Devil's Post Pile

Did you think there wasn't going to be a sign?

Mom at the Ranger Station

It's found near Mammoth Lakes in the Ansal Adams Wilderness.  In order to get to the post pile you have to park at the Mammoth Mountain Lodge and take a shuttle.  Traffic is restricted as much of the way is one - way.  Unless you are camping or have another reason to drive to the campgrounds your best way in is to use the shuttle.  The shuttle drivers also know where all the trails lead.  You can get to Soda Springs from Yosemite if you want to hike but it will take some time!

Top of the Post Pile - Looks like a beehive!

Tommy and I at the Devil's Post Pile

We hiked the .5 mile from the drop off point to the pile and then hiked up to the top. Devil's Post Pile is an known for it's display of columnar basalt. Basically the lava flowed and there was so much that it cooled evenly.   With some forms of lava,  joints form and that is what happened here.  The sign at the top, states that hexagonal shapes in nature save energy and space.   Examples include  beehives and certain chemicals.  It also mentioned that there have even been hexagonal clouds sighted.  The columns were huge.  The picture of Tommy and I was taken in front of the bottom most columns.  These were some of the smallest ones.

Mom walked the half mile and then decided to catch the next bus as stairs and going uphill are torture on her knees.  Tommy and I wanted to see Rainbow Falls.  When the sun is out, a rainbow forms in the falls.  It was a 3 mile hike.  2 and 1/2 there and .5 back to the last shuttle stop at Reds Meadow.






We really didn't have a problem with the walk down to the waterfall.  It was  slightly downward and the scenery was very interesting.  There had been a fire in 1992 and amidst the devastation that still lingered, you spied new growth and opportunities for animals to find shelter.

Fire Damage

Tommy in front of a tree with fire damage

Thought maybe I'd find Barf Vader in here.

This tree was just a shell so of course I had to stand in it!

 I kept stopping to take pictures.  I think Tommy was getting impatient.  We finally made it to the falls and there was a steep stairway leading down from the overlooks.  Had I known it,  I would have brought my swimsuit.  You can actually paddle in the water and stand under the water fall!   We just went down and took a  picture and then headed back up. Pant..Pant.   Why is down so much easier?

New Growth out of old fire

The walk back to the Reds Meadows Resort and bus stop was uphill too and seemed to take FOREVER.  We finally made it and had just missed the shuttle so we rested and waited for about 15  minutes for the next one.  Getting out of the Devil's Post Pile area took a long time too as the shuttle kept stopping to pick up folks. 

Found him! 

We were to meet mom back at the car and I was concerned she might be worried.  I estimated a couple of hours and it turned out to be more like three.  We still had close to  a five hour drive ahead of us as well.  We had to make it before Jackson went to bed!
The drive was awful... We took the Sonoran Pass Highway.  I was afraid the car was going to fall off the road.  No guard rails and lots of twists and turns.  At one point I rounded a corner and found a herd of cows on the road.  Cows are stupid.  They started running but instead of running off the road they ran and zigzagged in the middle of the road.  Just FYI - the car was at a complete standstill when I snapped this one.  We had passed a couple of cows and I just knew they were going to decide to run into the car.

Dumbos - wouldn't get off the road!

 It was crazy and had I been going the speed limit of 55 it would have been disastrous.  Not sure what genius thought that speed limit was appropriate on hair pin turns but the highest I went was 30 - white knuckling it all the way.   It was so scary at one point Tommy started singing Highway to Hell.  That of course cracked us all up.  

Crossing the San Mateo Bridge!  (8 miles long sheesh!)

 Finally made it to San Mateo.  We will be here for a few days and then headed to Route 66!