1. Sunrise over Eureka Dunes.
 

 
 
2. Contrasts between dark cliffs and clear dunes…
 

 
 
3. … and between the softness of the sand and the harshness of the rock.
 

 
 
I then went to explore volcanic craters near Mono Lake, the few snow this year allowing to access it easier than usually in this season.
 
4. On the road, I spent a night near Hot Creek, a river warmed by hot springs.
 

 
 
5. I’m over 6,000 feet elevation and there is no snow…
 

 
 
6. It’s cold at night however, 10F that night – and lakes freeze…
 

 
 
7. Boondocking behind Crater Mountain, at 7,900 feet elevation.
 

 
 
8. Mounted in steep scree of porous and rather light volcanic stones. Worse than the sand: making three steps up, you descend two! 😀
 

 
 
9. at about 8,500 feet, I see Mono Lake in the distance.
 

 
 
10. The north slopes keep some patches of snow.
 

 
 
11. Patchwork…
 

 
 
12. Sierra Nevada is close toward West.
 

 
 
13. Scoria cone in front of Mono Lake.
 

 
 
14. Remnant cornice under the summit slope.
 

 
 
15. Arrival on the main crater or what remains.
 

 
 
16. There were many of such black stones that looked like vitrified coal, rather light for their size with smooth and shiny texture.
 

 
 
17. One of the only plants that manage to grow in this hostile environment. Tiny but pretty…
 

 
 
18. View of the crater from the highest point at 9,400 feet elevation.
 

 
 
19. The panoramic view of emerald color Mono Lake is impressive!
 

 
 
20. Going down on the way to some hot springs, VivaLaVida went through Benton Hot Springs, a historic place of passage.
 

 
 
After soaking in hot water two hours under the stars (what a joy!), I took a one day break to make an oïl change to VivaLaVida. Andrew (the guy with whom I had discovered the Baja California early last year) is being announced, I should meet him in the coming days to discover some new corners with Baja-Shacker.

To discover soon in a future update… 😀