The Ashram

This morning we headed out towards the Ashram.  The skies were somewhat foreboding, but we decided to drive up to the parking place and then decide if we would launch.

 

I never get tired of this view.  I should really learn how to do stitch-assist and then we'd have a true panorama.

 

One drives up Granite View, and then off on to the unpaved Tuttle Creek Trail.  This is the first available place to park.  That's a Honda Odyssey in the background, so it gives you an idea of that the road to that point is not awful.

 

This is the parking lot at the end of the road.   A jeep could make it here for sure, but I don't think we could in the pickup.  It's about a 15-20 minute walk from the first parking place to it.  It's a steep road to get to here.  Then the trail takes off in to the trees.

 

Why is it that steep trails never photograph looking steep?  This trail is straight up.  Since I am restricted to no more than 130 bpm, there were places where I would take 10 steps and then pause.  Between altitude and steepness it's a strenuous hike.

 

Here is the Ashram as seen from the trail across the canyon.  We bailed at this point.  So, you wonder, what is the Ashram?
A full description of the building and its history can be found here.  The pictures and text are well worth looking at.  The short version is that in 1928 Franklin Wolff and his wife Sherifa became interested in transcendental philosophy and mysticism. Their belief that holy places were high places led them to build an Ashram at ~8,000 feet above the Owens Valley to serve as a camp and retreat.  The structure is a balanced cross and is about 2,000 square feet.  Really, click on the link at the beginning of the paragraph, it's worth the time.  Since we didn't make it up there, I found photos for you on this website.  I can't believe they hauled all this stuff up here!
From where we were standing, it looked like at least another half an hour to get across the creek and up there.  I did not think I had that much left in my legs.  It was a good decision, going back down was just a bear!

 

Owens Valley on the way down the hill.

 

We were glad we left when we did.  Weather continued to come in from the north, eventually bringing us rain.  Next time, we'll make it.

 

Tomorrow is our last day here.  We're going to do stuff like laundry, foraging for food and getting ready to go.  Saturday will be a grueling 60 mile drive to Bishop.