“If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.”~Dr. Seuss
April 1, 2015
White Mountain Talc Road to the Dow Villa in Lone Pine
30.3 miles
4,300 elevation gain, 5,400 elevation loss
Well last night was miserable and we never got warm. At about 4:00 am we packed it up and started climbing 3000′ up into the Inyo Mountains. It is a beautiful transition area from Joshua Trees to Pinyon Pines. It is my favorite.
Our mission for the day was to make it 30 miles to Lone Pine to stay at the Dow Villa Motel. It is amazing what a soft, cozy, and warm bed can motivate a body to do. What we didn’t figure in is how long it would take to get through Long John Canyon.
Hiking through the Inyo Mountains gifts the hiker with magnificent views in all directions. The jeep road through this section is in great shape to make good time, but after leaving this luxury, it is slow going.
At the crest of the mountain is part of the old Salt Tram. Just as we reached the top we had our friends the fighter jets literally buzz us. We could see the pilot’s helmet, it was that close. Again our own personal escort.
Our navigation through Long John was a bit off and cost us daylight and time. See below for navigation tips.
We reached our water cache at Owenyo Lone Pine Road so lovingly stashed there by Lovenote and Burly at about 10:00 pm and still had 4 miles to Lone Pine. I cranked my music up, enjoyed the moonlight reflection off the Sierras and marched on through Owens Valley.
At 11:30 pm we scooted into Lovenote and Burly’s home where our car was waiting with resupply for our climb of Mount Whitney. We quickly made a mad dash to find anything open in town with fresh food. Luckily, at the edge of town the Chevron convenience store was just closing. Loaded up with 3 big boxes of deli sandwiches, carrot cake, coconut water, and a V8, we checked into the Dow Villa at 12:15 am.
Yowwwwwwzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaaaaaa! What a long day!
What We Did or Wish We Did:
-You will be trespassing in the area of Cerro Gordo Mine. We just walked quickly.
-Be prepared mentally for a very awkward traverse after Cerro Gordo Mine.
-Shortly after Burgess Mine look for duck on the left and leave jeep road. On the map it indicates the turn off is a jeep road. It is not. Go southwest a bit and meet a well-marked use trail.
-Biggest tip: pay attention to GPS and maps. The use trail will take you to the wash at the bottom of Long John, then you will leave the canyon and hike on the south ridge above the canyon. This is to circumvent a very high dry fall. The route then steeply dumps directly down into Long John before the spring. We stayed in the canyon and had to climb a steep class 3 up and around. Big mistake.
-We hiked the section around the Long John Spring at night, so we have no information on the water there. Everything did look dry.
Pretty pictures – too much heat! You two Rock!
TOWN DAY!!! I love hearing about this adventure and seeing all your great photos. Thankfully, I can’t feel the intense heat or cold of the actual experience through my computer screen, so I’m still totally stoked on hiking this myself someday!
Sounds like a great trip through the center of the universe!
Dan and Christy – I have followed your messages and photos on this epic hike with awe! My jaw just drops open when I see the photos and hear about your cross-country adventure! I love, love, love the photos of the wild, remote places you have been. By coincidence, I was camping in Lee Flat last Friday night – were you there, too?? I was up at the north end, off the main road. I got to watch the lunar eclipse early in the morning. So, best wishes, and I love hearing about this AMAZING ADVENTURE! Love, Georgette
Dearest Georgette,
Well we missed you by 2 days! We really need to get our schedules together! Glad you weren’t there at the beginning of the week, it was hotter than ___. No amount of fanning will overcome 106 degree weather! So glad you are following along and you are out on yet another adventure.
Endurance, perseverance and teamwork!
I love this. Perfect.
Never a dull minute with you folks: always pushing the envelope! How about a “contrast hike” next — call it the Trans-Antarctic Challenge. I seriously believe, with the help of some penguins, you could actually do it. Just kidding! (all the previous was tongue-in-cheek). Welcome home!
Yes we do like to mix it up. Sometimes I just get caught up in the planning and go. Just go.
Then sometimes when I am in the middle of a hair-brained plan, I do wonder what in the heck I am doing? This trip I did have that thought more than several times.