Just north of Lone Pine, along U.S. 395, in the unforgiving rain shadow desert of the Eastern Sierras, sits Manzanar National Historic Site. From 1942 through the end of World War II in 1945, Manzanar served as an internment camp for people of Japanese descent, forcibly removed from their homes along the West Coast. Today, the site is preserved as a reminder of this painful part of American history and the hope and perseverance of those who endured.
Devils Postpile National Monument, located in the Mammoth Lakes, protects the unique columnar basalt formation that is the Devils Postpile. On this adventure, we explore the national monument and earn our junior ranger badges. Highlights of this trip include the hike to Rainbow Falls and viewing the Devils Postpile from the PCT/JMT.
Located in the Mojave National Preserve along I-40 in Southern California, Kelso Dunes offers fun recreational opportunities for camping, hiking, and sliding on the 'singing' sand dunes.
In honor of Junior Ranger Day, we spent a lovely spring Saturday in Joshua Tree National Park. We explored more of the park, visiting the popular rock formation called Hall of Horrors and hiked among the interesting desert plants of the Cholla Cactus Garden.
Even with inclement weather presenting challenges for a President's Day camping trip, Pinnacles National Park offered up some new hiking adventures. In this post, the Cranky Camper highlights the lushness of the Bear Gulch and Rim trails, as well as a new hike along the Old Pinnacles trail.
The Cranky Camper 