Salon: Driving through the Owens Valley, a scenic 75-mile-long, U-shaped cul-de-sac on the east side of the Sierras, confirmed extremely dry conditions. Californias prolonged drought wasnt just visible in the low stream flows, charred hillsides and snowless Sierra Nevada Mountains, but I could hear it. In the small town of Lone Pine, I overheard a man say: I guess we wont get to shower until next winter. The water situation for local fish isnt much better. For my journey a days drive followed...