north of the town of Bishop, California in the northern end of the Owens valley.

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The petroglyphs are thought to be between about 1000 and 8,800 years old, and possibly made by the ancestors of the native Paiute-Shoshone people who still inhabit the valley. The style of the petroglyphs is classified as Great Basin Curvilinear

PETRO2 PETRO3 PETRO4JUNE LAKE LOOP!  We camped at Silverlake in the primitive campground – well, not so primitive – it had showers!  But it is right on the lake.  Across the road is the RV park but we decided we didn’t need hookups.  Our waterfall view was awesome.

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Below is Grant Lake.  A party fishing where this river emptied into the lake were catching lots of fish.  The lake level is so low, you could drive across it in places. grantlake1

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MR TIKI HAD A GREAT TIME!