SUNSET, EUREKA DUNES, DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA
Warm greetings.
I write to share a few images and highlights from a recent California road trip.
Over MLK weekend and part of the following week, I ventured into the frosty Sierra Nevada Mountains and Death Valley National Park.
THE SENATE GROVE, CONGRESS TRAIL, SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA
The weather forecast: snow, wind, rain, patches of sunshine, fog, ice, and temperatures hovering in the teens, twenties, and thirties. These are promising conditions for whimpering about freezing fingers and toes, whiteouts, and chilly wandering in search of discovery and magic.
 THE ROSY FINGERS OF DAWN, THE ALABAMA HILLS, LONE PINE, CALIFORNIA
I packed snow chains, a very warm down sleeping bag, and many pounds of winter gear in my Subaru for the adventure.
A CALM MOMENT, TUFA FORMATION AT SUNSET, MONO LAKE, CALIFORNIA
A dear friend, Tim, joined the quest. He too holds a passion for the wilderness and landscape photography.
POST SUNSET GLOW, EUREKA DUNES, DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA
Tim knows the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain region well. With a bit of prompting and prodding, he left his family in Houston and flew to California to share this adventure and offer his insight. 
ROAD TRIP ROUTE
As the weekend commenced, we traveled south from San Francisco to Sequoia National Park for two days of snowshoeing and tromping about in the tall trees. Highlights included a hike to Tokopah Waterfall and the "House" and "Senate" groves on the Congress Trail, visits to Beetle Rock and the Big Loop Trail, and a clifftop view of a red sunset over the Central Valley. It's a special experience to look up at a 2,500-year-old giant Sequoia that soars 300 feet above you. Breathtaking.
It's incredible to think about the rich, colorful history these large trees have experienced. I am sure there is valuable wisdom on strength, tolerance, and grace during old age somewhere in the midst of the Sequoia tree's biology. Apparently, the Sequoias are the world's tallest living trees and largest living thing by volume. Awe.
After a few days in Sequoia National Park, we drove south to Bakersfield and then north around the lower section of the Sierras to reach Highway 395. This brought us to Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills - otherworldly rock formations and rolling foothills.
MOBIUS ARCH, ALABAMA HILLS, CALIFORNIA
After the Alabama Hills, we made a quick visit to the Bishop area and Owens Valley. Then, we drove to Eureka Dunes. The views were spectacular. We camped overnight at the base of the Dunes.
MORNING LIGHT, EUREKA DUNES, DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA
Dark, 4,000-foot high limestone formations, the "Last Chance Mountains," form a boundary around this valley.
During the afternoon, evening, and following morning, we hiked about sixteen miles through the east, north, and south side of the dunes. I climbed to the top of several large peaks and sat for hours to watch the light and color shift.
At sunset and sunrise, I was intoxicated by long, beautiful shadows, pink and pale blue skies, and scattered puffs of white clouds dancing above me. The color and lyrical feel of these moments linger. This sprawling 700-foot-high pile of sand is the largest dune field in California and, by some accounts, all of North America.
PINK MORNING, ICY EUREKA DUNES, CALIFORNIA
The first time I visited Eureka Dunes, the wind blew at about 50 mph. Climbing the dunes that day, I had to shield my face and eyes from the force of the sand. I thought of travelers caught in great desert sandstorms. Visibility was near zero. Even then, the dunes held magic. During our recent trip, the weather was calm. In daylight, the dunes shimmered with a yellow hue and temperatures were in the forties, balmy compared to the rest of our journey. At night, the dunes shifted to a smoother, darker tone, lit by a nearly full moon. Temperatures dropped dramatically. There was teeth chattering and much layering in my attempts at sleep - all part of the package.
FROSTY WAVES, EUREKA DUNES, DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA
Early in the morning, we began a hike with headlamps. As the sun rose, I wandered back into the eastern section of the dunes. I paused to note the surreal character of the frost on the waves of sand around me. Ice particles shimmered in the sun as though the dunes held a rolling, frozen ocean.
 JEFF HIGH ON A SAND RIDGE, EUREKA DUNES, CALIFORNIA, PHOTO BY TIM WIER From Eureka Dunes, we drove on dirt roads to the pavement and then west to Highway 395 and north to fabled Mono Lake. We were blessed by the weather. We caught an unusual afternoon and evening. The lake was eerily still, shiny.
As the sun slowly set, reflected light from the full moon covered the lake and the surrounding valley. The tufa formations near shore glowed.  FULL MOON, TUFA ON MONO LAKE, CALIFORNIA
After a few hours at Mono Lake, we drove north and stopped at a small diner in Lee Vining where we checked weather radar reports. A large, ominous storm was brewing just off the West Coast. A forecast for piles and piles of snow held our attention. We ate dinner in about ten minutes and made a plan to dash home. Tim drove south across a major mountain pass with temperatures near 18 degrees toward Lone Pine and Bakersfield to catch his plane. I drove north to South Lake Tahoe to reach Highway 50 and a return trip to San Francisco. I rolled out of the mountains late that night about an hour before a big snowfall hit. Gratitude. Our journey was quick. Still, there was much to savor.
If you have not had a chance to visit the eastern Sierras, consider a trip to this region. In my view, the area is filled with much wonder and beauty.
Best wishes,
Jeff  THE EASTERN SIERRA MOUNTAINS, VIEW FROM RIDGE NEAR BIG PINE, CALIFORNIA
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