Don’t let your first impressions of the Eastern Sierra’s be your last. With some time well spend, you may come to love and appreciate this arid high desert landscape nestled in the mountains between California and Nevada.

To the west, the steep eastern edge of the Sierra Mountains creates a dramatic backdrop for the region and to the east stands the mountains of the Great Basin. Here the landscape and its history has been shaped by natural forces as geological land masses collide. With no other outlet for these tectonic forces, the land wrinkled, turned on its sides and rose creating these tall majestic mountain ranges. Once the bottom of a great inland sea within the Great Basin, parts of this sea floor now looms high above the desert landscape. Evidences of past volcanic activity abounds and numerous hot springs can be found throughout this region to the delight of weary travelers.

With a wide open landscape, this region can be a photographic wonder with vistas from every vantage point whether from high in the mountains or the valley floor. Sunlight bathes this stark arid region with warm tonal light in the early morning and late afternoon hours creating stunning landscape scenes. With frequent cloud activity throughout the day, this landscape can be a visual wonder in shades of light and moving shadows.

This is my first long visit to this region and my first time participating in Geno’s Campo Velo trip. The objective is to go to an area and explore it by bike and a foot. My first impressions did not last long as we started exploring this region. By the end of the trip, I found myself thinking of ways and a time to return.

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