Star Wars Canyon, Eureka Sand Dunes, Alabama Hills and a Secret Site!

This adventure was planned to allow spending some time in my favorite spots along Highway 395 as well as a chance at grabbing some great photos.

Great scenery in all directions at Star Wars Canyon! A nice coating of snow on Telescope Peak.

Here is a F-18 rolling into a high speed run through the canyon. See the flames of the jet exhaust? This guy was shredding the sky!

It is always great to spot an aircraft that is a bit out of the ordinary here. This USAF T-38 twin seat jet was definitely a highlight.

More F-18 passes with the spring snow in the background.

On this F-18 I captured some shots where I could spot the pilot's white helmet.

As much as I loved watching the jets it was time to head out to the magnificent Eureka Sand Dunes!

The distant Sierra Nevada mountains look amazing while fully blanketed in snow!

The Eureka Sand Dunes are always a bit deceiving as to their true height,

Once on top you are treated to some amazing sights of naturally occurring curves and stark desert landscapes

 

The water is just over the next dune, right?

Next, let's go on a cross country trek and take a peek at a secret spot left behind by the earliest explorers and settlers of Death Valley.

There is more hiking ahead in the Alabama Hills!

This  arch and other rounded boulders are as old as the Sierras but have endured millions of years of harsh erosion. Biotite monzogranite is the what most of the boulders and arches are composed of.  The hiking paths and camp sites offer inviting vistas and endless jumbles of weathered rock.

The Alabama Hills have a very long history serving as the backdrop for countless Hollywood movies. Be sure to stop in Lone Pine and visit the Museum Of Western Film History to learn more about the many movies and see a fascinating array of props, equipment and costumes. Be sure to drop some extra cash in the donation box to keep this great museum in business!

The movie Tremors was filmed in the Alabama Hills

Countless western films were also acted out in the Hills.

Thanks for catching up with me on this latest adventure! Be sure to come out and enjoy this wonderful part of California as much as I did.