Mt Whitney Zone Forums Trip Reports Road Trip

Took a short trip to the Sierras with Christine. Never quite had a trip like this, watching two Golden Eagles kill a Red Tail Hawk, some emotion over that, seeing my first Bald Eagle close up, tons of deer and elk. Sleeping in the car in Alabama Hills, seeing 10 shooting stars during the Geminid Meteor shower, driving to Mt Whitney, then to Mono Lake, the tufas, June Lake, down to Bishop, the Owens River, the Bristlecone forest and Mt Whitney Fish Hatchery... The Owens Valley is pretty amazing, to me the most beautiful place there is. And remember, this was just a two day trip! So many things to see and explore.















really emotional moment with a still warm Red Tail Hawk. We decided to place it back to rest and sent a prayer for it, instead of reporting or turning it in to DFG. Thought nature would be more respectful.

Great pictures, Joe. Thanks!


You wrote that you saw the Bristlecone forest. Does that mean you drove up to Westgard pass out of Big Pine?

took the 168 and got up about 20 miles before the road was closed, I think about 2 miles from Schulman Grove.

Two Golden Eagles kill a Red Tailed Hawk? That would have made a Great episode of the 1980s Wild America. That must have been amazing to see, and as you mention, stir mixed emotions. I once two Golden Eagles ride thermals near the summit of Missouri Mountain in Colorado and it was wild seeing them.