On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
UncleEbeneezer
After one of the most horrible camping experiences fighting the wind the night before, we decided, pardon my French: Fuck this shit, let’s go somewhere else. One good thing about getting older is that if we aren’t feeling a place, we have no hesitation to bail and go somewhere better. Tuttle Creek Campground had lovely views but it was so damn hot and exposed during the day and the wind was so fierce at night that we knew it wasn’t for us. So we packed up and headed to one of our favorite places in the Sierra, Big Pine Creek. It was higher altitude with comfortable temps and the pines and aspens provided all kinds of shade.
When you first arrive at Big Pine Creek, this is the stunning view as you drive into the campground. Truly one of the most beautiful views in all of the Eastern Sierra, in our opinions.
Even in the middle of the day there was SO MUCH MORE shade than at Tuttle Creek. It was much more pleasant.
We were very tempted to snag this cool campsite (#11) that features the remains of a cabin fireplace (which you can use) but somebody already had it reserved for Thurs night which would’ve meant we would have had to move again for our final night. So we chose one a couple spots further down.
No fireplace-ruins but the spot we chose had good privacy and worked out great.
We also had great access to the creek which was running pretty full and very refreshing.
Another great shot of the Pallisade Glacier in the distance.
🐾BillinGlendaleCA
That would be Middle Palisade Glacier, which is the southern most glacier in the US. There is also North Palisade Glacier above the lakes on the North Fork of Big Pine Creek. As it happens I spent last Saturday night in the eastern Sierra(Little Lakes Valley).
Baud
Looks like you had good weather.
OzarkHillbilly
Beautiful.
Van Buren
That looks waaaay better than the previous place.
waspuppet
Reposting because I missed yesterday’s post and probably no one will see this there:
Lone Pine was the site of (at the time) the strongest annual international chess tournament in American history. It ran for 10 years (1971-1981) and was notable for giving talented young players the opportunity to play some of the world’s best—always a critical aspect of development and much more difficult then. Is there any recognition of this in the town?
Trivia Man
@waspuppet: What a cool footnote, thanks
eclare
The photo of the entrance with that glacier is stunning. You made the right decision to leave Tuttle Creek.
Dan B
The evidence of glaciation is strong. The nearly vertical rock walls on opposite ridges is clear. There’s still a contrast with the in-your-face glacially carved valleys of the North Cascades. I’m not sure why, but my experience of the Sierras has been limited. The contrast with Glacier National Park is the same. Ice cover of the Sierras in the last Ice Age seemed quite complete so who knows.
I’m ready to peruse the next set of pictures.
UncleEbeneezer
@Van Buren: It was for us. We discovered BPC Campground years ago and it has been one of our go-to destinations ever since. Of all of the up-in-the-mountains campgrounds (as opposed to the ones that are down in the valley) it’s probably our favorite. Though that is partly because we haven’t been able to camp at Rock Creek Lake which is on our wishlist. It has just the right mix of being away from it all, but still having a small store, snack bar etc.
Interstadial
@Dan B: Most of the Sierra Nevada is composed of relatively massive granite which resists erosion better than the rocks of Glacier National Park. There are some wide and deep glacially carved valleys in the Sierra but there also are areas where the elevation changes are more muted despite heavy glaciation thanks to the massive granite.
In many cases glacially carved valleys in the Sierra have an inner valley with steep sides set into a larger, more gradual valley, as in the case of the canyons of the middle and south forks of the Kings River or the North Fork Kern River. This produces a less striking impression than Glacier or the North Cascades despite the large overall topographic relief. In these cases you usually can’t see the peaks from the valley bottom, though there are places where you can as with Big Pine Creek and Bishop Creek.
Also, the northern part of the Sierra Nevada is relatively tame for the most part compared to the portion running from Sonora Pass south to just past Mt. Whitney which is where these photos were taken.
Interstadial
Forgot to compliment the OP on the wonderful photos and text!
Tehanu
Lovely.