Alabama Hills (August 27, 2021)

The Alabama Hills, between US 395 and Mt. Whitney, have been a favorite Hollywood film location for decades.  Hundreds of Westerns were filmed here, most recently part of Django Unchained.  The Alabama Hills have stood in for Afghanistan in Iron Man and an apocalyptic future in science fiction films.  Superman flew through the Mobius Arch in Man of Steel. The Graboids in Tremors burrowed under the Alabama Hills.  The stark, fire-scarred landscape has long been recognized as its own character.

Look very closely and you'll see Tom at the crest in the road.  

Aged volcanic rock and weathered granite create a great area to explore in terms of photography, hiking, and bouldering.  Bouldering is stripped-down rock climbing, using only climbing shoes and chalk over a mat in case you fall.  I'm not bouldering here.

We luckily did not encounter the Lone Pine Mountain Devil, said to live in the Alabama Hills. Survivors say the terrifying creature resembles a flying dinosaur and feasts upon humans, bobcats, and coyotes.  Maybe it hangs out with the graboids.