Lone Pine, CA
The weather here in the Owens Valley of California has been windy and a bit cooler the last couple of days. But today the sky was clear and the temperature was very comfortable so, despite a strong wind, we asked Dave and Sue to join us for another trip through the Alabama Hills looking for arches. This is our second post on this topic so if you’re tired of looking at rocks and arches now would be a good time to click the “X” up on the right side of this tab in your browser.
Our first stop was in the Tuttle Creek Road Area, south of Whitney Portal Road.
Tuttle Creek Road Arch
Various levels of photography
Back side of Tuttle Creek Road Arch
Fish and Duck Arches
As we drove through the hills on Tuttle Creek Road we spotted a rock formation that looked like flowing lava that suddenly solidified. A doorway built into the formation identified it as the Flowing Cave Miner’s Dugout.
Flow Cave Miner’s Dugout
We went in the doorway to explore but found the mine was only a few feet deep. Guess they didn’t find much of value in the mine.
Tuttle Creek Road is paved, but after a bit we turned west on a dirt road to do some exploring. It wasn’t long before the road crossed a flowing creek. We sat by the creek and enjoyed lunch before crossing the water and continuing on the road.
The dirt road eventually intersected with Whitney Portal Road, where we turned west and drove a few miles to Movie Road, the main road through the Alabama Hills. After about a mile we turned on to a dirt side road and meandered our way through the desert to an area known as the Beach Area, name for a formation that some say looks like a wave. The area is packed with numerous arches.
The Wave
Surfer Arch No. 3
Two explorers searching for a pass through the mountains
Hitching Post Arch
Surfer Arch No. 2
Unknown Arch
Just a day in the (rock) park
Surfer Arch No. 1
Craggy Arch
We drove out to the end of a narrow side road and spotted a climber on the rock wall ahead of us. A check of the map revealed the rock to be “The Loaf,” a popular climbing spot.
The Loaf (with a climber a third of the way up)
We were in this section searching for the area that was used for this bridge in the classic 1939 film Gunga Din.
The bridge from Gunga Din
Although the bridge was only about thirteen feet off the ground, the camera was placed directly on the ground and pointed up to shoot the scene, giving the illusion the bridge was very high up. We located the site and found a motorhome parked in the spot.
We only have a few more days in Lone Pine but still have a couple of things we want to do before we continue our journey south. More on that later . . .
That unknown arch should be called “John and Pam arch.” 🙂 Looks like another very fun adventure in the big kid playground!
Sounds like a good name to me:) It is so much fun climbing and squeezing through areas in this huge adult playground.
Nope, never get tired of photos of rocks and arches!
We don’t either, but John wants to warn those who don’t understand us:)
I’m not tired of looking at arches! We watched “Gunga Din” a few nights ago and thanks to you I knew it was filmed in California!
We need to watch this movie now that we have seen where much of it was filmed. Too bad all the remains of each set are gone. All one has is rocks to match to the movie scene photos. Gunga Din was quite a production in the Alabama Hills.
You would probably be able to recognize a lot of the locations. We enjoyed the movie.
I never get tired of seeing rocks and looking at your adventures. Love the “rock park” photo. So Pam, do you have a particular book that lists the arches and how to fine them or have you just used the Internet? Love it that Sue and Dave are sharing this time with you!
Gay, we are using a book I discovered online but we found it in the Film Museum here in Lone Pine. It has been our Bible for these arch days. It is called Arches of the Alabama Hills by Orlyn Fordham. It is cheaper through Amazon, if you should think of purchasing it. We are having such a wonderful time traveling with Dave and Sue:)
Just went to Amazon and downloaded “Arches”. Thank you for the title and author. We plan to be boondocking in the Alabama Hills soon.
Did you see any fish in that creek?
As a matter of fact, Bill, Sue had Dave go check out the area on the other side of the falls and I believe there were fish!!
I never grow tired of any of your posts. Rocks and adventures… Right up my alley!
Thanks, Nancy!
This looks like so much fun! You’re giving me all sorts of things to look for the next time we come through there. And…I can’t imagine getting tired of photos of rocks and arches!
I was surprised by how much there is to do in this area of Lone Pine. We had extended our stay for a second week and were planning to add a third week, but the weather turns much cooler this coming week so we only extended two more days. Guess we’ll have to come back to finish the hikes and adventures!
Keep the hike tours coming!
That’s never a problem for this blog, Janna:)
I clicked on the X but it wouldn’t go away…lol
I really like the looks of Flowing Cave Miner’s Dugout. Pretty cool.
Another fanatic hike. Your photos are outstanding. I love the wave photo.
Sorry your “X” wouldn’t work:) You just had to read about more rocks! Darn! But thanks for plowing through a few more arch photos:)
You’re killing me with this scenery…. I must visit 🙂
This is our first visit to Lone Pine and it is just amazingly beautiful. Sitting between two totally different mountain ranges gives us endless beauty. And the Alabama Hills are even more fun than I ever expected. Definitely don’t miss it! You and Al will love all the gorgeous boondocking spots in the Hills with nice, smooth dirt roads.
What a great area you are exploring. We are enjoying the pictures.
Thanks, Debbie! It is an amazing area with so much to offer. We are just having a wonderful time:)
It sure really looks more fun searching those arches with Dave and Sue!
I think the unknown arch should be called the Wright’s Arch, you look so cool framed by it.
You certainly made those arches more interesting with your beautiful poses and faces in and around it.
Thanks, MonaLiza! Having friends to explore with sure has added to the fun in the playground:)
love the picture of the wave…
It is rather strange thing sticking up there:)
Of course you found the name of the dugout – and fish too???? More great arches – such a fun way to explore the area! Love the photography levels 🙂 There was a rig parked in one of the other movie sites on our first day as well – at least this one gives a decent comparison for the real height of the bridge.
Remember we have THE book!! It names all things:) We almost missed the fish and duck. If you don’t look up at just right the moment to see a little light, they don’t appear. See there was a fish in the Hills for Bill!!! Not sure I would want to be in the Gunga Din Bridge site since it was on the basic map everyone picks up!
Too funny the motor home. Probably as tall as the bridge. Never too many rocks. Never too many arches. So glad you introduced me to the Alabama Hills and the book you are using. I really love the picture of what looks like “eyeglasses arch” to me with those cute faces peeking through.
You four did an amazing job of finding arches. We know from experience how difficult it is to find some of them.
We never would have found so many “arches” had it not been for the book and its maps. Just having coordinates would have been difficult but with the maps we knew exactly where we needed to be. Each “arch” was flagged in its location. The author also gave the coordinates, as well as, a photo of the arch. It made for fun days climbing all around the boulders:)