“Mt. Whitney and Lone Pine Peak”
Alabama Hills, California
Boulders of the Alabama Hills frame Lone Pine Peak on the left and Mt. Whitney on the right. From this position, Lone Pine Peak (elev. 12,949 ft) looks significantly higher than Mt. Whitney (elev. 14,505 ft) in the background. It is just a matter of perspective.
“Mt. Whitney”
Eastern Sierras, California
The Mt. Whitney hike starts here in the Alabama Hills west of Lone Pine, CA. I reflect back to my younger days knowing that I could have made it to the top. Those years are long gone. Now I look up and just dream of what it would be like to be at the top looking down over the surrounding Sierras.
“Rocks of Alabama”
Alabama Hills, California
I cannot define why these rock formations caught my eye. They just did. Was it their unusual shapes? Was it the contrast between the smooth eroded rocks in the foreground and the more rugged rocks in the background? Was it the textural difference between the Alabama Hills and the background Eastern Sierras? Or was it the memories of all the old cowboy movies of my childhood? Does it matter?
“Rock Folds”
Alabama Hills, California
When both Mary and I saw this folded rock formation we both said, “It kind of looks like a walrus.” The Alabama Hills are filled with such strange looking rock formations. It is an exciting opportunity to let my mind go wild! I can easily get lost imagining what could be.
“What Caused This Formation?”
Alabama Hills, California
There are many, many strange formations in the Alabama Hills. What caused this strange arrangement of crossing lines on these rocks? I wondered, wondered, and wondered … and still am.
“Mt. Langley & Mt. Whitney”
Eastern Sierras, California
I woke up, put on my clothes, stepped outside, looked across the road, and saw this stunning sight. It was just outside the Best Western Hotel in Lone Pine, CA. On my first look, the sun was starting to shine on the tips of Mt. Langley in the foreground and Mt. Whitney in the background. I grabbed my camera, ran across the road, and waited for the sunlight to cover the mountains and the tip of the Alabama Hills. It just took a few moments for the light to caress the top of the Alabama Hills. What a wonderful way to start a new day!
“Lone Oak & Mt. Whitney”
Alabama Hills, California
Today, I thought I would post something a little different than an image from our Heatherwood garden. I haven’t been out of our immediate area photographing in nature much since last June in the Palouse. It feels good to take a little break from our garden.
The Alabama Hills have always attracted me since watching all those old cowboy movies when I was a kid. The unique landscape with its rolling hills, intriguing rock formations, box canyons, and rugged Eastern Sierras have provided, and still do provide, a great background for action movies. They are a wonderful place to explore.
This live oak in its yellow fall color provides a great foreground for Mt. Whitney in the background. I remember how disappointed I was the first time I saw Mt. Whitney. I was expecting a towering peak standing out above the surrounding hills. It was no Mt. Rainier! But the fact remains that it is still the highest peak in the continental US.
“Moon-Set Over the Sierra Nevada’s”
We got up early to see the moon set over the Sierras and Alabama Hills as they were being highlighted by the early morning sun. It was a great morning. We feasted on pancakes in Lone Pine afterwards!!! The morning even got better!
“Peering Through to Mt. Whitney”
Mt. Whitney is the small peak protruding up in the right side of the opening. The near peak in the left side of the opening dwarfs the more distant Mt. Whitney.
“Alien”
This image is a repeat of a prior post in 2018. I was driving through the Alabama Hills, turned a corner and saw this strange looking alien staring right at me. Chills ran down my back! I quickly pulled off the road, let the dust settle, and introduced myself. He didn’t say much and just frowned.