Mt. Whitney: The Highest Mountain in the Continental U.S.

Aaah. My Ansel Adams moment.

At nearly 14,500 ft. above sea level, Mt. Whitney, the most frequently climbed peak in the Sierra Nevadas, provides a gorgeous backdrop to the charming little one-horse town of Lone Pine, CA. This is our second opportunity here, and this time with the fall colors and the snow coming in, our experience is even more breathtaking than the last.

Looks familiar? Next time you cool off with a cold bottle of water, look closely at the label! Chances are you'll see the mountains above. Next to Mt. Whitney is Olancha Peak, a protected source in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. A major US bottling company began sourcing from its spring to produce bottled natural alpine water. Now you know how "refreshing" this place is!

We camped in one of Lone Pine's finest RV park for the second time. During the daytime we explore the town, imbibe local history, experience some western town flavor and of course (and I do mean OFF-course!) search for roads less traveled for some off-road, 4-wheeling and sometimes fist-clenching excitement.

For Fox, wearing the red scarf is analogous to going out. He loves hikes like these where he can be free to roam around and explore by himself close by.

Mt. Whitney marks our official journey in search of the highest and the lowest elevations in the continental US. We've already seen the highest point, but before we continue to Death Valley National Park a few hundred miles away to see the lowest, we explore the other fascinating treats Lone Pine has to offer.

Next stop, one of the most recognizable movie sets in Hollywood: Alabama Hills!

* Click photos for bigger versions.

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All photos and content copyright 2007 J. Reque and C. Foley unless otherwise stated.
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