Mammoth Lakes, Mammoth Mountain, Sierra Nevada Mountains, Inyo and Mono County, Highway 395, California

I live in the year-round resort town of Mammoth Lakes in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California not far from the Nevada border, south of Reno. The town sits on the edge of the 10 by 20 mile Long Valley Caldera (one of the largest calderas on earth), the remains of a cataclysmic volcanic event 760,000 years ago that blew ash east all the way to Kansas.

The valley is the floor of the volcano and the surrounding mountains are what was left after the volcano collapsed on itself and created the caldera. Mammoth Lakes is at 7900 feet elevation, Mammoth Mountain is 11,063 feet high. There is a chain of many smaller volcanoes scattered about the area, the last one erupted 250 years ago, but all are dormant at the moment.

The area is crisscrossed by fissures and faults, including the San Andreas Fault, and the area averages a dozen earthquakes every week... though only rarely do I actually feel the earth shake. Highway 395 runs across the resurgent dome, which scientists have determined is rising and may erupt again some day... so what you'll see in these photos may not be here in the future.

The geothermal area at the base of the resurgent dome was formed when an earthquake opened up a deep fault line. Snow melts into the ground and when the water reaches the magma, it is forced back up forming the hot creek and geothermal area where boiling hot water surges up, occasionally in the form of a geyser.

For all it's violent beginnings, it's now an incredibly diverse and beautiful area surrounded by the John Muir Wilderness, Ansel Adams Forest, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, numerous lakes and streams, the 3 highest mountains in the continental United States-- Mt. Whitney (14,494 ft.), Mt. Williamson (14,370 ft.) and White Mountain (14,246 ft.)... and Death Valley (the lowest point, -282 ft.). For more information about the area's fascinating geology and volcanic history, click here.

In the past, visitors have been attracted to Mammoth mainly for the skiing and snowboarding. Mammoth Mountain boasts the longest ski season in the U.S. Many athletes take advantage of the terrain for high altitude training for the Olympics, marathons, cycling events, etc. But the Town of Mammoth Lakes is a year-round resort with activities for all ages, skill sets, and interests. Whether you're into cycling, mountain biking, motorcross, skateboarding, off-roading, hunting, kayaking, canoeing, boating, tubing down river, fishing, rockclimbing, hiking, bird-watching, hot-air ballooning, mountain climbing, skating, snowmobiling, camping, golf, tennis... if it can be done outdoors, it can be done in Mammoth!

The Town of Mammoth Lakes has a growing arts and cultural community bringing events, such as performing arts, live music, and arts & crafts festivals, to Mammoth throughout the year... and plans to become a Health & Wellness center offering a variety of events and modalities to integrate body, mind and spirit. Check the links page for a calendar of events so you can time your vacations during those that events that interest you and check out the links to services, rentals, restaurants and shopping available in Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, Bishop and surrounding areas. Interested in a little log cabin of your own, check out the real estate and related services section. New hotels, restaurants, resorts and recreational facilities are being built to accommodate new and returning visitors from the rich and famous to the perennial Deadhead ski bum!

Interested in furthering your education, learning something new, exploring the history of the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, helping to save the environment, cleaning up the rivers, lakes, trails or town (after the toursits leave), check out the links under Educational and Volunteer opportunities.

As you look through my photo galleries, I hope you'll pick out areas you would like to visit while you are visiting Mammoth Lakes. In most cases, I've named the picture as the place, so you'll know what to expect when you get there, whatever season you go. The town is a village within a forest so you can step out your door and find trails to hike or bike, take your own photos, explore the flora and the fauna or just take a walk and breathe in the fresh, pure air as your consciousness expands with the natural beauty of the surroundings and the wonder of being fully human.

As a former psychospiritual counselor and teacher of stress management and mind-body-spirit healing, my intention is to bring out the hidden beauty inside each person who views the images in my galleries, to awaken you to a higher, more peaceful consciousness, to open your mind and your creativity so you can express yourself in the world at a higher level and become the best version of YOU you can become in this lifetime. Having these photos hanging on the walls of your home/office will remind you to take a deep breath and relax, become One with the Universe, even for just a moment each day,

I hope you enjoy looking through the HighSierraPhotoArt Galleries. Send me a message, I'd love to hear your comments. I will continue to add new albums so bookmark this page, visit often and tell your friends. I welcome suggestions for pictures of certain areas or attractions. If you would like to be notified when I put up new albums, send me an email.