The unfortunately named Alabama Hills are another sunny desert spot with curiously wonderful rock outcroppings that are great for climbing. It got its name from Confederate sympathizers who named many of their mining claims after the Confederate warship, the CSS Alabama, and the name stuck for the entire range. The native Paiute people of the area call this valley Payahuunadu, meaning “land of flowing water.” Given that there are many creeks and washes winding through the rocks on their way to Owens Lake, the local Paiute name seems more appropriate.
The hills lie in a picturesque valley that spans the area between the tallest peak in the continental U.S., Mount Whitney, and the lowest spot on North American land, Badwater Basin. The strange rocks are amazing to hike around and thrilling to climb on.
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Ouch! (Last picture, first comment). Beautiful. You go Angela!
Those rocks can be a little nasty!😈
Thanks for the encouragement, Guy! I’ll take all the support I can get, especially with my fear of heights!
Wow.
Damn……..how do you two find these places ? Beautiful, scary, painful, exciting, cold – who knew all this was out there away from my safe little bubble in Marin. California is indeed a BIG state !
We do live in one of the most beautiful and varied places in the entire world! It’s actually pretty easy to find incredible spots by just wandering around.