dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

The isolation at the far east end of Navy Beach suited me just fine for our early morning sunrise on the tufas after all the crowds at Yosemite the day before. Image #3 is of my buddy who, as an afterthought, did some rock hopping to a narrow spit to capture the last of the sunburst coming through the towers. (I gave my rock-hopping days when I crash landed on the rocks photographing a waterfall!) Heading south, we then went out to Wild Willy's Hotspring followed by Crab Cooker Hotspring. The rest of the afternoon was spent going up to the Bristlecone Pine Forest, where my courage failed me on the shifting loose shale and my buddy hiked the trail to the 'ancients' alone. The expansive views from the high elevation brought some measure of consolation for not having gotten to see the iconic named bristlecones, though the oldest one I got to see was over 3,000 years old according to the park ranger (image #8).

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amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Great set of images!

That's an area I haven't explored yet, but would like to!

hondo Loc: sharon hill . pa .

nice set of pics WELL DONE

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Excellent work!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Wowsa...more magnificent photos!! Thanks for sharing your "vacation slides" with us, I've enjoyed every one from every post!! Question, in #3, is that a bird nest on the left pillar in the lake??

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Beautiful series!
Enjoyed the old trees!!
Pat

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Outstanding landscape shots, Diane! Love the gnarly trees, too!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Thanks, Alan--we were so dog tired by this time, we missed a lot of other sites that I had on the 'must see' list. I think the whole area has incredible photo ops--definitely worth a return trip.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Your words are much appreciated, hondo!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Glad you liked them, Mike. I felt so disappointed to have missed the trail to the "Ancients" at Bristlecone, but after hiking roughly the distance of a football field, the fatigue at high elevation combined with the unstable footing simply turned my legs to jello. And, for once in my life, I knew when to call it quits. I've had to use a wheelchair to get through the airports because of minor injuries on two previous trips, which required my husband to have a friend drive him down to pick me and my car up in Charlotte. Our friend put me on notice before this trip that he would be out of town and unavailable to help out if I flubbed up this time.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Good eye, jederick--yes, that is an Osprey nest! There was another one in the last picture from Part IV, Between June Lake and Bridgeport. The osprey was perched on a nearby rock in that image.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

I wish I could get my photo buddy to post his pictures from Bristlecone, since he did the whole trail and got beautiful, classic views of the icons. The ranger shared such interesting facts about how the trees are dated and how the roots of just one tree can die off from different diseases at different times and the tree still continue to grow from the healthy roots and wrap itself around the dying members. Their survival is nothing short of a miracle when you witness the environment they live in.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Thank you, Carol--those gnarly trees have such amazing history, how I wish I could have made it up the trail further and seen the 'celebrities' up close for myself.

Sirius_one Loc: S.F. Bay Area

Very nice shots!!! Mono Lake is an awesome place to visit, but I have never visited the bristle pines.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

The Brisclecone Pine forrest is an incredible place. I always figured if those trees could live 3000+ years, I'd have a chance too.