If you are a Pink Floyd fan, you know about Mono Lake - the lake and it's tufas has been on my list for a very long time. When I was in college, listening to "Wish You Were Here", I never imagined I would visit Mono Lake - yet that is exactly what we did this summer. Not just a visit - we went kayaking on the lake!

Mono Lake is an ancient lake east of the Sierras. It is highly alkaline, and has no outlet. It is fed from springs along the eastern Sierras. Salts and minerals get washed into the lake, and water evaporates, making the lake saltier over time - currently, it is almost 2.5 times as salty as the ocean!

The most recognizable feature of Mono Lake are the tufa towers - calcium carbonate spires formed by the interaction of fresh water bubbling up through the alkaline water. 

The lake is home to brine shrimp and many birds. It is also home to many osprey, who fish in nearby lakes but return to Mono Lake to build their nests.

Our kayaking trip was an organized tour - https://calderakayak.com. Sue and Stuart were friendly and helpful, and took us on a lovey trip around Mono Lake, passing near the tufas and taking care to stay away from the osprey nests. The kayaks they had were different from ones that we have used before - it definitely took some time to learn to steer with our feet! 

If you have time, I highly recommend kayaking on the lake - the mirrored surface of the water, with the snow capped Sierras in the background make for a trip you will not forget!