Sonora Pass

Last Friday I took off from work a bit earlier than usual and head for Mi-Wuk Village in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Here's a map of the drive.

I made it to my hotel and the next morning I set off to cross the Sierras to Mono Lake. Unfortunately I saw signs saying that the road over the mountains was closed for winter. I decided to drive up the road anyway.
Map of Saturdays drive.

I drove up the road and stopped at various lookout points along the way.


There was snow on the distant mountains.


And some hiding in the shade at the lookout.


There was a lot more in a creek further up the road.


I stopped at Donnell Vista overlooking Donnell Lake. (See B on the map.)


There was more snow.


And a real Christmas Tree !


It was a bit bent down the bottom ...


but had some lovely lichen and mistletoe in the branches.


Closeup of the mountains from the lookout.


Good thing I didn't need to sit down.


Looking north east up the valley towards Peaceful Pines.


Another cool tree.


The lookout halfway along the path.


And the view of Donnell Lake from the lookout.


Closeup of the dam.




The next place I stopped was at the Column of the Giants. They were on the other side of the river.


Looking upstream.


And looking even colder downstream.


This rock caught my eye because it looked a bit like a polar bear. That is ice in the divots.


Finally over the bridge and I walked up the snowy path to the Giants.




You can see the lava columns in the foreground.


I didn't go very far up the path because of the snow and went back to the bridge for a self portrait. The camera was propped up on a nearby rock.


I wandered further up the road ...


to find the road blockage.


I parked the car and walked the 500 feet to find a substantial gate and another self portrait.


I walked up around the corner and looked up the valley.




Looking back down the road.


More photos tomorrow.