Eastern Designers

Posted on December 05, 2011 by Admin
Eastern Designers

Eastern Designers

California's Highway 395 from Lone Pine in the south to Bridgeport in the north is considered the heart of the Eastern Sierra Nevada scenic area. The 395 Corridor traverses its edge, providing access to natural geology, flora, fauna and history. Travellers witness a land of contrasts - deserts, 14,000 foot peaks, volcanic domes, lakes, and cascading creeks. Surprisingly, Mount Whitney the highest peak in the U.S. outside of Alaska, is only 85 miles from the lowest place at Badwater, Death Valley. The Eastern Sierra's exposed and visible mountain geology is due to the "rainfall shadow effect", the moisture laden clouds on the western side drop rain before passing over the high mountain range. The east's steep slopes also make it harder for plants and trees to take root. There are also unusual natural features, like the basalt columns of Devil's Postpile, Mono Lake's Tufa, the rock shapes of Alabama Hills, and the oldest living thing, the Bristlecone Pine.

Each town along 395 has roads going into the Sierra, usually following creeks and leading to lakes. Most of the towns are diminutive compared to California's towns on the other side of the mountains, and access over the Sierra is limited to just one mountain pass at Lee Vining, Highway 120, which is closed in winter and most of the spring. The uncrowded Eastern Sierra Nevada aids in its visual beauty. This is a major reason that many movies and television programs are filmed here. The Alabama Hills just west of Lone Pine have had hundreds of movies filmed there, like Gunga Din, Charge of the Light Brigade, and more recently Iron Man. Beverly & Tim Rogers' Museum of Lone Pine Film History on Highway 395, Lone Pine is an excellent place to visit for film history and memorabilia.