Devil's Postpile and Yosemite

8/13/2016

Dear I-,

How are you? I got your letter. I haven't played Pokemon Go, mostly because my little brothers really liked Pokemon when it first became popular years ago. I wasn't interested in POkemon then because they were. Now, I guess that old idea is still stuck in my head! It sounds like you've been having a good time in Tokyo.

Last night, I stayed in a city called Tonopah, Nevada. This town was a gold mining town in the early 1900s. This morning, I got the chance to explore the town. I walked through the cemetery that was used from 1901-1911. I also walked in the downtown area and even checked out some really old mining equipment.

Tonopah cemetery

downtown Tonopah, Nevada

 I dropped off a couple of letters for my students at the old post office downtown then got back on the road. My next destination was Devil's Postpile in Mammoth Lakes, California.

It took a bit more than 2 1/2 hours, but I finally arrived at the shuttle bus stop. The only way to see Devil's Postpile is to take a bus to get there. The problems were that the bus ticket booth had a long line AND the nearest parking spot to the bus stop was 1/2 mile away. I was surprised by how many people were there already!

After waiting in a very long bus line and riding on the bus for 30 minutes, I arrived at the Devil's Postpile trail. I hiked the trail and arrived at the Devil's Postpile National Monument.

Earlier in my trip, I saw Devils Tower, a national monument with clusters of geometric tubes clumped together that rise out of the ground.

Devil's Postpile is a similar, unusual rock formation. This formation was created by lava around a hundred thousand (100,000) years ago. I took a bunch of photos and finished the hiking trail back to the shuttle bus. 

My next stop was Yosemite National Park. I've been there quite a few times, but this time, I entered the park from a different direction. I was able to see a part of the park I've never seen before. 

mule deer in Yosemite

along Tioga Pass

Unfortunately, I didn't get to stop very many times since I had to meet some friends at a cabin in Oakhurst, California for a camping trip. This camping trip is the very last part of my trip.  

I look forward to seeing you this week.

Your teacher,

Elaina

Heading to South Dakota

8/5/16

Dear NH,

How are you? By the time you get this letter, camp will be over, and you will be back home. How was camp? Did you get my two letters? I hope so.

I have traveled a long distance. I left Grand Tetons National Park yesterday and made it to a town in Wyoming called Casper. Casper is the 2nd largest city in Wyoming.

This morning, I started my day by visiting the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center. This center is a museum that provides information about the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail, California Trail, and Pony Express Trail. I hadn't realized there were so many trails. Even though some of these trails shared some of the same pathways they all ended in different places.

Here, I am trying to see how hard it would be to pull a handcart.
A handcart is one of the ways pioneers carried their luggage.

After visiting the interpretive center, I made my way northeast toward South Dakota. My plan was to visit Mount Rushmore yesterday, but I ran out of time, and that didn't happen. However, I still did some cool things. I went to a place called Devils Tower. Here, the land looked like it had risen up to form a flat table on top with long lines going up and down the sides. Up close, you could tell that the lines were formed by hundreds of columns of rock in geometric shapes. Basically, you could see rock tables that had 3-7 sides. I had never seen anything like it!

In the land near Devils Tower was a prairie dog community. They are super cute!

After visiting Devils Tower, it was getting a bit late, but I went off roading in the Black Hills and found a place to camp. (Off roading is basically driving on a dirt road.) Today, I will continue off roading east through Black Hills National Forest until I hit a paved road in South Dakota. I look forward to hearing about camp!

Your teacher,

Elaina