Sunday, August 30, 1981
A Mountain Top Day. 64 leaving Bishop, 98 when we got back at 4:30.
Left Bishop elevation 4,00′ at 8:00. 9 gal gas so far $13.90 – 1.459 per pagl. Down 395 to 168 & headed east – no servies for 109 miles. Thru a narrow rocky gorge & twisty road rising to 7,000 ft. Turn off to Bristlecone Pine area & thru Control Gate. At 8,800 ft Sierra View Vissta – Clear Blue Sky “Range of Light” aglow in morning sun. A perfect day temp – wind – not a cloud in sky. 10:30 at Schulman Grove where Dr. Schulman discovered in 1957 the Methusela tree – over 4,000 years old. I remember the Natl Geographic article about it. Was so thrilled. At the Ranger talk we got to twist Swedish increment borer to take a core. Kristi didn’t want to do it. Like she didn’t want to take a shower before bed – after that dusty 13 mi road to the Patriarch tree new White Mt. Driving inside the bowls – mountain meadows. Back to check point at 3:45 & to Mammoth Lakes at 6:00. To movie at visitor center “John Muir’s High Sierra.”