NFR Owens Valley

Random pictures of an area I have been visiting for 50 years now. My great uncle started coming here in the early 1940’s. It was visiting uncle Bill that planted the roots that have grown there.

The drive is a big part of the trip. If I can head down the east side it is an enjoyable, scenic drive, if weather doesn’t allow 395 through the sierras I am forced to go around the bottom and up the big valley with I-5 up the middle, not so enjoyable…

We got lucky on the way down
One of several stops on the way, Picture Rock Pass highway 31.

Camped in my usual area, got in a nice walk before heading out


Threaded the needle on the way down
doesn’t get much better.

I visit this tree every time I am down, a red tail was spotted on the nest one of the days



Looking east below town in the evening

Remains of the old soda ash plant that was there in the 1910’s to 1930’s.


Ponds below town, lots of marsh wrens, a couple egrets, coots, cinnamon teals, mallards, shore birds, red wing black birds…


I found some surprises when going on walks above town




Morning


evening of the same day.

395 was closed the last 3 days of my trip
I was greeted by snow on the morning of my departure.


I’ll be back soon

 

[mark wlker]

The perch fry in the fall at Tom's Place was always an epic event!

 

[Otisdog]

Yes, went to Little Lakes Basin, but my preferred route was to hang a right at the pack station, go over he ridge and drop down into the Hilton Creek drainage, where the multiple Hilton Lake(s) and Davis lake are. Much less people, plus the creek below the lakes went through a beautiful meadow, and I never saw anybody there. grandma would drop me off at the top of Rock Creek Lake road, and my journey down the canyon following the creek would take me right to her lodge.
When I was going to college in LA, I would head north to the East Walker River Thursday afternoon, camp at Murphy pond, head back south Monday afternoon to get back to my Tuesday class. Left my tent pitched there for a whole semester.