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Sunrise, October 12, day 7 of the trip. The skies have cleared for the most part, and the sun filters through the remaining clouds to the east creating shadows on the foothills, leaving the snow-clad Sierra in a cold splendor.
Here's the scene further down South Lake Road. I'd say the trees were pretty close to 100% of color. I literally didn't know which way to look next, and there were so many photo-ops.
North of the town of Independence I take Tinnemaha Road and pull off to get this view of the Sierra, Tundra and Discovery. You can see the cloud formations that the Owens Valley is famous for; both the Sierra and White ranges create wind currents and updrafts that can "sculpt" the clouds into fanciful and dramatic images. BTW, a note for RVers is -- beware sandy road shoulders! My trailer's wheels had a hard time getting traction due to their being in soft sand. I remember thinking "Great, my first day and I'm already in a predicament!" Luckily, I got out without incident.
There's farmland between Fish Springs Road and the 395; it's used for grazing by a Tule Elk herd in Owens Valley. Here's the field in late-afternoon, with a rolling sprinkler system and the White Mountains in the background. The shrub with the yellow flowers is rabbitbrush; it was blooming everywhere in the valley, adding bright color to the earth tones of the area.
In the vicinity of Willow Campground along South Lake Road, there's a dirt spur road where willow and aspen were on full display.
And here are those mudpots mentioned in the previous photo caption. As you can tell, they're still active and bubbling away. Power companies have builit plants along the south part of the Sea to tap the thermal action for power usage. Modern industry set against a stark desert landscape is one of the more striking incongruities at the Sea.
See photo in original gallery.
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