5-14-15

Intense thunderstorm in Saline Valley, California. The rain is so heavy the water is actually running off the surface--a so-called "sheet flood." You can tell this sort of rainfall is unusual by the vegetation! Looking southwest to the Inyo Mountains.

Remains of (probably) an old ranch in Saline Valley, California, altho it might have been mining-related. It no doubt had a brief reincarnation as a hippie commune in the 70s--Saline Valley was notorious for such things, for a while. The mountain range beyond is the Inyo Mountains, the southern extension of the Whites. Looking more or less north.

Presumably the California barrel cactus, Ferocactus cylindraceus . Off the Saline Valley road on the way into the valley from the north.

Looking upstream. A steep canyon north of Darwin, California that flows ultimately into the north end of Panamint Valley. The road bypasses a waterfall(!) in the middle, where the exposed bedrock has forced the water to the surface. Unfortunately, the best trail to the falls is from below, and I didn't have time to take it. Note the flotsam to the right of center--sometimes a _lot_ of water comes this way!