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@visitbishop

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GUARDIAN OF THE PATRIARCHS Patriarch Grove | Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, California July 17, 2026
Motion Time Lapse

I’ve returned to this grove for years, drawn to its silence, mystery, and ancient inhabitants. One weathered, standing dead bristlecone keeps calling me back. I call it Guardian of the Patriarchs.

To me, it resembles a wise old owl, keeping watch over the grove. That’s pareidolia, our tendency to see familiar creatures or faces in unexpected shapes. What do you see? What stories would you imagine it could tell?

At roughly 11,200 feet in the White Mountains, these Great Basin bristlecone pines (Pinus longaeva) can live nearly 5,000 years. Their dense, decay-resistant wood can endure long after death. It’s humbling to contemplate what they’ve weathered, and the history they’ve witnessed.

I’ve photographed this tree many times, always imagining a moving time lapse. Finally, a slow lateral slide beneath a beautifully clear sky and the green airglow I’ve seen on every visit. Quiet, haunting, and a little otherworldly.

I programmed 990 frames, but the battery died at 516. Second time this year! A new power solution is overdue, but I’m grateful the sequence survived.

This trip also brought the pleasure of wandering and shooting with astrophotographer Allison Kalt. Her story and approach to life inspired me, especially her commitment to photographing the Milky Way every new moon for over a year. A reminder to seize the day.

🎵 Depeche Mode, “Freelove.” Its haunting atmosphere felt right for this place.

EXIF / GEAR Sony a7S III | Sony 14mm f/1.8 GM ISO 3200 | f/1.8 | 15s | 30s interval 516 frames | Rhino Arc II + 42” slider 2 Lume Cube lights | Lateral motion

Edit: Lightroom Classic, LRTimelapse, Adobe Premiere, Digital Anarchy Flicker Free, FilmConvert Hazy

#AlphaCollective #Nightscaper #AstroLandscape #DarkSkyPhotography #TimelapsePhotography taken in Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest by @visitbishop

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2 days ago

Send this to someone who wants to see the oldest trees in the world!

This is the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, near Bishop. Some of the trees here have been alive for over 4,500 years, which makes them older than the Pyramids at Giza 🤯

I don’t understand how that is even possible!!!

Standing among trees that were already ancient when Rome fell is one of the most humbling experiences in California.

Fair warning: the drive up is no joke. Remote mountain roads, high elevation, steep drop offs, so be prepared for that.

🥾 We hiked the Discover Trail, which is about a 1.0 mile loop that takes you past some seriously gnarly looking ancient Bristlecones.

Would you make the drive to see these ancient trees?

🗺️ Want my full California bucket list guide?

It has over 200 hikes, roadtrip stops, scenic views, waterfalls, gorgeous beaches, and so much more to explore! 😁

Comment MAP and I’ll send you the link!

🍃 Please always remember to explore responsibly. Practice leave no trace principals. Stay on trails. NEVER litter, and always respect the environment/locals. taken in Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest by @visitbishop

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3 days ago

Save All Must-Visits!👇🏼

📸 Filmed: October 12th 2026.

Here are the best places to see fall colors in Bishop Creek Canyon (CA Highway 168 West), a massive 30-square-mile canyon featuring North, Middle, and South Forks of Bishop Creek that drain toward the Owens Valley.

Stop 1. South Fork Bishop Creek & South Lake (Elevation: 9,768 feet): High-altitude views with vibrant willows and aspens lighting up the mountainsides.

Stop 2. Intake Two (Elevation: 8,000 feet): A lower-elevation reservoir surrounded by colorful yellow aspens and easy walking loops (note ongoing dam maintenance has water levels lower than usual).

Stop 3. Bishop Park Campground, Inyo National Forest (Elevation: 8,400 feet): The best autumn shots of me were taken here in the valley near the creek opposite the campgrond.

Stop 4. Aspendell & Cardinal Village (Elevation: 8,550 feet): Features a dense golden aspen canopy along the road and dramatic mountain backdrops.

Stop 5. North Lake (Elevation: 9,500 feet): Famous for iconic alpine aspen groves and mirrored water reflections (the classic high-elevation Sierra view).

Stop 6. Lake Sabrina (Elevation: 9,150 feet) & Sabrina Basin: Brilliant gold and orange aspen groves line the glacial valley and roadways, with boat rentals and scenic hikes available.
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#bishopcreek #bishopcreekcanyon #bishopcanyon #easternsierras #easternsierra taken in Bishop Creek Canyon by @visitbishop

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4 days ago

Some spots along California’s Hwy 395 are about remembering history that should never be forgotten.

Located beneath the Sierra Nevada mountains, Manzanar National Historic Site preserves one of the darkest chapters in American history.

Between 1942 and 1945, more than 10,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly incarcerated here during World War II.

Most were American citizens who lost their freedom simply because of their Japanese ancestry.

Today, visitors can explore reconstructed barracks, see the remains of the camp, and walk through exhibits that share the stories of the families who were forced to live here.

If you’re traveling through the Eastern Sierra, I highly recommend making time for a visit.

⚠️ Important notes

- Admission is free.
- Grounds are open daily. Check online for the up-to-date visitor center hours.
- Closed certain holidays.
- Allow 2-3 hours to fully experience Manzanar.
- I highly recommend watching the short video they play every half hour.

📍 Manzanar National Historic Site - US-395 near Lone Pine.

Have you ever visited Manzanar? 🤔

Please visit respectfully, stay on designated paths, and leave all historic artifacts undisturbed. taken in Manzanar, California by @visitbishop

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4 days ago

The Sierra delivered again this year (as always). Here are some of my favorite landscape shots from backpacking in 2026.

Inyo National Forest, Golden Trout Wilderness, Sequoia National Park, Humboldt-Toiyabe, Hoover Wilderness, and Yosemite. Six areas, one range, a lot of early mornings.

Lake reflections at first light, sun lit paths winding through the forest, wildflower covered meadows, and high peaks towering from up above.

Mother Nature does the heavy lifting on setting up the views, all she needs is a witness.

Honored to walk within these mountains and set the bar higher for next season.

✅️ Follow / Share / Comment / Like 🙏

#EasternSierra #SierraNevada #LandscapePhotography #Backpacking #CaliforniaWild taken in Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains by @visitbishop

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5 days ago

Chasing colors before the magic fades! 🍁✨ taken in Mammoth Lakes, California by @visitbishop

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8 days ago

High above the Sierras nestled in the granite monuments towering above, sapphire blue creeks and lakes carve out the terrain. In these creeks are trout that have survived the deadly landscape, and in these crystalline waters, found home. Lured in by the stories of these trout, @juju.kapros and I went to @rockcreek.packstation and found ourselves on horseback, meandering through steep terrain to have opportunity at not only these fish, but the picturesque treasure of the High Sierras.
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#flyfishing #easternsierra #highsierra #mammoth by @visitbishop

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9 days ago

Two lakes. Can you names them both?

#mammothlakes taken in Mammoth Lakes, California by @visitbishop

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10 days ago

This is one of California’s most beautiful Eastern Sierra hikes 😭

It takes you past 7 lakes, and somehow, every lake along the way just gets better and better!

Along the route, you’ll pass:

🏔️ Long Lake - my personal favorite.
🏔️ Bull Lake.
🏔️ The 3 Chocolate Lakes.
🏔️ Ruwau Lake.

Long Lake was easily my favorite stop. The combination of the beautiful water, fall colors, and those massive Sierra peaks in the background is hard to beat.

🥾 Hike Details

• 6.7 miles.
• 1,587 ft elevation gain.
• 3–4 hours.
• Loop trail.
• Hard.
• Inyo National Forest.

Pro Tip! Stop at @parchersresort to pick up sandwiches for lunch during your hike.

We had a lovely lunch break overlooking Ruwau Lake.

📍 Bishop Creek Canyon, Bishop, California.

If you’re visiting during fall, this is an especially good one to add to your list as the aspens around Bishop Creek Canyon are incredibly beautiful.

🗺️ Want 200+ more California adventures? Comment MAP and I’ll send you a link to my Ultimate California Bucket List!

🍂 Please stay on established trails, pack out everything you bring in, and help keep these alpine lakes beautiful. taken in Bishop, California by @visitbishop

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11 days ago

It’s been almost five years since I’ve posted to my grid… This weekend’s trip took me to see the fall colors around Bishop and slightly north. This batch was from the road to South Lake on 10.3.26 taken in South Lake, Bishop Creek by @visitbishop

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11 days ago

I drove 200 miles over mountains and dirt roads to see one of America’s most famous ghost towns…

And it was totally worth it!!! 🥹🥹🥹

It’s pretty surreal walking through a place like this. There were once around 8,000 people who lived here.

And then just… poof, gone, and the town was left to decay. Could you imagine our ancestors one day walking through the ruins of San Francisco or L.A.?

I mean… isn’t that a weird thought!?

Okay, I’m done speculating.

Bodie is preserved in a state of “arrested decay,” so instead of feeling restored or recreated, it still feels eerily real.

🚗 Distances

- 4.5 hours from SF
- 6 hours from L.A.
- 4.5 hours from Sacramento.

💵 Entry fee

- $8 per adult.
- $5 per youth.
- Free for 3 and under.

YES! The fee is per person.

You can take a tour of the historic stamp mill. But you have to book that separately. Tours are first come, first served and start at 1:00 p.m.

📍 Bodie State Historic Park, California.

🗺️ Want to find more places like this? Comment MAP and I’ll send you my interactive California map with 200+ adventures around the state.

🍃 Please always remember to explore responsibly. Practice Leave No Trace principles. Stay on trails. NEVER litter, and always respect the environment/locals. taken in Bodie State Historic Park by @visitbishop

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12 days ago

A fun way to escape the leaf peeping crowds at Bishop Canyon Creek… get out on the water! #easternsierra #fallcolors #visitbishop #bishopcreekcanyon by @visitbishop

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14 days ago