Turns out Nevada is more than casinos amidst a desert wasteland. Wheeler peak in Great Basin national park rises more than 13,000 feet out of the surrounding desert. The park is small and accessible and well worth stopping by for a day or camp for a night.
The Alabama Hills are not actually in the Deep South but rather at the base of Mount Whitney just outside of Lone Pine. Called by some the Poor Man’s Joshua Tree, we found that they offer incredible sport climbing on sharp, featured granite, in a setting straight out of a John Wayne movie (literally). The views are exquisite with the largest peaks of the sierras as a back drop. And the climbs require no approach. You can literally park your van at the base:
climb a route:
and then grab a delicious skillet at the Alabama hills cafe afterwords:
Just watch out for the wildlife:
From Virginia Pass
The big adventure could not have started off more perfectly. We had 4 epic days in the back country with great folks (Robert, OBB, TBB, Casey) and some of the most gorgeous scenery nature has to offer — Virginia Lakes, Spiller Canyon, Virginia and Stanton Peaks, Relief Lake.
Setting off from Berkeley, CA, and the adventure begins!
