Winter Arizona Peaks Loop 3 (continued)

If I was to do that, I had to get enough cash to head for Las Vegas, NV, and then to Death Valley, again. I'd have to use an ATM. Vegas was old, for me, now. Pretty much, now, I have no great, new peaks to do about there, anymore. But, sharing expenses, maybe someone will wish to basecamp in a fancy casino hotel, and climb more peaks from there, someday!

Waking up in Kingman, AZ, at about 4:45 a.m., Mountain Time, Sunday, I figured to head straight home.

The moon set nicely, in dawn light, over the desert as I motored west on I-40. There had been a lunar eclipse the day before. I zipped along at mostly 70 mph to Barstow, and had plenty of time.

Calculating, I decided to drive north on U.S. 395. I wanted to see whatever was new, there. Headed north, I snapped many photos of the southern Eastern Sierra. I went to my favorite viewpoint of Mt. Whitney and adjacent peaks. Then I came to the movie museum in Lone Pine, CA. I watched the free digital movie of the Hollywood history, here. Many films, mostly "B" cowboy movies, were shot in the nearby Alabama Hills.

Watching the time, I continued north along U.S. 395, and snapped away from my few viewpoints that I knew, and also from official vista points. I made short stops in Bishop, Lee Vining, and Bridgeport, CA. A few items were new to me. I liked my favorite shot of Sawtooth Ridge (photo middle). High clouds had appeared, and I stopped for a light meal in Minden, NV. An interesting cloudy sky was seen over the Jobs Peak area of the Sierra massif. It awoke many old, pleasant, memories, to see this all, again!

Driving over Luther Pass and Echo Summit went fast, and I made a last stop in Placerville, CA. Home at a good hour, I would work on my computer.

Hiking roughly 30 miles, with 8,000' gain, I drove 2,569 miles. I spent $350 in cash, and charged up almost $300 for 7 nights in motels. I shot about 3,400 images and movie clips, about 4 GB worth. My overall trip fuel efficiency was some 40.5 mpg, using 63.5 gallons of fuel.

Gas was as low as 2.239 in Phoenix. It was about 2.679 locally when I left home. I saw gas along U.S. 395 up to 3.499 for regular. Most of the time in Arizona, it was about 2.499. When I returned home, local gas was up to about 2.879.

Wearing up to five layers, I was down to two light layers and shorts on the peaks near Phoenix. It was cold and sometimes windy in the mornings. My old parka came in handy. I brought along lots of spare clothes, but used none. With sometimes high winds, camping would then be miserable. The sunny weather had been basically perfect for photography, with winds to clear away the haze.

Using a bit of sunblock on Heliograph Peak, I had lip balm in my car for easy access. I saw no biting bugs at all, and only a few flowers. The main bloom comes in a few weeks. Suffering not even a scratch, I received a mild, reddish suntan, or being a bit flushed, after hikes. I probably spent a hundred on diet soda and other drink to stay hydrated. Getting soda provides a good reason to then use a restroom ("customers only").

Getting back to my computer meant to anxiously see how my new memory cards did, too. I shot a lot of photos to worry about not having them downloaded successfully. I used most of my new memory cards capacities, and had no hitches with the card icon immediately popping up on my screen. My main camera's VR feature worked well, too, and I used the best shot selector for much still life, indoor photography. My other, back-up camera's blur warning helped. I attempted many photos of my meals, with flash or window light. Something else to do, besides a silent thanks, before eating.

Seeing by TV that the weather had turned nicer in Northern California, I so opted to skip Vegas, and then Death Valley. A big, been there, done that, already. I'd just spend my money for no peaks. I'll hope that I can do some backcountry skiing, or more local peak climbs, once back to Northern California.

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