Buttermilk Canyon

Buttermilk Canyon is not a canyon.  Rather, it is a dirt road that rides along a wide plate below Mountains Tom and Basin.  It starts off being pretty nice, albeit a bit on the wash board side and slowly becomes almost impossible to impassable, for us at least.  It was named Buttermilk after the dairy trucks that used to used it to carry dairy products to mining town and into Bishop.  The milk would bounce so much that local legend says the road would churn fresh milk into buttermilk. Alongside the bumpy road a photographer will appreciate a vast expanse of high desert, magnificent mountains, giant boulders, and an occasional creek.  Recreation is king here for mountain bikers, hikers and boulder scrambling.  Campers abound with motor homes to tents.  The rent, we were told by one camper, "Is pretty cheap".  We were not able to complete the full loop.  We came to that 'place in the road' that said 'turn around and go back'.

Camping in style.

Sabrina and South Lakes Trip

Lake Sabrina is a lake created by damming the middle fork of Bishop Creek.  The dam was built in 1907-8 to supply a constant flow of water to to hydraulic power plants. It is a popular recreational area with a small cafe and dock but on the day we visited there were almost no people and a lot of snow.  The cafe was open but not for much more than a cup of hot chocolate.  The roads were plowed and clear so as we headed back down towards Bishop we decided to visit South Lake, a short side trip.  South Lake is 170 acres of 'fishing paradise' at over 9,700 feet in elevation.  No surprise that it was still covered in ice and snow!  Both lakes warrant a return trip later this month and again in the fall when we return to the area.

From the deck of the cafe at Lake Sabrina.  Wind was strong and the hot chocolate welcome.  We did not stay long or hike around.

As we went up the mountain towards Lake Sabrina the snowfall was heavier.  Fortunately the snow plows were keeping it clear and we just took the road slowly, willing to turn around any time it got uncomfortable.

We crossed Bishop Creek. a couple of times.  In several places it was really roaring.

We drove through Aspen Glen, a nice little community with a great breakfast place that we tried out on the way back down and on our way to South Lake.

Folks in Alpen Glen have plans for the future!

One large pond made for some interesting photography.

Fishermen at South Lake.  Dedicated souls!!

This is really South Lake, even though it looks like White Lake!

South Lake covered in ice and snow.  Very cold.

South Lake from the parking lot above the lake.

Waterfall spotted on our way home.

Almost home!!  Wonderful day of experiencing Mother Nature in play.

Artists' Palette Loop

This drive, near Furnace Creek in Death Valley, is billed as, "Scenic loop drive through multi-hued volcanic and sedimentary hills."  It is that and more!  The drive is a nine mile one-way loop with just enough pull-outs to make the trip last several hours, if you are a photographer.  I would recommend this drive over Badwater Basin, which is further down the road.

The view is better from the top!  We pulled over in a 'scenic point' lot and I climbed way up a slope.  Looking westward, across the valley, one can spot how erosion slowly moves to the floor.  It reminded me if Iceland where glaciers erode rock and leave patterns such as this one.

Looking south from the top of the hill one can see the salt deposits that form Badwater Basin.

There are a few 'ordinary' images to be had along this loop, but they are few.  Here is one.

I was not driving and clicking.  The road is one way and traffic was light.  Tom was my spotter and I took the opportunity to indulge in a middle of the road photograph!  With a view like that . . . Whew!  Took my breath away!

End of the loop ahead.  What a drive!

Tom and I use the expression, "You just can't make this stuff up!"  Usually it is in reference to some article we read that has caused us to ponder at the folly of our fellow human beings.  But, I have begun to think of this expression when confronted with a photo-adventure that defies an easy explanation, that is awesome in every way, that cannot be created in any software program that I know of, and that I could not have imagined before seeing it.  Zabriskie Point and Artists' Palette are such places.