Lone Pine is just 40 miles from Death Valley -- home to the lowest spot in the US. We could stand on Lone Pine's main street, and gaze up at the highest spot in the contiguous United States -- the summit of Mount Whitney, wreathed in light clouds and blowing snow. These nearly transparent clouds, moving through rays of ethereal lights, give this image its meaning. It is if we are watching a performance. The mountain may take star billing, but it is the clouds and light that provide the costumes and the drama.