75 degrees and sunny.
On our way to Mono lake we stopped at the grave of the unknown prospector. it commemorates the prospectors that died alone or were buried with no name on the grave. Panum crater is one in the line of Mono craters. It is the youngest, about 650 old. It is the round one on the bottom of the photos. We hiked up to the top the lava dome in the center.
Lots of desert peach bushes were blooming. They smelled wonderful. There is a lot of obsidian up here. I am sitting on a large piece here and the big rock to the right in the photo is also obsidian. I have never seen pieces this big before.
The remains of toppled towers on the dome. John photographing Mono lake below.
John in the rock debris on top of the Panum crater dome. Pink monkey flowers.
Remains of toppled towers on the dome in Panum crater. A huge boulder with layers of obsidian and pumice.
A lightening caused fire last August left this desert wasteland by Mono Lake. We went to Navy beach at Mono lake so I could paddle around the tufa towers on the lake. The lake is subject to high winds that create huge waves, that make boating difficult. There were waves, but not enough to stop me.
The shore of Mono lake from my kayak. A huge flock of phalaropes were on shore and they took off all at once when I paddled by.
Mono lake tufa state natural reserve was established to protect these tufa towers on the lake. Mono lake is twice as salty as the ocean. The towers were formed when fresh water springs with calcium carbonate percolated into the lake. The lake level has fallen dramatically after successive water diversions by Los Angles dept. of water and power and the calcium carbonate crystal towers become visible. The crystals also cover the bottom of the lake and anything else the water comes in contact with. I paddled among the towers.
The top half of June Lake Mountain ski area. Looks like a nice area. Sunset from camp tonight.
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