SIERRA NEVADA: The Granite Wall of California
SIERRA NEVADA: The Granite Wall of California
Notable moments
- 03:38 Clear Kayaking on Lake Tahoe
Paddlers navigate completely transparent kayaks over the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Lake Tahoe. From an overhead view, the glass-like surface reveals large submerged granite boulders and the lake floor tens of feet below.
Lake Tahoe, California - 06:03 The Tea House on Fannette Island
Perched at the summit of Fannette Island in Emerald Bay stands a rustic stone structure built in the late 1920s. Known as the Tea House, this small stone ruin overlooks the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe surrounded by steep pine-covered slopes.
Fannette Island, California - 07:50 Exploring Glacial Lake Aloha
Lake Aloha sits nestled among the stark, treeless granite slabs of the Desolation Wilderness. Its shallow, crystal-blue waters weave around dozens of small rocky islets and granite outcrops beneath high mountain peaks.
Lake Aloha, California - 16:16 Rock Climbing El Capitan in Yosemite
Climbers scale the sheer 3,000-foot vertical granite face of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. Footage highlights Alex Honnold's historic 2017 free solo ascent up the Freerider route without ropes or protective equipment.
El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California - 18:05 Hiking the Half Dome Cable Route
Hikers haul themselves up the steep, slick granite slope of Half Dome using twin metal cables anchored into the rock face. The strenuous final ascent leads to a flat granite summit offering sweeping 360-degree views across Yosemite National Park.
Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California - 20:38 Viewing the Horsetail Fall Firefall
During late February, the setting sun hits Horsetail Fall at a precise angle on the eastern edge of El Capitan. The cascading stream glows in brilliant orange and red tones, creating the illusion of liquid fire flowing down the dark cliff face.
Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California - 27:34 Touring Bodie Ghost Town
Visitors wander among weathered wooden buildings and abandoned mining structures preserved in a state of arrested decay. Former homes and shops still contain original 19th-century furniture, household items, and machinery from California's Gold Rush era.
Bodie State Historic Park, California - 39:34 Viewing Columnar Basalt at Devils Postpile
A massive cliff face composed of thousands of tightly packed, vertical basalt columns rises above a field of fallen rock debris. Formed from cooling lava around 100,000 years ago, many of these dark stone pillars feature near-perfect hexagonal cross-sections.
Devils Postpile National Monument, California - 41:45 Geothermal Pools at Hot Creek
Boiling geothermal water wells up into a clear mountain stream, creating rising plumes of steam against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Bright blue thermal pools and colorful mineral deposits line the stream banks within the Long Valley Caldera.
Hot Creek Geological Site, California - 43:14 Stone Columns of Crowley Lake
Mysterious, pillar-like stone formations line the shores of Crowley Lake, standing individually and in interconnected arched colonnades. These tuff columns were formed when subterranean volcanic heat met groundwater following the prehistoric eruption of the Long Valley Caldera.
Crowley Lake, California - 45:49 Visiting Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
Twisted, gnarled bristlecone pine trees cling to dry, rocky slopes high in the White Mountains. Some of these resilient trees, including those in Methuselah Grove, have survived harsh high-altitude winter conditions for over 4,000 years.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, California - 50:52 Walking Among Giant Sequoias
Visitors walk along paved forest trails dwarfed by massive giant sequoias with thick, reddish-brown bark. The camera pans up towering trunks that reach over 250 feet into the canopy, including iconic named trees in the grove.
Sequoia National Park, California - 55:26 Climbing the Moro Rock Staircase
Hikers ascend a narrow, handrailed concrete staircase carved directly into the steep granite dome of Moro Rock. The 350-step climb leads to a dramatic summit viewpoint overlooking the expanse of Sequoia National Park and the High Sierra.
Moro Rock, Sequoia National Park, California - 62:18 Framing Mount Whitney Through Mobius Arch
A natural, donut-shaped granite arch in the Alabama Hills frames a view of Mount Whitney and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada peaks in the distance. The warm golden light of sunrise illuminates the smooth, weathered rock surface of the arch.
Mobius Arch, California - 65:10 Visiting Manzanar National Historic Site
A white obelisk monument engraved with Japanese characters stands against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains at the former World War II internment camp site. Reconstructed barracks, guard towers, and historic displays commemorate the forced relocation of over 120,000 Japanese Americans.
Manzanar National Historic Site, California
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