US 395 (#0502)

California Backside (Eastern)

Folder: California
California's backside, the area largely ignored in tourist images of the state but quite popular with those in the know. Roughly along US 395, the Sierras and Cascades to the Nevada border. From Tule Lake to Owens Valley, including Tehachapi, and around Lake Isabella.

Photos are in order by place name.

The desert portions of this area are in the California Desert album.
Alabama Hills (0356)

Alabama Hills (0356)

10 Jul 2013 227
Alabama Hills on a July monsoonal day.
Alabama Hills (0357)

Alabama Hills (0357)

10 Jul 2013 238
Alabama Hills on a July monsoonal day.
Alturas, CA 1050a

Alturas, CA 1050a

15 Jul 2011 223
Former Southern Pacific railroad depot in Alturas. Now home of the Garden Club. Update, 3/4/2012: On an unrelated website there is some discussion that appears to be confusing this station in California with a station in Lakeview, Or, which is about 60 miles north.
Alturas, CA 1051a

Alturas, CA 1051a

15 Jul 2011 202
Entrance to Modoc (County) High School in Alturas. I'm still surprised to be driving through some small town and see a public building designed in a relatively unique architectural style This appears to be Streamline Moderne, though I could not find any history of the building. Unfortunately I could not get a good angle for capturing the design.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine 389x

Ancient Bristlecone Pine 389x

06 Aug 2008 283
Parking area at Patriarch Grove, which is over 10,000 feet. At Ancient Bristlecone Pine Reserve outside Big Pine, CA
Ancient Bristlecone Pine 390x

Ancient Bristlecone Pine 390x

06 Aug 2008 1 1 311
August wild flowers, Patriarch Grove, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Reserve, outside Big Pine, CA
Ancient Bristlecone Pine 394x

Ancient Bristlecone Pine 394x

06 Aug 2008 2 263
Though the ages aren't estimated for individual trees at Patriarch Grove, Bristlecone Pines can be as much as 4,000 years old. Though this tree looks dead, it isn't -- there was new foilage on the opposite side. Taken at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Reserve outside Big Pine, CA
Ancient Bristlecone Pine 395x

Ancient Bristlecone Pine 395x

06 Aug 2008 1 241
The making of pine cones... at Patriarch Grove, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Reserve outside Big Pine, CA
Ancient Bristlecone Pine 397

Ancient Bristlecone Pine 397

06 Aug 2008 259
Dirt road to Patriarch Grove of Ancient Bristlecone Pine Reserve outside Big Pine, CA
Bealville, BNSF ascending (0465)

Bealville, BNSF ascending (0465)

15 Jan 2013 2 402
Eastbound BNSF powering up for the climb out of Bealville and up to the Tehachapi loop.
Bealville, BNSF ascending (0466)

Bealville, BNSF ascending (0466)

15 Jan 2013 367
Eastbound BNSF, above part of the same train, at Bealville.
Bealville, BNSF ascending (0460)

Bealville, BNSF ascending (0460)

15 Jan 2013 300
BNSF freight coming to Bealville (on UP tracks) headed eastbound towards Tehachapi loop. Just a few moments after this picture, the train stopped to wait for a UP to descend.
Bealville, UP & BNSF (0464)

Bealville, UP & BNSF (0464)

15 Jan 2013 380
The descending westbound UP meets up with the waiting BNSF at Bealville.
Bealville, UP descending (0462)

Bealville, UP descending (0462)

15 Jan 2013 284
UP freight descending westbound into Bealville -- note that part of the train can be seen up on the slope behind the engine. It took this train 10 minutes to descend.
Beckwourth Masonic Lodge (0272)

Beckwourth Masonic Lodge (0272)

09 Jul 2013 1 285
A surprisingly large and well-constructed, historic, Masonic Lodge in a town that has basically disappeared.
Beckwourth Masonic Lodge (0273)

Beckwourth Masonic Lodge (0273)

09 Jul 2013 320
Plaque describing the Beckwourth Masonic Lodge. The building was build somewhere around 1909.
Beckwourth Masonic Lodge (0274)

Beckwourth Masonic Lodge (0274)

09 Jul 2013 349
A surprisingly large and well-constructed, historic, Masonic Lodge in a town that has basically disappeared.
Beckwourth Masonic Lodge (0275)

Beckwourth Masonic Lodge (0275)

09 Jul 2013 205
A surprisingly large and well-constructed, historic, Masonic Lodge in a town that has basically disappeared.
495 items in total