From Snow to Sand
I’m back home after Lundy Canyon, Silver Canyon, White Mountains / Schulman Grove / Eureka Dunes / Cerro Gordo / Alabama Hills. Weather was very warm the entire week (try 42°F at 6 AM at Schulman Grove!), which made it easier traveling.
In spite of a nasty cold for a few days, it was a pleasant weeklong short trip, ending in warm areas, like Eureka Dunes and Alabama Hills. Still, coming down the dunes at dusk, our bare feet were numb—some of that hard sand was frozen underneath on areas of the dunes that get little sun on the solstice. We had the place to ourselves on the solstice, but leaving that night 7 or 8 vehicles were arriving.
Arriving after dark at Schulman Grove, the temperature was 25°F with crunchy cold snow. At 6 AM it had risen to 42°F—go figure. Hiking at Schulman Grove was T-shirt weather in the sun that day.