Boondocking in The Alabama Hills, in the shadow of Mount Whitney (right)!
We’ve all been there. That perfect backcountry spot—away from everyone and everything—where you can park your Airstream in peace and quiet with all the comforts of home, but without the need for a hookup or a city water connection or an RV park or neighbors.
Since we got our Safari SE back in June we’ve done plenty of boondocking (the Black Rock Desert, Bonneville Salt Flats, etc), however, The Alabama Hills outside LonePine, California, offers something unique.
The Alabama Hills lie just above Lone Pine, CA and are in the shadow of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 (not visible in photo).
Yes, there’s peace and quiet and solitude and privacy and the right price (free) and amazing scenery including rounded red rocks and arches that make us think of Utah, not California. You even get peek-a-boo views of the cloud-shrouded jagged peak of Mt. Whitney towering above.
Karen (and Grady) lounging in front of our panorama windows with The Alabama Hills outside.
But on top of all that, The Alabama Hills, administered by the BLM, also offers Gene Autry and Randolph Scott—or at least their ghosts. That’s because this small area was used as the set for hundreds of Westerns including The Lone Ranger, How the West was Won, Rawhide and Gunga Din and we arrive just as the annual Lone Pine Film Festival is beginning.
The Alabama Hills have been used as a western/desert/mountain location for hundreds of films dating back to the early days of Hollywood. Here a photo shows a location from The Lone Ranger.
Every year during the festival, organizers go out into the Alabama Hills and place temporary placards in front of various locations, showing specific rocks and gulleys as they appeared in a famous movie still. We’re not even big Western fans, but we’re fascinated right along with the busloads of festival goers who are wandering around in the wind. What they made of our Safari parked beyond the fray is anyone’s guess. Maybe they thought it was a movie star’s trailer…
Mount Whitney towers over The Alabama Hills.
November 10th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Hi Guys, You are having the trip of a life-time. The Alabama Hills are beautiful!
I am looking at doing the same thing you are doing. I would be leaving from Ontario, Canada. Onward to Mexico, Central America and then into South America. However, I am a little concern about heading into Columbia. Safety…any problems there?
I am an artist and intend to gather material for painting as well as painting on the trip.
Will be buying my Safari SE next year and picking up a truck. I have thought of a Dodge w/Diesel. Think I will have any problems with finding diesel fuel?
Enjoy your trip and it would be nice to hear from you.
Joseph