There was a maximum 60% chance of snow, yet somehow the Ojai Valley School students were snowed in almost every day of the recent four-day photography and sightseeing trip to the Eastern Sierra.
In early February, seven students and two teachers took a van for the six-hour drive to the high Sierra.
Their aim? To take the best photos they have ever taken.
Granted, only half the students brought “professional” cameras, but iPhones were able to suffice as cameras in that snowy situation.
The first half-day was a mild day. Fatigued by the long car ride, the students and teachers explored Alabama Hills and the Galon Rowell gallery for photographic inspiration.
The second day was the most difficult; waking up at 5:20 am to take pictures of the sunrise over Mono Lake, then exploring Mt. Conness, a dormant volcano.
The ghost town of Bodie was snowed and mudded in, so most of that day was spent climbing in mud.
Feet were wet, faces were red, and fingers were frozen, but nobody could doubt that they had a good time.
“There was great snow, lakes, sunshine, and rocks,” sophomore Victor Gong said. “You can feel Mother Nature is next to you in the trip.”
Photographs contributed by student-journalist Kai Lin.
