I'm on a 5 day overlanding adventure with my good friend who's driving his stock 2020 Toyota Tacoma dual-cab. We left the Carrizo Plain National Monument (see post 8/17/21 Carrizo Plain National Monument, 2021) and are heading in a zig-zag direction around Bakersfield to catch up to the Kern River. SR178 takes you up the Kern River in between the Greenhorn Mountains and Breckenridge Mountain. It's a very scenic climb, as you enter the Lake Isabella rec. area in the Sequoia National Forest. 
That was my first time at Lake Isabella it wasn't what I expected or lets say it wasn't my cup of tea. That night for dinner grilled steaks and steamed broccoli w/evo, definitely made up for any unfounded expectation. Stuffed, I called it a early one after a few frothies.
The next morning after coffee we packed-up and headed north on SR178. About 25 miles after the lake is a dirt road turn off that leads into Long Valley. The track was welcomed after running on asphalt for so long. We detoured our route as the track made it's way over to CR347 where we connected to US395 north to Lone Pine and the Mt Whitney Portal.
We climbed the picturesque scenic drive carved into the crevices of the solid rock mountain. Winding back and forth the road finds it's way up to the portal where the old growth trees are still standing and the sound of a free flowing waterfall echos in your ears.
Many popular trailheads are here, there was a lot of tourist activity but we made the most of it breathing in the clean fresh oxygen thin, pine scented air.
After a snack we drove down the mountain heading for Movie Rd. We are in-search for the perfect camp in the Alabama Hills. A vast area filled with cartoon like boulders just lying around it was home to a bunch of famous old time cowboy western movies sets.
After a few selections we chose a wonderful site with rock pinnacles as our backdrop. Alabama Hills is one of my favorite places to camp, each time camping there you'll always find a super cool spot.
We adjusted our rigs and set up camp. The weather was perfect the skies were clear and on the cooker cheeseburgers w/grilled onions and Caesar salad w/blue-cheese crumbles. Well that's worth a couple of frothies for sure, in the morning we're headed north to some hot springs..