Continuing north along US-395, we pass the site of fish
hatcheries. The mountain streams
and lakes here are famous for trout fishing and thus a huge draw for many of
the campers we encounter. Here too
is the vast Los Angeles Aqueduct system that drains down the many lakes of this
region to serve its citizens. I
have mixed emotions about seeing this area’s sacrifice of water to support the
city of L.A. The necessity of
water for the fields of the San Fernando Valley’s crops is justifiable, even if
it leaves little for this valley aside from cattle ranching and growing alfalfa
hay. Although we did not encounter
them, this area harbors a herd of Tule elk, a subspecies of Elk found only in
California and rare California bighorn sheep.
We also cross en route to Bishop the Big Pine Volcanic Field
where rock hounds search for gems and minerals among the dark black and brown
rocks reflecting their fiery birth.
To our west is the largest glacier field of the Sierra Nevada range, the
Palisade Crest. To our east roads
lead over the White Mountains to the Death Valley National Park or a
10,000-foot climb to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest with its thousands of
year old, wind shaped, gnarly pines.
It was tempting to seek them out, but we had to leave them also for the
next trip.
Volcanism and earthquake activity still occur in this valley
creating hot springs through this part of the valley that hosts Bishop. One of our parks actually has a hot
spring pool and spa heated naturally to 90 degrees and 104 degrees
respectively, which are open year round.
On one of our longer days it seems like a grand idea to join those
floating in this pool, but unfortunately we did not stay at this particular
park during our time in Bishop. Outside the pool area there was a rock sculpture and the original bathhouse building constructed in the 1920s. We
found an Internet café here, which helped us to get our work done while we
sipped on awesome ice cold Italian sodas.
Bishop is the main commercial area of this valley. We found a super market and K-Mart
and bought gas not knowing what the next leg of the journey to Mammoth Lakes
would yield. They host an annual
event here called the “Mule Days Celebration” on Memorial Day, as well as a
Wild West Rodeo, complete with stagecoach parades, arts and crafts, concerts
and dancing. It sounds like an
event that would be entertaining to experience.
This is the first time we have stayed at a park without full
hookups. I learned the meaning of
water management well during our three-night stay. (Little did I know at the time that this would become the
norm for the next two parks after this one as well.) After our inspections in the area, we learned where to stay
the next time for full hook-ups. We left Bishop seeing the moon set over the mountains and continue up US-395 to Mammoth Lakes along this trail of exotic mountains knowing why people settled here amid all of this natural beauty.
