Time to move on to Death Valley.
However before leaving Lone Pine, we took some photos of Mt Whitney and visited the museum of Lone Pine Film History.
Hundreds of movies were made around Lone Pine from the 20s to the 60s. Initially it was all westerns. However movies about the British in India and all sorts of stuff were made here. The Museum is very interesting. They showed a very enjoyable 15 minute orientation film about what went on here.
After looking around, I had a little chat to Nancy - a volunteer and retired school teacher. She was telling me that the Lone Ranger got his name because he had been a Texas Ranger and they had been ambushed and he was the only survivor - hence the Lone Ranger. The canyon where they filmed the ambush is still known to this day as 'Lone Ranger Canyon'.
Exactly why the Lone Ranger wore a mask, neither of us knew. Clearly some kind of personal insecurity or something. Of course there's a touch of the Clark Kent (Superman) about him - he fights for truth, justice and the American way. We'll overlook the racist (and possibly gay) relationship with his faithful Indian companion Tonto.
And then on to Death Valley. We were running the Badwater 130 in reverse. It starts in Death Valley and goes to Lone Pine and Whitney Portal. It was just over 100F today at Death Valley. Nothing like the termperatures during the race in July. Last year it was 131F (55C). And the wind blows. How can anybody run in that. There are three massive climbs in the Badwater event. Emigrant Pass is about 5000 feet. The next climb over Padre Crowley Point is about 4000 feet and very steep in places. Then of course the final 4500 foot climb from Lone Pine to Whitney Portal.
Our accomodation at Furnace Creek Lodge is good. At $129 per night, it's more that we usually pay - however the room's also nicer than we usually get. And a nice balcony to sit on and watch the sun go down. We'd have loved to stay at the Furnace Creek Inn - one of the most famous hotels in the USA. However at $350 a night - it's well beyond our means. Pity. Anyway, we're really thrilled to be here.
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