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Just south of Olancha, California there is a perennial hitchhiker that people slow to see and often stop to observe first hand. It is a giant metal sculpture that can be seen on the low horizon from a few miles away. It appears mysterious and startling to the passerby. Disturbing even more so is this looming figure in the context of the many other sculptures artist Jael Hoffmann has included in her desert sculpture garden. This is much more than a roadside stop to break the monotony of miles of arid land, backed by the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
For Hoffmann the sculpture, visible to all those traveling Highway 395 south of Olancha, has several meanings. The unknown hitchhiker is carrying a suitcase, which represents all the baggage we carry through life's journey. There is also a feeling of personal freedom, and female empowerment attached to the figure, with her wrench necklace, and thumb extended, waiting for what life will be offering next, ready for the unexpected.
http://cali49.com/
http://www.jsculpt.com/sculpture-gardens.php
https://www.kcet.org/shows/artbound/jael-hoffmann-high-desert-sculptor-of-internal-landscapes
https://en.wikipedia.org/
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/29835
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The Viking Talc Mine is an interesting stop along Saline Valley Road, just a couple of miles from the pavement of Highway 190. Like many of these smaller mining operations, finding historical data is difficult. What little I have managed to gather comes from a 1942, U.S. Geological Survey titled, “Talc deposits of steatite grade, Inyo County, California.”
http://california.hometownlocator.com/
http://deathvalleyjim.com/viking-talc-mine/
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Red Hill, also known as Cinder Hill, is a prominent cinder cone that is often passed by as one travels north or south on Highway 395 or when heading to visit Fossil Falls. This Earthcache is located on Cinder Road just past the turn off to Fossil Falls. Once there, merely park at the coordinates in order to make your observations.
Red Hill has the distinction of being the youngest volcano in this area, estimated to have been active 10,000 years ago. It lies in the Coso Volcanic Field and is located north of Little Lake and south of Lone Pine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/
Red Hill
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Cerro Gordo located near Lone Pine and the now dry Owens Lake mined silver and also lead. Discovered at Cerro Gordo in 1865 and from 1868 to 1875 about $13 million in silver / lead bullion was shipped out which made the Cerro Gordo mines the most prosperous mine for those metals in California history.
The steamboats, Bessie Brady and the Mollie Stevens, transported the silver ingots from the East side of Owens Lake to Cartago from where they then were hauled to Los Angeles. The steamboats then transported lumber and charcoal from across Owens Lake at Cottonwood Canyon. In order to smelt the silver ore and eliminate the impurities, the smelter requires a tremendous amount of heat. If you used wood or coal in the smelter they burned too fast and didn't make enough heat. And so kilns were built near a lot of mining operations in order to turn wood into charcoal and coal into coke, both slow burning and producing high amounts of heat.
Two large charcoal kilns were built in Cottonwood and they still stand to this day. Whereas most kilns are built using bricks or stone, these two were built out of clay bricks which were covered in plaster and look very much beehive like.
https://www.sierranevadageotourism.org/
http://www.weirdca.com/location.php?location=297
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1075 S. Hwy 395, Olancha, CA 93549
760-764-0023
https://www.tripadvisor.com/
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US Hwy 395
(760) 764-2363
https://www.tripadvisor.com/
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1995 US- 395,
Olancha, CA 93549
(760) 764-2387
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2055 US-395,
Olancha, CA 93549
(760) 764 2209
http://www.rusticoasismotelolancha.us/
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1075 US-395,
Olancha, CA 93549
(760) 764-0023
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The Olancha Dunes are located 2 miles east of Olancha, California on State Hwy 190. This area is designated as an “Open Area” by the BLM. The area consists of 1,000 acres on sand and desert scrub. The highest dune is approximately 75-90 feet tall and is the only dune showing any evidence of ever developing a razor back.
While 1,000 acres is not the largest riding area, the Olancha Dunes do have some advantages. The Sierra Nevada range is just to the west of the area with Mt. Whitney to the Northwest. Thus the views are great.
From the intersection on Highway 395 and Highway 190, travel northeast on Highway 190 about 2 miles and watch for the Olancha Dunes sign on your right. Since this is designated as an “Open Area,” dispersed camping is allowed anywhere in the area. Camping is limited to a maximum of 14 days.
http://www.duneguide.com/
http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/trails/info/california_05522/ride_972c.htm
http://www.atvsource.com/articles/articles/2007/101707_places_to_ride_olancha_dunes_ca.htm
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Look for Red Hill just north of Little Lake on the eastern side of Highway 395, Fossil Falls is a spectacular lava flow sculpted by rushing water and wind late in the Ice Ages. The initial formation is relatively flat, but you will come to a dramatic chasm that reveals the spectacular lava falls.
https://www.alltrails.com/
http://californiathroughmylens.com/fossil-falls
https://www.desertusa.com/desert-activity/fossil-falls.html
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The Haiwee Pass trail is located in the eastern portion of the South Sierra Wilderness. The trail begins at 4,940 feet near Haiwee Creek, and climbs to Haiwee Pass, at 8,500 feet. The trail is primitive and can be overgrown or faint in places as it winds through canyon live oak woodland, crossing Haiwee Creek several times. At Haiwee Pass, one can continue westward towards the South Fork of the Kern River, or head north towards Olancha Pass and Summit Meadows.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/
https://binocularsinthebackcountry.blogspot.com/2015/05/haiwee-pass-adventure.html
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Olancha Pass and Summit Meadow is a 7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Lone Pine, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is best used from April until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recreation/recarea/?recid=20916&actid=51
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/olancha-pass-and-summit-meadow
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