Beta
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LevelBeginner
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TrailheadTuttle Creek
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Mileage3.42
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Elevation7,755
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SeasonsFour Seasons
Directions
HR5H+3W Lone Pine, CA, USA
Categories
Land Designation
We would like to use this space to acknowledge the indigenous land upon which we live and play. Payahuunadü is home to the Paiute and Shoshone (Nüümü and Newe) peoples.
Description
HISTORY
The genesis of the ashram traces back to the pioneering spirit of philosopher Franklin Merrell-Wolff and his wife Sherifa, a student deeply immersed in the teachings of esoteric Hinduism. Drawn to the sublime majesty of the mountains, the couple first ventured into the area in 1928, where they forged an enduring bond with the rugged terrain and the transcendent spirit that permeated it. Inspired by their profound experiences, they resolved to establish a permanent sanctuary amidst the peaks they had come to love.
Leasing the land from the Forestry Service, Merrell-Wolff and Sherifa embarked on a monumental endeavor, driven by their vision of a place where seekers could commune with nature and explore the depths of their own consciousness. Construction of the ashram commenced in 1928, a labor of love that would span two decades before reaching completion. Each stone, each beam, was imbued with their reverence for the land and their commitment to creating a space of spiritual resonance and contemplative retreat.
Today, the Tuttle Creek Ashram stands as a living testament to the enduring legacy of its founders, a sanctuary where visitors can immerse themselves in the tranquility of the natural world and the timeless wisdom that echoes through the mountains. It remains a place of pilgrimage for those who seek solace, inspiration, and a deeper connection to the mysteries that lie beyond the veil of everyday existence.
GEOLOGY
Towering granite peaks, remnants of ancient volcanic activity, loom overhead, creating a dramatic backdrop against the clear blue sky. Granite outcrops, weathered by millennia of erosion, reveal intricate patterns and textures, offering a glimpse into the earth's tumultuous past. Keep an eye out for glacial erratics, large boulders left behind by retreating glaciers, scattered along the trail, serving as reminders of the area's glacial history.
FLORA & FAUNA
Despite the harsh high desert environment, Tuttle Creek Ashram boasts a surprising array of plant life adapted to the arid conditions. Sagebrush dominates the landscape, filling the air with its distinctive aroma. Pinyon pines and junipers cling to rocky slopes, their twisted branches providing shelter for a variety of wildlife. Delicate wildflowers add splashes of color to the rocky terrain, blooming in vibrant hues during the spring and early summer months. Look for the rare bristlecone pine, one of the world's oldest living organisms, standing as stoic sentinels amidst the rugged terrain.
As you traverse the trail, keep your senses sharp for glimpses of the diverse wildlife that call Tuttle Creek Ashram home. Bighorn sheep, with their majestic curved horns, may be spotted navigating the steep cliffs with ease. Mule deer graze in the meadows, their keen eyes scanning for potential threats. Birdwatchers will delight in the sight of golden eagles soaring overhead, their broad wings catching the thermal updrafts. Listen for the haunting calls of coyotes echoing through the canyon walls as they hunt under the cover of darkness. And if you're lucky, you may even encounter the elusive mountain lion, a symbol of the untamed wilderness that thrives in this rugged landscape.
Disclaimer
This is not professional advice. Access, parking, difficulty and trail conditions are different from user to user and can change at anytime. Please consult with local land manager and/or local guide services for current information and professional advice.
Understand the effects of high altitude and acclimatize properly to reduce the risk of altitude sickness. Weather conditions can change rapidly. Be prepared for cold temperatures, wind, and potential storms. Check forecasts before the hike. Carry detailed topographic maps and know how to use them. GPS devices can be useful but should not be relied upon solely. Always carry your ten essentials. Accents may require microspikes or crampons depending on season.
Understand the effects of high altitude and acclimatize properly to reduce the risk of altitude sickness. Weather conditions can change rapidly. Be prepared for cold temperatures, wind, and potential storms. Check forecasts before the hike. Carry detailed topographic maps and know how to use them. GPS devices can be useful but should not be relied upon solely. Always carry your ten essentials. Accents may require microspikes or crampons depending on season.
Leave No Trace
Plan Ahead and Prepare
- • Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
- • Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
- • Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
- • Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
- • Repackage food to minimize waste.
- • Use a map and compass or GPS to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns, or flagging.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- • Durable surfaces include maintained trails and designated campsites, rock, gravel, sand, dry grasses, or snow.
- • Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
- • Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
- In popular areas:
- • Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
- • Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
- • Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
- In pristine areas:
- • Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
- • Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.
Dispose of Waste Properly
- • Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite, food preparation areas, and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
- • Utilize toilet facilities whenever possible. Otherwise, deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
- • Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
- • To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.
Leave What You Find
- • Preserve the past: examine, photograph, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
- • Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them.
- • Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
- • Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
Minimize Campfire Impacts
- • Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the environment. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
- • Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
- • Keep fires small. Only use down and dead wood from the ground that can be broken by hand.
- • Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.
Respect Wildlife
- • Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
- • Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, habituates them to humans, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
- • Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
- • Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
- • Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- • Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
- • Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
- • Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
- • Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
- • Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.
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