Above us is a Forest Service campground, and below us is a county spot. The Forest Service gets $17, and the rough little county "park" gets $10... and here in the BLM Tuttle Creek camp... they charge $5 bucks... of which I pay 1/2 with my "access" card...
So... since the county has obviously spent very little a looooong time ago... and let's face it, BLM and Forest Service are both Fed outfits... how come the FS thinks its properties are worth more than 300% more???
Especially when BLM camps are about 98% of the time, far better layed out, far better maintained, nicer, bigger, wider spots to park your rig... it's just a curiosity to me. Far as I'm concerned I'd de-commision the Forest Service and give it all to whoever's runnin' the show over to the BLM.
That fella... or... fellerette is gettin' the job done!
The last couple of days we've just been lazy... haven't got too far from camp... just enjoyin' the sunshine and the space here in camp and nearby spots of the Owens Valley.
Up above us a short ways Whitney Portal road leads into a canyon that runs up tight against the shoulder of the mountain. We've packed a lunch and run up there twice now for sunny pic nics.
Heading for that place You start off with a bit of desert color along the side of the road...
and no shortage of scenery of all sorts...
Pretty quick you go to climbing a sharp switchback that gives some long views of the valley.
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| *Whitney Portal Road and the Owens Valley* |
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| *Lone Pine behind the Alabama Hills from high on Whitney Portal Road* |
Climbing fast you're in a pine forest that climbs to 8300' at the end of the road in a very few miles.
Winter is still grasping and trying to hang on... though the melt is coming along...
The lil' store up there is near to opening...
... and shhhhhhh... nobody seen us poaching those few lil' bits of firewood the forest service left layin' about in the close by campground ;)
Sitting at a table amongst the tall pines enjoying our lunch... the scent of a high mountain pine forest floating in the air... a mountain stream gurgling behind us... the rings of rising trout spreading across the small lake... Puffy white clouds floating across the blue sky shining above...
... the thoughts of base camps and such things get blown to the wind... any idea of settling into even a part time base camp, can't survive in my head... once a place like this reminds me that there's so many other spots like this one here... that I'd never see... if I got foolish enough to succumb to the urgings of them that are wiser... :)
I was born a gypsy drifter and a rover I'll remain.
Always remember; Others... me included... only know what's best for them... and only You know what paddle fits your hand. The only thing me or them can tell you is what's worked for us... and what hasn't... you've got to pick from all that... what's best for you...
Or... invent your own tee totally new idea.
But here's one last word of advice...
Watch your step... Get careless and don't pay attention to what you're about...
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| *Whoooooooeeeeeeee! ....* |
... and the world can get a lil' bit western for a few seconds...
But... as always... You'll find solid ground again...
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| *SPLAT!!!* |
Though you might could be a lil' worse for wear...
Just get up... straighten your hat... hang your glasses back on your nose... brush off the dust... and get on down the road! :)
You may have struck a thorn or two... but there's plenty more flowers and long views of Far Country left for you to find...
The Raider and I are splitting the wind later this morning to make a run over to Turlock California to visit my good friend Darryl where he's bunking for a few days in the hospital... I gotta make sure them sawbones are doin' their job proper! ;)
I'll see ya when I get back!
Take Care and Keep on Trying New Trails
Brian
5 comments:
Good to see you survived your 'fall from grace'. Alabama Hills calls my name.... do you hear it?
Looks like a beautiful place. I look around for a home base sometimes, but just can't commit to that right now. Ooops, did you really fall. Glad to see you are ok.
Seems the NFS is trying really hard to get out of the recreation business. They want to exist for one reason. To protect the major timber companies. That's the way it is in our part of the country, anyway. Great pictures, as usual.
Great looking camp and man you are right, those disparities in fees make no sense. Great Pictures as always.
Man I hope you did not really fall.
:) Mostly just makin' fun of herself... see starts squeekin' and wigglin' ever' time I get near the edge of something. ;)
There's no shortage of scenery and good country all around here... a lot of California gets a bad rap 'cause of what happens down where all the people are at...
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