Date Posted: 00:42:20 12/03/10 Fri
Author: mercury
Subject: Mono Lake is an awesome spot!
One of the four largest remnants of ancient Lake Lahontan which covered most of Nevada. These lakes, like the rest of Nevada (and parts of Ca, Ut, Or) are part of the Great Basin. This means there are no rivers which flow to the ocean, all waters flow into basins, and evaporate.
All these lakes are outstanding places (Great Salt, Pyramid, Walker, Mono). Tahoe is in the great basin, but is actually an alpine lake, since water flows out of Tahoe (and ends up at Pyramid (and formerly in Lake Winnemucca).
Mono is one old body of water (three quarters of a million years+) with an amazing salt soup. There is a hot spring along the water’s edge. Closed to humans, saved for the wildlife. (I’ve been in it but not a great spot; especially with so many other awesome soaks nearby).
The colors of the adjacent Sierra Nevada ridge at sunrise and colors playing upon the water at sunset are unsurpassed. Great place to take a walk, beauty extends for miles.
The lake’s unique chemistry and resultant water color, and mountain surroundings provide for some particularly beautiful plays of light.
So many photogenic scenes along the lake that for many years there was an Ansel Adams photography studio on the lake. Closed down six or seven years ago.
For many years an old motel chalet and lodges stood empty, decaying across the highway. That was my dream property. Was going to fix it up, put a wife in each cottage!
Someone else fixed the place up eventually
tiogalodgeatmonolake.com
The Lake had been dying. All five streams that feed her were diverted to L.A. About 10 years ago the city and natural groups and the state finally came to an agreement to keep enough water flowing into the Lake so that the island in the middle could remain an island. (When the water level gets to low the land bridge allows coyotes to reach the bird preserve).
Tuolumne Meadows (Yosemite); Mammoth, and a host of other outstanding areas (and mining history) are within 30-60 minute drive.
Definitely worth spending a couple days there, if you have never been… |
