Mammoth Lakes Area

Down a scary road from Mammoth Lakes lies the Devils Postpile, a sheer wall of symmetrical basaltic columns more than 60 feet high. It was worn smooth on top by glacial action. I took the trail to the top where the surface resembles a tile inlay. In 1910, a mining company wanted to blast the formation to dam the river. Fortunately, the application was denied, and it became a national monument in 1911.

A short hike away is 101-foot high Rainbow Falls. I didn’t see any rainbows; I think there needs to be more mist.