Last weekend we discovered a fantastic place right here in California. The Ancient Bristlewood Pine Forest is unlike any other place I have encountered.

High above the Owens Valley in the White Mountains lays this state park. Deprived of the usual loud visitor clouds, the park is a sanctuary for your nerves and an interesting locality for the nature photographer. Parts of the park are hard to get to, requiring a long drive on an unpaved road. Although at the time I did wish the park service had paved the road for me, I have to be grateful they have not, for I have never encountered an area of such tranquility. The high altitude and cold winds also made the park less appealing to birds and other animals.

In the absence of virtually all sources of noise, one could stop and listen to ones hard pound. And pound it did. After I saw all the fantastic subjects waiting to be photographed, I did not count on the high altitude when I was bouncing around the forest like rumpelstiltskin.

Unfortunately, the pounding headache did not permit me to stay longer, but I got what I came for. Check out the gallery to see for yourself. Later this week I will also add some more photos to my 395 gallery and the Mono Lake Gallery.