This is a guide to truly out of the way places well off the beaten tourist path. The authors describe 25 interesting and scenic rough road excursions, generally in eastern Tulare and Kern Counties at the southernmost end of the Sierra Nevada Range. Do not attempt to follow their path in the family car! While not all of the described routes require the use of four-wheel drive, they all require vehicles having greater ground clearance than do most conventional automobiles, The Mitchells describe the flora, fauna, geology, and history likely to be encountered along the way. OPS coordinates are provided at key intersections. Also included in each excursion is a basic map and information as to how long the trails are, both in terms of time and distance. Finally, each trail is rated in terms of difficulty, so the reader has a good idea as to what to expect before starting out.
The Mitchells are no strangers to the Sierra Nevada, the adjoining desert country on the east side, and the Sierra foothills on the west. Roger grew up in Trona, in the shadow of Death Valley, and has written extensively about the little known corners of Inyo and Mono County. He hiked down the spine of the Sierra Nevada from Lake Tahoe to Kerrville, 20 years before there was a Pacific Crest Mill. Loris spent her childhood summers at the family cabin at Bass Lake and, like her husband, she has a keen interest in history and nature. Together they provide the back road explorer with insights and tales about places that few people ever see. For the past 30 years, the Mitchells have enjoyed the scenery and solitude of their mountaintop home, near the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park.
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