The 395 and Owens Valley-Eastern Sierra Region

I just discovered that area of AH. I only recognized the location d/t the "pregant rock" in the background.

The place is overrun and I can understand why it is under higher scrutiny for management. I'm hoping this "overlanding" fad passes but not holding my breath. It was interesting watching vehicles come and go since there is somewhat of a gatekeeper there. I was surprised when two vehicles got through that I thought had no chance. Not sure if they sustained any damage.

 

All you have to do is look at the number of people living in vans in your city to understand that

 

Yeah, I got the feeling AH is unfortunately overused. Beautiful, but I’ve never entertained the idea of going. It comes with the territory being a few blocks from the highway...

 

And with a majority of the spots accessible by RVs and 5th wheels. It's good to know more spots in the area so AH isn't the only option.

 

Up until a couple years ago, you could go there and see one or two other people there. Summers were a little worse but I don't remember it being all that popular-except photographers and that arch view of Whitney.

 

I'd bet money that if Instagram went away tomorrow, we'd see a 60% drop in use at places like this.

And a lot more RTTs on Craigslist.

 

Exactly!!

 

And then there are the social media "influencers" who are the ones responsible in making AH so popular and overused in the first place who go there to create their "content" or whatever the term is. They make AH seem like it's at a remote location, but in reality it's literally less then 10 minutes from a McDonalds

 

It's not even 10 minutes.

2 miles up Whitney Portal road and you're there.

You can probably still smell the french fries if the winds are favorable.

 

I doubt most even stay.

I was reading a kinda funny article about "influencers" and how they call looking for free stuff in exchange for "shout outs". In the beginning, it was worth something to give someone in exchange for a shout out. Not so much any more and advertisers are saying "no" more these days. So being an "influencer" means you actually have to work.

 

Yep. I used to enjoy the climbing in the Alabama's. Any more I avoid the area all together.

 

Love that area, haven't bothered to visit Alabama Hills in years though. One of my friends has a window sticker with a picture of a Sprinter van that says "STOP GENTRIFYING CAMPGROUNDS," too true around there.

Here's us taking the back way up to the White Mountains from the NV border, complete with wildfire haze. You should be able to see the Sierra from here! Luckily they were quite visible from White Mountain Peak the next day

 

My 12yr old and I stopped at AH a few months ago on our way up north and were disgusted by the amount of trash that we saw blowing around (including shit tickets) and the glass bottles left behind by the soy boys. I hadn't been there in years and we parked at an old camp site that I use to frequent. I'd say we picked up trash for a good 30 minutes, it was ridiculous.

I really wish that people would step back and realize that everytime they talk about a place on the forums it comes up on internet searches by others down the line. At the least use an abbreviation or acronym like AH was used above by the others.

 

I notice that more than a couple of us here on the forum say little or nothing about the places we frequent.

 

Did a monthlong road trip doing a lot of rockhounding IN the inyos and seirra Nevada’s out of the ol samurai



edit my only guide for this trip was a rockhounding book from 1965

 

I agree and sincerely appreciate those that do so. We relocated to the north recently and have a massive (new to us) area to explore. The best part is the Owens Valley is a short drive back down the 395 whenever we get homesick or need to restock the freezer with MSM goodness.

 

Super cool. Aside from an FJ40 I'd like to have a Samurai.

Regarding trip reports and locations... I appreciate reports from users who aren't out to boost their egos or social media profiles.
I think some forums have more people who are changing how and what they share. It's all about having great places to go and then they become well known and popular. Once a location is ruined by overuse it may not recover.

 

...an unknown location not in the Owens Valley with two similar overlanding glamping trucks...


i have to boost my ego by stating matter of factly I have never been in the Alabama Hills, and further more that, I have had, in the past, an Instagram account but never a Facebook account.

 

My take on the trip reports and locations, I like reading the reports that don’t give exact details and locations. I would rather have a general area and then research and try to find specific locations myself. Crom's DV thread has introduced me to an area that, while I have heard about it, I never thought about going to. I’m sure this thread will be the same way once it gets going. Thanks to a lot of vague location hints, Digonnet’s and Mitchell’s books, and Google earth I have a folder full of pins I want to explore and try to find. I’ve got grand plans for multiple retirement road trips, I really don’t want these places to be plastered all over IG or FB to get trashed or closed down due to overuse.

 

i do my best to avoid contributing to the over-use problem by not disclosing exact locations publicly. i think sharing only vague location details discourages the lazy, & piques the interest of the explorer. i do however share specifics privately with trusted, like-minded folks.