27th & 28th September 2009
Yesterday we drove from Death Valley up to Mammouth Lakes through some stunning scenary. Various mountain ranges formed many millions of years ago through volcanic activity and shaped by subsequent ice ages.
We arrived at our lodge in Mammouth Lakes, basic, but clean and with its own cooking facilities (well a microwave, fridge and sink) but enough to cook for ourselves for a few nights and have some fruit and yoghurt for breakfast.
Today we headed out to the Devils Postpile National Monument, stopping of by a viewpoint over the Minaret Mountains, named because they look like the minarets on top of mosques.
After heading down to the monument itself, we hiked to the 101 foot Rainbow Falls through some wonderful, pristine forest landscapes. Some of the national forest was devastated by a forest fire in 1992 and things are now starting to grow back - takes quite a while!
There was plenty of wildlife on view, we heard and saw (briefly) an eagle dip below the tree line and saw many chipmunks and squirrels darting about in the undergrowth. Also a bright blue bird which sucks out the sap of trees (although it moved too quick for photos).
Back through the forest to walk below the Devils Postpile Monument, apparently one of the world’s finest examples of columnar basalt. Its columns tower 60 feet high and display an unusual symmetry. It was formed from lava flow many millions of years ago.
After a picnic lunch while keeping our eyes out for pesky bears, who it seems appear frequently at the site, we headed off to the hot springs. These hot springs result from water coming up from below the Earth’s surface, you used to be able to swim in them, but at this particular site this has been stopped due to burns and even deaths in some cases.
Tommorrow we head for Yosemite, so hopefully more wildlife and spectacular views.