Sunday - down we go

Does anyone know what kind of tree these are?    Only a few of them grow among the sugar and ponderosa pines around June Lake, but they catch my eye.

They are fascinating whether they are alive or dead....

This one was even growing out of a a huge rock outcroping

There is no one here I can ask and we're leaving this area.  Anyone know?

Here is one more picture from our June Lake stay that I forgot to post.  These two glacial erratics weigh about 30 tons each and are precariously balanced at the edge of the road.  Such an interesting place, we'd not leave if weather wasn't closing in.

We took our time leaving his morning, as our next destination is only about 50 miles south.  Still on 395 we moved along past Mammoth Mountain, Crowley and Convict Lakes, Hot Creek and Devil's Postpile to Bishop, Ca.  where we'll stay until at least Thursday.  Lots of places to explore these next few days and we're about 4000 feet lower in elevation, so the bad weather should go on above us!  We expect strong winds and have taken what precautions we can to avoid possible damage.

Dave wanted to find a spot in Brown's Town Campground where he could  point Beluga's nose either east or west, so the wind would hit us at our narrowest point.  He also didn't want to park  under any big trees, hoping to avoid any falling branches.   Hmmmm.  The only spot available in this campground for us is pointing north and under huge cottonwood trees.  Ah well, perhaps the weathermen will be wrong, once again!

this is the view from behind Beluga, overlooking a lovely small golf course and  the snow dusted  crests.  note the dark clouds.

we sat outside this afternoon and were mesmerized by the rapidly changing cloud formations.