The first time that I went up to Whitney Portal I went with a few friends. They loved the scenery but thought that all the people using the walking sticks and compression gear hiking down the mountain looked silly. We only went about 30 minutes or so up the trail as it was late in the day and we would need to get back down to Palmdale for work in the morning. I made a few images using my typical landscape settings in a few locations. I admit I felt a bit rushed. I would have liked to have more time. I used all my typical landscape settings based on the location and the light. Honestly, I was lucky that I was able to get the images that I did with the little time I had. I knew one thing for sure and that was I wanted to come back!
I had my opportunity within the next week and this time I would be going alone. I woke very early in the morning around 3:00 AM. I started up on the drive in the dark and passed through Palmdale and Lancaster pretty quickly. Mojave was next and then on past China Lake Naval Air Station. This is where you would turn if you wanted enter Death Valley. There are several small towns along the way and you can even turn left on highway 178 to go to Sequoia National Park if you wish. I would do that later. I finally made it to the town of Lone Pine where I would stop for a couple of bottles of water and a candy bar, a Snickers bar.
From Lone Pine I would turn left on Whitney Portal Road. This would take me through the Alabama Hills, which is famous for both, its scenery and being a famous place where many Western and other movies were filmed. It was a favorite location for Hollywood years ago. I made the journey up through the switchback turns until I reached the parking lot at the Whitney Portal store and visitors center.
From Lone Pine I would turn left on Whitney Portal Road. This would take me through the Alabama Hills, which is famous for both, its scenery and being a famous place where many Western and other movies were filmed. It was a favorite location for Hollywood years ago. I made the journey up through the switchback turns until I reached the parking lot at the Whitney Portal store and visitors center.
I started my journey up the mountain. Whitney Portal store and visitors center is around 6500 feet above sea level. I was told that the journey to Lone Pine Lake, my chosen goal was five miles round trip. I later learned that technology placed that at around seven miles round trip. I was thinking no problem with five miles even up hill. The journey started off pretty well, but then the trail became much harder. It was anything but flat and there were streams to ford. Well, a set of those walking sticks would have been handy here. Instead, I was forced to use my tripod, which worked. The trail was also very rocky in places forcing you to climb over them. There were many points along the way where I began to doubt my abilities. I nearly turned around in defeat many times. I admit, I gave it very serious consideration.
The views kept me going. I would stop along the way and peer both up and down. It was truly amazing looking in both directions. It was massive, too. I am afraid my images don’t do it justice. You have to be there in the cool, crisp, clean air and view what God created in all its majesty. The view will certainly give you pause. I couldn’t help but wondering what kind of wildlife was up in this area. I was certain there were mountain lions and wondered if there were bears. I’m sure there were many creatures that I didn’t see as they heard and smelled me coming up that mountain.
After the land began to flatten out and stepping over some fallen logs, I had made it to Lone Pine Lake! I could see it! I made my way down to it. There were some people camping that had set up tents in the wood line. I wished I was them. I wanted so much to stay here a while. To enjoy the view and to breath the air. It was amazing!
I made my images. I set up my tripod and added an ND filter. I was looking to smooth out the water. I viewed several compositions and made several different images from each of them. I sat back for a bit and just relaxed. Then when I reached for a bottle of water, I realized that was all I had left. I decided that I could no longer remain there. I had to get back down the mountain.
It was rough. I’m not going to lie. There were many times I wondered if I would make it. I fully understood the looks on the people’s faces that we had seen before as the were going down. There were countless times I thought about finding some place to hide my camera backpack and tripod along the way, to come back later and get it. As I got closer to the store and visitors center it got easier. I knew I would make it. After a lot of water and another candy bar or bars I laughed on the way back to Palmdale about how foolish I had been. Honestly, I would do it all over again for another chance. This time I would like to camp up there, to wake up in the morning early and enjoy that view once again. I strongly urge you, if you can visit the Whitney Portal.
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