Mono Lake, California

Travel 3 Minutes

The reserve was established to preserve the spectacular “tufa towers,” calcium-carbonate spires and knobs formed by interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water. It also protects the lake surface itself as well as the wetlands and other sensitive habitat for the 1 – 2 million birds that feed and rest at Mono Lake each year.

Mono Lake is a majestic body of water covering about 65 square miles. It is an ancient lake, over 1 million years old — one of the oldest lakes in North America. It has no outlet.

Throughout its long existence, salts and minerals have washed into the lake from Eastern Sierra streams. Freshwater evaporating from the lake each year has left the salts and minerals behind so that the lake is now about 2 1/2 times as salty as the ocean and very alkaline.

Location/Directions
Highway 395, 13 miles east of Yosemite National Park, near the town of Lee Vining, California.

Seasons/Climate/Recommended clothing
The weather can be changeable; layered clothing is recommended.

Winter is a particularly beautiful time at Mono Lake. The crowds are gone, a quiet stillness prevails, and snow crystals sparkle on the tufa towers.

In winter, State Route 120 is closed from 5 miles east of the junction of US 395; which allows for access to South Tufa if weather permits. The South Tufa road is not plowed.

South Tufa, Navy Beach, and the Old Marina area are all wonderful places to cross-country ski when snow conditions permit.

Facilities – Activities

Visitor Center

The Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center is a great place to start your visit to this area. The center is located just off Highway 395, north of Lee Vining and includes a variety of exhibits about the natural and human history of the Mono Basin. Visitor center staff stand ready to help you plan your explorations of Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierra. 

Outdoor Activities
Hiking, photography, bird watching, swimming, boating, and cross-country skiing are just a few of the many activities you can enjoy at this unusual lake.

Photographers come from all over the world to capture the interplay of light on the mountains, desert, and water. The natural history of the lake is described and explained in a one-mile self-guided nature trail at South Tufa. This is the best place to visit if you have time for only one stop. A boardwalk (ADA) trail below the Mono Lake County Park allows access to the north shore tufa area and wetland. A new trail links the Scenic Area Visitor Center near Lee Vining with the Old Marina area at the shore. A trail at Panum Crater leads to the dome and crater rim.

A swim in Mono Lake is a memorable experience. The lake’s salty water is denser than ocean water, and provides a delightfully buoyant swim. Old timers claim that a soak in the lake will cure almost anything. Keep the water out of your eyes or any cuts, as it will sting.

Camping
The State Natural Reserve is surrounded by the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area, operated by the Forest Service. There are no campgrounds in the State Natural Reserve or the Scenic Area. Established campgrounds are located nearby in Lundy Canyon, Lee Vining Canyon, and the June Lake Loop. Dispersed camping is permitted in most of the Scenic Area above the exposed lake bed lands. Campfire permits are required.

Boating
All types of boating are permitted on Mono Lake, although access is restricted to all islands between April 1 and August 1 each year to protect the nesting gulls. Boaters must not approach within 200 yards of Osprey nesting sites located on offshore tufa towers April 1st through Sept. 1st. It is advisable to stay near shore while boating and to be alert for sudden high winds. We recommend launching canoes and kayaks at Navy Beach, on the south shore, where a parking lot is close to the water. For those with boats too large to carry, an unimproved launch ramp is available near Lee Vining Creek. Stop by the Scenic Area Visitor Center for directions or for more information.

SOURCE: CA.GOV

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Published by pat frederick

Published

95 thoughts on “Mono Lake, California”

    1. Good morning! Only 16 here this morning but that will change quickly since the sun is coming up, with mostly clear skies. What snow we did get will be gone by tomorrow night, I expect. And it’s about time to put the Oriole feeder out. I’ll wait until tomorrow to make my trip to Norfolk, as long as my road isn’t a muddy mess.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning Filly!
        our dirt road is like a war zone! deep pot holes and mud pits! there is water flowing under part of the road and they’ve tried to be cheap about putting in drainage pipes–cuz it’s not a heavily traveled road…but it gets worse and worse and then eventually they have to send out graders and truck after truck of gravel. BUT they get so much a mile from the state to maintain dirt roads–and i remind them of this when i have to.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. We tend to get short shrift being on the very outskirts of town and one of the few roads that aren’t cement. They come thru with a grader on a fairly regular basis but the big trucks mess that up quickly.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. we have to email constantly–because we’re the only “resident” on the road–the rest are hunting camps. a few vacation homes further in–but that’s NY and they don’t answer to them anyway

            Liked by 1 person

    1. — Was it intentional? 
      — Did the powers that be running the port want to destroy the Francis Scott Key bridge – ?
      — Watching a video someone had taken from their auto while driving over it – I could see the bridge was obviously outdated – could barely hold four lanes of traffic. There was very little space between the edge of the bridge and the outside lane. 
      — A commenter also remarked that the bridge was too low and could not accommodate the new huge cruise and container ships.
      — Biggest question – does China also run this port as it does many US ports? Likely answer – yes.

      Liked by 1 person

            1. Sally Q is facing a crown on one of her 5 cracked teeth in addition to healing from the broken bones and pacemaker. She doesn’t feel really well and had an Afib attack on Tuesday evening – while I was gone – her Dad looked after it with an extra 1/4 tablet or two of Metaprolol tartrate – the quick acting that we keep on hand for breakthrough Afib.
              Thanks for always asking about her – it helps to share. Some days are just crying days. I got 8 whole hours of sleep last night despite the storms passing through. My driveway looks nice and clean! My hair cut looks great! It’s been a therapeutic trip home so far!

              Liked by 1 person

              1. you do need to recharge!! we’re always here to listen GA!!
                i remember after my Dad passed, i was visiting my mom and she wanted me to take her shopping and out to lunch and i was shocked. I mentioned something at my next doctor’s visit–and he said sometimes in a situation where your whole life is taking care of someone, when they pass, it’s like getting out of prison.
                he told me to be patient and she will deal with things in her own time…and he was right.
                but he said, i’m telling you to find balance–you need to look after your own needs from time to time and it’s not selfish.
                you need to recharge your batteries to deal with all you have to.

                Liked by 1 person

          2. Am making the chocolate chip pecan bars and some of what we call Party Mix – Chex Mix by my own recipe. I use corn oil, some generous dashes of worcestershire sauce and Old Bay seasoning and salt to taste – lots of cheerios, chex and this time no nuts or pretzels, just my favorites. It’s Mama fuel for lots of work and thought.

            Liked by 1 person

            1. Using the Toll House chocolate chip recipe, but substituting almond flour for most of the flour and Monk fruit sugar for most of the sugar, adding pecans in the batter and on top patting the dough into a jelly roll pan and making bars to wrap and freeze for her to have diabetic treats.

              Liked by 1 person

              1. If these bars don’t firm up and adhere together, next time, I’ll add some flax meal to help – ground flax seed acts like glue in dough.

                Liked by 1 person

              5. Result – the cookies were a bit overcooked. I’ll only set the timer for 20 min, not 30 next time and use a cake tester. They held together, and firmed up as they cooled, but a tablespoon of flax meal added to the dry mix would help add nutrition and cohesion. I may also add 1/4-1/3 cup finely chopped oatmeal instead of plain flour too.

                Liked by 1 person

        1. dunno…lots of theories out there. but because the maggot said the gov’t…aka US TAXPAYERS will pay to rebuild it means no investigation. if the insurance companies or others would be on the hook for paying for this–they would investigate the heck out of it!

          Liked by 1 person

  4. MJTruthUltra

    @MJTruthUltra

    I spoke to a US Navy Vet, who was a navigation specialist. He shared some interesting facts with me… He says once a ship like that loses power, it loses nearly all ability to steer. And definitely not enough to steer off the way it did. He believes it was intentional. He also shared that there are roughly 40-100 vessels that were immediately impacted about to make port in Baltimore that no longer can; which will now have to be rerouted to Hampton Roads, Virginia. The Port of Virginia. This poses immediate security and safety concerns as now that port will be severely overwhelmed for what is believed to be several months, at least. It’s a logistical nightmare and we’re talking backlogged shipments of various items, so it’s not immediately known what supplies chains could be impacted. But not just that… port authority will also have to have their ears to the ground for potential dangers inside the containers. The dirty kind. We’ve all had that gut feeling that things will severely intensify this year. Pray for our country. Keep God close to you.

    Like

    1. Oh, I love those birds! Never see anything like that around me but, then, there are no substantial bodies of water near me.

      Liked by 2 people

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  12. brought this last night…posting again

    Laura Loomer
    @LauraLoomer
    🚨EXCLUSIVE BOMBSHELL REPORT🚨

    Judge Merchan’s daughter has @KamalaHarris
    as a Client at her company that focuses on Campaigns and elections!!!

    Judge Merchan, the NY State Supreme Court Judge who issued a GAG ORDER against President Trump today has a daughter named Loren Merchan. She is the President and Partner at a company called Authentic Campaigns @authentic_HQ
    that boasts @KamalaHarris
    as a Client! They also have Trump hater @AdamSchiff
    as a client.

    An X account belonging to Loren Merchan under the handle @LorenM426
    shows her profile picture is President Trump behind bars in a jail cell.

    FEC reports also reveal that Loren Merchan is a frequent @actblue
    donor to Democrat candidates.

    This is absolutely a conflict of interest for Judge Merchan who is engaging in Election Interference. He should RECUSE HIMSELF from President Trump’s case immediately.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. San Francisco being sued over raw sewage and other things being dumped into the bay.
    FTA

    Nearly all of SFPUC’s discharges flow into Mission Creek and Islais Creek, Baykeeper found. The nonprofit’s field investigators visited Mission Creek during sewer discharges and saw the presence of fecal matter, plastics, syringes, and condoms in the water.

    Human excrement, used needles, and used condoms—when I read that this morning, I was very thankful to have still had an empty stomach.

    Gasoline cars, gas stoves, air conditioners, dishwashers, lightbulbs must all be regulated or taxed into nonexistence for the little people, because the “carbon footprint” of such amenities is too detrimental to the environment—but poop, dirty needles, and old rubbers don’t really seem to spark the same outrage.

    Plastic straws and plastic bags are the worst form of pollution and must be outlawed, lest they accidentally make their way into the ocean and some poor little sea turtle chokes and dies—never mind diarrhea, used drug paraphernalia, and latex trash saturating the bay.

    Masks are mandatory during the scamdemic, as well as experimental jabs, and anyone so inconsiderate of their neighbor’s health that they would refuse to adhere to “science” deserve to lose their jobs and (at best) live in a leper’s colony—because heaven forfend anyone catch a flu-like virus with a nearly 100% survival rate—while uncontained feces, disease-addled syringes, and post-coitus contraceptives contaminating the water supply are of a lower concern to “health” officials.

    The left’s idea of what’s clean and what’s dirty, and what’s pollution and what’s not, is fittingly inverted, because they’re flat-out wrong on everything, and their childish fantasies of utopia are entirely disconnected from reality and objectivity.

    https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/03/environmental_watchdog_sues_san_francisco_for_1_2_billion_gallons_of_raw_sewage_and_trash_filled_runoff_entering_the_bay_each_year.html

    Liked by 1 person

  14. “DNC Holds ‘Emergency Call’ on RFK Jr’s VP Pick After Biden Supporters ‘Freak Out’”

    By Kyle Becker – March 27, 2024

    EXCERPT: “Democrats are ramping up their attacks on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after he revealed his choice of Nicole Shanahan for vice president on Tuesday, claiming the selection would benefit former President Donald Trump….”

    https://thepoliticsbrief.com/dnc-holds-emergency-call-on-rfk-jrs-vp-pick-after-biden-supporters-freak-out/

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Liked by 1 person

  16. “President Biden is Now Facing ‘Arguably the Most Important Election Integrity Lawsuit in the Country’”

    By  thepoliticsbrief –  March 24, 2024

    EXCERPT: “President Biden’s executive order aimed at increasing voter turnout is now being challenged in what one government watchdog called “arguably the most important election integrity lawsuit in the country.”

    The lawsuit filed in federal court seeks to halt the implementation of President Biden’s executive order on the election immediately. The plaintiff in the action is Republican state Rep. Dawn Keefer, leader of the Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus. Keefer and other state legislators claim that Biden’s executive order, as well as steps taken by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, usurp the lawmakers’ jurisdiction.

    Lawyers for the Biden and Shapiro administrations on Wednesday filed to dismiss the lawsuit, known as Keefer, et al., v. Biden, et al., claiming that the lawmakers lack standing and that executive actions on state elections have previously been permitted by the Pennsylvania legislature.

    “State legislators have rights granted to them in the Constitution, so we do have standing in federal court. The irreparable harm is that they are changing the way elections are being facilitated,” Keefer told The Daily Signal. “Now, we may have authorized them to take action. We never authorized them to break the law.”

    The plaintiff’s complaint seeks a preliminary injunction to prevent the executive order’s execution immediately. There are plaintiffs joining the lawsuit who are not Freedom Caucus members.

    The lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania claims that Biden’s executive order directing federal agencies to collaborate with private, nonprofit groups on get-out-the-vote efforts violates Act 88, a state law that prohibits private money from funding election administration.

    The Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted the bill in reaction to subsidies to local and state election offices in 2020, which were indirectly funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg through his Center for Tech and Civil Life that analysis shows increased turnout predominately in Democratic-dominated districts.

    “The president gave his directive to all of his agencies that they are supposed to facilitate voter registration through third-party agencies, that we can’t get the contracts to or or we don’t know what any of the details are, who they’re working with, and how,” Keefer said….”

    https://thepoliticsbrief.com/president-biden-is-now-facing-arguably-the-most-important-election-integrity-lawsuit-in-the-country/

    Liked by 1 person

  18. NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. – A third grade teacher in Florida has found himself behind bars after he allegedly used an AI program to generate child erotica using students’ yearbook photos, according to deputies. 

    Steven Houser, a 67-year-old science teacher at Beacon Christian Academy, was arrested Tuesday and charged with possession of child pornography, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office said. 

    Deputies received a tip which yielded an investigation into the New Port Richey resident that revealed he was allegedly in possession of two photos and three videos featuring child porn. This footage did not feature any students at the school he teaches at, deputies said. 

    Houser, however, also possessed child erotica that was generated using an AI computer program using the yearbook photos of three students, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office said. Houser admitting to generating these photos, according to deputies. 

    No other victims have been identified at this time, but the Pasco Sheriff’s Office is looking for anyone who believes they might be one. Contact the PSO Crime Tips Line at 1-800-706-2488 or report a tip online at PascoSheriff.com/tips.”

    Liked by 1 person

  23. O.M.G. Miss Pat – I went to Hobby Lobby after my hair cut appt. – which is across the street from my hair dresser – to see the fabrics because you mentioned them.

    I got a few yards and half yards of four fabrics for wheelchair and lift sewing – all for $20.74!!!! - Would have been $50. to 70.+ at Joann Fabrics.

    I had fun looking around (resisted the chocolate at the front register) and came home to make a sandwich! 

    Going to try to clean up/out some old papers – a job long procrastinated on this rainy day.

    Hope you all have a good day and a blessed Easter celebration!

    Blessings and Lots of Love to all!  You all – with GOD’s help – keep me going.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Glad you like them, GA. Hobby-Lobby is a cornucopia of fun, IMO. I could spend hours just browsing up and down the aisles. I had a bunch of my Mom’s paintings framed there – really professional job and perfect frames – and bought my huge main BR mirror there.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. we can hope…

    Shadow of Ezra
    @ShadowofEzra
    Jay-Z rapped in 2009 that he had “Obama on the text, y’all should be afraid of what I’m gonna do next”

    Jay-Z rapped in 2013 that he got “White House clearance” for his trip to Cuba.

    In a 2015 article, CNN admitted Obama and Jay Z are close.

    If Jay-Z is next then all roads will lead to Obama.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. china files complaint at WTO against US for offering rebates and incentives to buy American made EVs or from “certain regions” because it hinders THEIR EV programs.  I’m of the opinion that what the US offers it’s citizen’s is of no business to china. (not that I’m in favor of EVs at all.)

    FTA

    China has initiated dispute settlement proceedings against the United States at the World Trade Organization to safeguard its interests in the electric vehicle industry, the Chinese mission said on Tuesday and the WTO confirmed.

    China said it was contesting “discriminatory subsidies” under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that it said resulted in the exclusion of goods from China and other WTO countries.

    The wide-ranging law provides billions of dollars in tax credits to help consumers buy electric vehicles and companies produce renewable energy, as President Joe Biden aims to decarbonise the mighty U.S. power sector.

    “Under the disguise of responding to climate change, reducing carbon emission and protecting environment, (these subsidies) are in fact contingent upon the purchase and use of goods from the United States, or imported from certain particular regions,” the Chinese mission said.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/27/china-opens-wto-dispute-against-us-ev-subsidies-.html

    Liked by 1 person

  32. H/T M

    Liked by 1 person

  38. this is a weird coincidence…

    Liked by 1 person

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